Meet Our Founders

Meet our co-founder, April

April Harrington is the co-founder of the Nashville Industry Fund, serving on the board of directors as well as the Fundraising committee. April is from Nashville with deep ties to the service industry. Being dedicated to building strong communities, she sits on the Professional Standards committee for the State of Tennessee, on the Board of Directors for New Horizons Corporation, and is an active member of the Community Involvement Committee for the Eastern Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors.

A highly accomplished and awarded professional, she is the franchise owner and Principal Broker with EXIT Realty, currently leading a real estate team of 25 agents with 60 million in sales in 2021 alone. She is an educator and mentor to many, creating highly effective Master Classes to help new realtors bridge the gap between Real Estate School and the real-world application of the job.

Meet our founder, Stephanie

Born and raised in Nashville, Stephanie is a true testament to the Nashville spirit. With family roots in real estate and development, she grew up surrounded by the city’s growth, but found her own path through music.

She began playing drums in middle school and went on to attend MTSU, where she formed a band and performed across the country and at iconic Nashville venues including Exit/In, Mercy Lounge, The End, Springwater, The Rutledge, and Cafe Coco.

After earning her Master’s degree in San Francisco, Stephanie returned to Nashville and built a career in real estate and the music industry, including a role at a major music label. During COVID, she watched many of her musician and hospitality friends leave Nashville as the cost of living rose.

In 2020, the arts community faced a harsh reality as musicians began leaving in large numbers. The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville estimated a 25% creative exodus over the next two years due to housing costs. To address this, I established the Nashville Industry Fund.

Our purpose is to assist individuals in upholding their creative lifestyles by making affordable living spaces accessible, thus enabling them to sustain their artistic endeavors

Want to join us?

Here’s how you can help!

  • One-time or recurring donations are welcome. Your support helps us continue our work!

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  • Sponsor an event or class!

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  • See our list of classes, meetings and fundraisers on our events page!

    GO TO EVENTS

  • There are tons of ways to work with us!

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