Missy Acosta

VP, Brand Strategy Delta Dental of Tennessee

Missy Acosta is a maverick strategist and influencer with more than 25 years’ experience in B2B and consumer branding and marketing. Missy is an innovative problem solver with a focus on product marketing, business development, corporate social responsibility (CSR), public and government relations, and executive management. Her industry experience includes insurance, healthcare, technology, economic development, public utilities, entertainment and consumer products with an emphasis in strategic planning and execution, brand development, and sales and marketing alignment.

As Vice President of Brand Strategy for Delta Dental of Tennessee, Missy oversees all external and internal communications and ensures the company’s brand purpose is at the heart of it all. Since joining Delta Dental, commercial revenues have increased more than 100%, from $188 million in 2006 to $377 million in 2018. She has helped garner awards for senior executives including Nashville Business Journal’s CFO of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award for CFO, Health Care Hero for CEO, Most Admired CEO , among others. This past year, she was instrumental in the company’s re-visioning process that led to the development of a strategic plan including new mission, vision and values.

Missy has transformed corporate giving initiatives, which account for 15-30% net revenues annually, into strategic community investments creating cause branding and cause marketing opportunities that ensure maximum community impact and enhance brand equity, including programs with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation, Salvation Army, and more. The company has been recognized for these efforts with a number of awards, including the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Crystal Award in Nashville and Memphis , and Nashville Business Journal’s Best in Business and Corporate Philanthropy Awards.

In her role, Missy has created brand experiences to elevate the position of Delta Dental, such as Smile Power Week, now in its fifth year, which garnered the 2018 Brand Champion Award from Delta Dental Plans Association. She is trained in Harvard Method of Negotiation and has negotiated strategic sports marketing programs with NFL, NHL, NBA, NCAA, SEC, OVC, and Minor League Baseball franchises.

Missy joined Delta Dental of Tennessee in 2006 as Director of Corporate Communications and Public Relations and was promoted to Vice President of Marketing in 2007. In 2015, Government Relations was added to her area of responsibility. She has presented nationally and regionally on sales and marketing alignment to CMO peers and marketing professionals as well as sales and account management colleagues. Prior to Delta Dental, Missy was a public relations executive for agencies in Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tenn.

She graduated magna cum laude from Xavier University, Cincinnati, with a Bachelor of Arts double majoring in Mass Communications and Public Relation, and received her MBA (4.0) from Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville.