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Southwestern Family of Companies

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Southwestern Family of Companies is an employee-owned, Nashville-based international group whose businesses span publishing, direct sales, education, insurance, financial services, real estate, travel, logistics, consulting, and executive search.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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Overview

Southwestern Family of Companies is an employee-owned conglomerate headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Its origins date to 1855, when Baptist minister James Robinson Graves established Southwestern Publishing House to publish The Tennessee Baptist, religious booklets, Bibles, and educational materials. The organization later became notable for developing a person-to-person sales system that recruited and trained young people to sell books door to door, often as a way to finance college. That model, first introduced in the nineteenth century, remains associated with the group through Southwestern Advantage. The organization has changed ownership and expanded its business scope several times. After the Civil War, the publishing operation resumed in Memphis before returning to Nashville in 1879. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it moved from mail-order publishing toward independent-dealer sales. Under J. B. Henderson, who became sole owner in 1921, the company grew into one of the largest person-to-person sales organizations in the United States. Its dealer network contracted sharply during the Second World War but was rebuilt during the postwar recovery. Times-Mirror Company acquired Southwestern in 1968. During the Times-Mirror period, Southwestern broadened its commercial activity beyond religious and educational publishing. Spencer Hays, who joined the company in 1959, helped develop reference books, cookbooks, children's books, fundraising services, hospital flooring, and cancer insurance. In 1975, Times-Mirror created Nashville Educational Marketing Services as a fundraising business under Southwestern; the operation was later renamed Great American Opportunities. In 1982, Times-Mirror sold Southwestern back to a group of company executives in a leveraged buyout. That transaction marked the beginning of the modern Southwestern Family of Companies structure. The group subsequently developed or acquired businesses in consulting, financial services, real estate, travel, distribution, insurance, executive search, international educational exchange, and leadership development. Rather than operating as a single-product company, Southwestern functions as a house of separately managed businesses connected by ownership, culture, sales expertise, and shared organizational history. Businesses associated with the group include Southwestern Advantage, Southwestern Publishing House, Southwestern Consulting, Global Educational Concepts, High School in the USA, Inspire Kindness, the Pat Summitt Leadership Group, SBR Consulting, Southwestern Distribution, Southwestern Insurance Group, Southwestern Legacy Insurance Group, Southwestern Real Estate, Southwestern Travel Group, Southwestern Ventures, and ThinkingAhead. The group states that it comprised 19 individual businesses in 2023. These businesses address consumers, students, educational institutions, employers, sales organizations, insurance customers, real-estate clients, and corporate leadership teams. Southwestern Advantage is the most direct continuation of the historic summer-sales tradition. It recruits and trains college and university students, including participants from the United States and Europe, to work as independent contractors selling educational books, software, applications, and subscription websites during the summer. Other operations focus on institutional and professional services. Global Educational Concepts sponsors certain U.S. Department of State BridgeUSA programs, while High School in the USA facilitates international student exchange into American secondary schools. Southwestern Consulting provides sales and leadership coaching, and the Pat Summitt Leadership Group uses the Definite Dozen framework associated with the late University of Tennessee coach Pat Summitt. The group's more recent diversification includes insurance distribution, executive search, logistics, residential real estate, travel, and European business incubation. Southwestern Insurance Group was founded in 2018, and Southwestern Legacy Insurance Group was established in 2021. ThinkingAhead, formerly Southwestern Business Resources, operates as an executive-search firm and changed its name in 2012. In July 2022, Henry Bedford became chief executive officer after Dustin Hillis stepped down. Bedford had spent 49 years with Southwestern, including service as chairman of the board and an earlier period as CEO. The company remains privately held and employee-owned, with its identity rooted in long-term employee development, entrepreneurship, direct selling, and diversification.

History

Southwestern Family of Companies traces its history to Southwestern Publishing House, founded in Nashville in 1855 by Baptist minister James Robinson Graves. The original business published The Tennessee Baptist and religious pamphlets, which were marketed through the mail. Because much Bible publishing was concentrated in the North before the American Civil War, Graves acquired stereotype plates from Northern sources and began printing Bibles for Southern customers in 1861. The company also published educational books. Following the Union victory at the 1864 Battle of Nashville, Graves moved the operation to Memphis, reportedly because of concern over articles he had published that opposed the North. Publishing resumed in 1867. In 1868, the company abandoned its mail-order model and began recruiting and training young men as independent dealers. These representatives sold Bibles and educational books door to door, providing a way for students to earn money for college. Graves retired in 1871. The company returned to Nashville in 1879 under the ownership of Jacob Florida. P. B. Jones acquired majority ownership in 1899 and served as president and general manager. In 1921, J. B. Henderson, a veteran of the summer-sales program, became sole owner. During the 1920s, Southwestern expanded into one of the largest person-to-person sales organizations in the United States. The dealer network was severely reduced during the Second World War, and by 1947 Southwestern had lost nearly all of its independent representatives. The company rebuilt its network during the postwar recovery and eventually grew to more than 1,500 independent representatives. In 1959, a longtime Southwestern participant identified in company history as Oldham became majority shareholder. His ownership continued until 1968 and his presidency until 1972. J. Fred Landers, another longtime employee, became a 49 percent owner in the same period and remained with the organization until his death in 1987. The group's headquarters was later named in recognition of Landers. Also in 1959, Spencer Hays joined Southwestern after graduating from Texas Christian University. During his career, he helped expand the product and service range to include reference books, cookbooks, children's books, fundraising, hospital flooring, and cancer insurance. Times-Mirror Company acquired Southwestern in 1968. In 1975, Times-Mirror created Nashville Educational Marketing Services as a fundraising company operating under Southwestern; it was later renamed Great American Opportunities. Jerry Heffel became its president in 1980. In 1982, Times-Mirror agreed to sell Southwestern, then described as a roughly $30 million-a-year company, to a group of its executives through a leveraged buyout. Spencer Hays became executive chairman of the board, while Ralph Mosley became chairman and CEO. The buyout established the ownership structure from which the Southwestern Family of Companies developed. The organization subsequently diversified into businesses beyond publishing and direct educational sales, including consulting, financial services, real estate, travel, logistics, insurance, international student programs, leadership development, executive search, and European venture investment. The modern portfolio includes Southwestern Advantage, which continues the student summer-sales tradition; Southwestern Publishing House, which evolved from a fundraising cookbook-publishing operation; Southwestern Consulting; Global Educational Concepts; High School in the USA; Inspire Kindness; the Pat Summitt Leadership Group; SBR Consulting; Southwestern Distribution; Southwestern Insurance Group; Southwestern Legacy Insurance Group; Southwestern Real Estate; Southwestern Travel Group; Southwestern Ventures; and ThinkingAhead. The group reported 19 individual businesses in 2023. Several businesses were created or repositioned in the twenty-first century. SBR Consulting was founded in London in 2002 as a sales-performance consultancy. ThinkingAhead adopted its current name in 2012 after operating as Southwestern Business Resources. Southwestern Insurance Group was founded in 2018 by David Stuart, an alumnus of the Southwestern Advantage program, and Southwestern Legacy Insurance Group was founded in 2021 as a final-expense insurance distributor. In July 2022, Henry Bedford became CEO after Dustin Hillis stepped down. Bedford had spent 49 years with Southwestern and had previously held both the CEO and board-chair roles. The group remains a privately held, employee-owned collection of independently operating businesses.

  • 2023

    Portfolio reaches 19 businesses

    [1]

    The group is described as comprising 19 companies across several industries.

  • 2022

    Henry Bedford becomes CEO

    [1]

    Bedford succeeds Dustin Hillis as chief executive officer in July.

  • 2021

    Southwestern Legacy Insurance Group is founded

    [1]

    The group adds a final-expense insurance distributor focused on smaller life-insurance policies.

  • 2018

    Southwestern Insurance Group is founded

    [1]

    David Stuart establishes Southwestern Insurance Group to distribute life, annuity, auto, and homeowners insurance products.

  • 2012

    Southwestern Business Resources becomes ThinkingAhead

    [1]

    The group's Nashville executive-search business changes its name to ThinkingAhead.

  • 2002

    SBR Consulting is founded

    [1]

    The London-based sales-performance consulting business is established.

  • 1982

    Executive leveraged buyout creates the modern group

    [1]

    Times-Mirror sells Southwestern to company executives. Spencer Hays becomes executive chairman and Ralph Mosley becomes chairman and CEO.

  • 1975

    Fundraising business is established

    [1]

    Times-Mirror forms Nashville Educational Marketing Services under Southwestern; the company is subsequently renamed Great American Opportunities.

  • 1968

    Times-Mirror acquires Southwestern

    [1]

    Times-Mirror Company takes ownership of Southwestern and later broadens its activities into fundraising and additional products and services.

  • 1947

    Postwar sales-network rebuilding

    [1]

    After losing nearly all independent dealers during the Second World War, Southwestern rebuilds its network and eventually exceeds 1,500 representatives.

Products and positioning

A diversified, employee-owned business group built around entrepreneurship, direct sales, personal development, and long-term operating businesses. Its portfolio combines legacy publishing and educational sales with professional services, insurance, logistics, real estate, travel, and international education.

  • Educational direct sales · 1868

    Southwestern Advantage

    Southwestern Advantage operates the group's long-running summer program for college and university students. Participants are recruited and trained as independent contractors and sell educational books, software, applications, and subscription websites directly to households. The program extends the independent-dealer model introduced in 1868 and operates with American and European university students.

  • Publishing · 1855

    Southwestern Publishing House

    Southwestern Publishing House is the publishing lineage from which the broader group developed. Its modern publishing activities include custom books and fundraising-oriented cookbooks. The operation was acquired as FRP, Inc., originally connected with Favorite Recipes Press, and was renamed Southwestern Publishing Group in 2011.

  • Sales and leadership consulting

    Southwestern Consulting

    Southwestern Consulting combines coaching and speaking activities focused on sales performance, leadership, and professional development. The business serves corporate and sales organizations and has worked with clients identified in the reference material as Aflac, Mercedes-Benz, and Re/Max.

  • International educational exchange

    Global Educational Concepts

    Global Educational Concepts sponsors selected U.S. Department of State BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel and Internship programs. It also supports work-and-travel visas for international students participating in the Southwestern Advantage summer program and is headquartered in Nashville.

  • Student exchange

    High School in the USA

    High School in the USA is an international exchange program that places international students in United States classrooms, connecting overseas students with American secondary-school experiences.

  • Leadership development

    Pat Summitt Leadership Group

    The Pat Summitt Leadership Group provides personal and professional development for teams, companies, and individuals. Its principal framework is the Definite Dozen, a 12-part guide to success associated with Pat Summitt, the former University of Tennessee women's basketball coach.

  • Sales consulting · 2002

    SBR Consulting

    SBR Consulting is a London-based sales-performance consultancy founded in 2002. It forms part of the group's European and international consulting activity.

  • Logistics

    Southwestern Distribution

    Southwestern Distribution provides third-party logistics and full-service distribution. Its capabilities include bulk storage, order fulfillment, and shipping partnerships.

  • Insurance distribution · 2018

    Southwestern Insurance Group

    Founded by David Stuart in 2018, Southwestern Insurance Group distributes term-life, whole-life, annuity, auto, and homeowners insurance products.

  • Final-expense insurance · 2021

    Southwestern Legacy Insurance Group

    Established in 2021, Southwestern Legacy Insurance Group distributes final-expense insurance and smaller life-insurance policies.

  • Residential real estate

    Southwestern Real Estate

    Southwestern Real Estate is the group's residential real-estate business. Patrick Roach is identified as its president.

  • Travel agency

    Southwestern Travel Group

    Southwestern Travel Group operates as a travel agency within the broader portfolio. Terri Rickard is identified as its president.

  • Executive search · 1982

    ThinkingAhead

    ThinkingAhead is a Nashville-based executive-search firm. It was originally known as Southwestern Business Resources and adopted the ThinkingAhead name in 2012.

  • Business incubation

    Southwestern Ventures

    Southwestern Ventures is described as a European business incubator within the Southwestern portfolio.

  • Consumer products

    Inspire Kindness

    Inspire Kindness creates products intended to encourage positive personal and social change. Its president and co-founder, Dan Greene, sold the company to Southwestern Family of Companies.

Brand decisions

  • 2022

    Chief executive successionOther

    Background

    Dustin Hillis stepped down after serving as CEO.

    Action taken

    Southwestern appointed Henry Bedford as CEO in July 2022.

    Aftermath

    Bedford resumed the top operating role after decades with the organization and prior service as chairman and CEO.

    Source

  • 2012

    Executive-search business rebranded as ThinkingAheadStrategy

    Background

    Southwestern Business Resources operated as the group's Nashville executive-search business.

    Action taken

    The company changed its name to ThinkingAhead.

    Aftermath

    ThinkingAhead continued as an executive-search operation within the group.

    Source

  • 2011

    Publishing business renamed Southwestern Publishing GroupStrategy

    Background

    The group's fundraising-oriented cookbook publisher had operated under the FRP, Inc. and Favorite Recipes Press lineage.

    Action taken

    The publishing operation was renamed Southwestern Publishing Group.

    Aftermath

    The renamed business continued the group's custom and fundraising publishing activities.

    Source

  • 1982

    Executive leveraged buyout from Times-MirrorM&A

    Background

    Times-Mirror agreed to sell Southwestern, then described as a company generating approximately $30 million per year, back to company executives.

    Action taken

    A group of Southwestern executives completed a leveraged buyout, with Spencer Hays as executive chairman and Ralph Mosley as chairman and CEO.

    Aftermath

    The transaction formed the basis of the Southwestern Family of Companies and preceded extensive diversification into separately operating businesses.

    Annual revenue. Approximately $30 million (1982)

    Source

  • 1975

    Creation of a dedicated fundraising businessStrategy

    Background

    Times-Mirror sought to develop Southwestern's fundraising activities as a distinct operation.

    Action taken

    It established Nashville Educational Marketing Services under Southwestern.

    Aftermath

    The operation was later renamed Great American Opportunities.

    Source

  • 1968

    Times-Mirror acquisitionM&A

    Background

    Southwestern was an established publishing and person-to-person sales business with a broadening commercial footprint.

    Action taken

    Times-Mirror Company acquired ownership of Southwestern.

    Aftermath

    During the following period, the organization expanded into fundraising and additional product and service categories.

    Source

  • 1868

    Shift from mail-order publishing to independent direct salesStrategy

    Background

    The company sought a broader way to distribute Bibles and educational books while creating earning opportunities for young men.

    Action taken

    Southwestern discontinued its mail-order business and began training independent dealers to sell books door to door.

    Aftermath

    The model became a defining feature of Southwestern's identity and was carried forward by its later summer-sales program.

    Source

Recent events

  • 2023

    Southwestern Family of Companies comprises 19 businesses[1]

    Other

    The group was described as consisting of 19 individual businesses spanning publishing, insurance, investment services, real estate, travel, coaching, and sales.

  • 2022

    Henry Bedford becomes chief executive officer[1]

    Leadership change

    Henry Bedford was appointed CEO in July 2022 after Dustin Hillis stepped down. Bedford had been associated with Southwestern for 49 years and had previously served as chairman and CEO.

  • 2012

    Southwestern reaches the Inc. 5000 ranking[1]

    Other

    Southwestern was listed at position 4,832 in the 2012 Inc. 5000 ranking of rapidly growing private companies in the United States.

  • 2012

    Southwestern Business Resources changes name to ThinkingAhead[1]

    Other

    The Nashville executive-search business formerly known as Southwestern Business Resources adopted the ThinkingAhead name.

Sources1 sources

  1. 1Southwestern Family of Companiesen.wikipedia.org

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