Press Release: 5by5 Joins the 3LS Family of Companies
AWARD-WINNING MARKETING AGENCY 5BY5 JOINS 3LS FAMILY OF COMPANIES, EXPANDING SERVICES AND BECOMING 100% EMPLOYEE-OWNED
(NASHVILLE, TN) February 18, 2025 — 5by5, an award-winning digital agency, announced today that it has been acquired by fellow Nashville-based 3LS Inc., an employee-owned company that specializes in providing administrative and advisory services to human service organizations. In joining the 3LS Inc. family of companies, 5by5 becomes 100% employee-owned and expands its best-in-class services to further the company’s mission of supporting change makers.
“We are so thrilled to join the 3LS team,” said 5by5 CEO, Shannon Litton. “This is the culmination of a 10-year journey building an agency of change makers who serve change makers. We’re excited about the additional capabilities that this allows us to provide to our incredible clients, but also for our team members.”
The agency—who recently celebrated its fifth appearance on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America—announced in 2024 that it had become a partial employee-owned company (ESOP), with hopes of becoming 100% employee-owned in the near future. For 5by5 leadership, joining the 3LS Inc. family of companies is that dream realized.
“Employee ownership has been a goal of our Leadership Team’s for the last several years,” Litton says. “We wanted to reward our talented team members and the ESOP model felt like the perfect vehicle to do that.”
She continued: “We had been working with 3LS Inc. as a client and partner and knew they were 100% employee-owned. Because of this, 3LS CEO, Eric Strickland, became a trusted mentor and advisor for us as we became a partial ESOP last year. Throughout that process, there was so much synergy with our two teams. We saw great potential and possibility if we joined forces in this way. It was win-win for everyone.”
Strickland agrees: “Acquiring 5by5 is a strategic investment into the future growth of our professional services division at 3LS,” he said. “We’ve gotten to see the agency’s wonderful work firsthand as a client, and now, we can’t wait to help them expand and drive even more growth for change makers. Our team is thrilled to have them join the 3LS family of companies.”
As for day-to-day operations, 5by5 President, Josh Miller, notes that the agency's service lines and commitment to change makers remain the same.
“Our mission, vision and dedication to world-class service for our clients continues,” said Miller. “We now have more resources to deepen our industry and service expertise to support our clients even better, and we’re looking forward to more ground-breaking work ahead.”
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About 5by5
5by5 is a full-service marketing agency located in Nashville. Born from one simple but heartfelt belief—organizations driven by change deserve access to the best marketing strategies, tools, and implementation available anywhere. Some of the change maker clients it serves include Williamson Health, Tennessee Department of Health, Show Hope, Medi-Share, WIN Warehouse, Oakworth Capital Bank, charity:water and more.
About 3LS Inc.
The parent company to the Omni Family of Services, 3LS Inc is a Nashville-based employee-owned company that specializes in providing administrative and advisory services to human service organizations. Services include finance and accounting, human resources, payroll, marketing communications and information technology.
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