Grand Rapids communications firm reinvents itself with new focus on nonprofits, new location

After adding a new partner, three-year-old DVQ Studio moved into new downtown Grand Rapids digs and trained its focus entirely on communications and branding for nonprofit organizations and mission-driven companies.

Emily Stoddard Furrow, 25, a seasoned nonprofit professional joined DVQ Studio as partner with company owner Gretchen DeVault, 35. Both women have a passion for serving the nonprofit community and have years of experience working in the nonprofit arena – Furrow at the United Way, DeVault at the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce.

"We really think that our distinct take is a really holistic view of the nonprofit process," Furrow says. "Nonprofits are about a cause and a focus that brings about change, not just the bottom line. With (economic) resources being so tight right now, the communications investment has to be for the right thing, has to say the right thing to the right people."

All four employees worked from home offices, but the need to have a central location for collaborating with each other and with clients spurred them to relocate to 100 Grandville Avenue, Grand Rapids.

The company decked out the 1,200-square-foot space in earth tones. A client meeting space furnished with casual couches and tables promotes relaxation with a cup of coffee during work sessions, Furrow says.

"We look at the space as the physical extension of our brand and we didn't want our brand to be working out of our homes," Furrow adds. "Last week one client walked in and said, 'Don't take this wrong, but when I walk into your office I feel like I'm walking into your web site.' And that's the way we want it, for our office and our web site to have a very similar tone."

Source: Emily Stoddard Furrow, DVQ Studio

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].