Since 1855, Southwestern Family of Companies has invested in purpose-driven people who are inspired to build principle-guided businesses that impact the world.
Established in Nashville, Tennessee in 1855, Southwestern Family of Companies is a diversified, growing, international, and employee-owned company built on a foundation of principles and purpose. Comprised of companies with a shared mission of building people and helping others, Southwestern Family of Companies provides a large range of products and services, including educational books and websites, school fundraising efforts, healthy meal solutions, luxury travel packages, financial advising, consulting services, sales and leadership coaching and more. In its early days, Southwestern Family of Companies had one focus: publishing and selling first Bibles and then educational books door-to-door. In the aftermath of the Civil War, door-to-door book sales provided an opportunity for young people to earn money to pay for a college education. Today, the business—now known as Southwestern Advantage—remains the company’s core business entity, with college-aged entrepreneurs promoting educationally-themed children’s books around the world. Southwestern Family of Companies has expanded beyond Southwestern Publishing House and Southwestern Advantage to include member companies across a range of industries and continues to grow each year.
Discover More Than 160 Years of History
Established as Southwestern Publishing House
The Southwestern Advantage summer sales and leadership program starts
Times Mirror Company acquires Southwestern Family of Companies
Spencer Hays becomes president of Southwestern Family of Companies
Great American Opportunities (formerly Nashville Educational Marketing Services) established
Southwestern Family of Companies buys itself back from Times Mirror Company and becomes 100 percent employee owned
Southwestern Family of Companies earns position on Inc. 5000
Dustin Hillis becomes the new leader of the Southwestern Family of Companies
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