Building a Culture with Heart: ESa’s Commitment to Community
Tara Myers, FAIA, NCARB, EDAC, LEED® AP BD+C
Erin Matchett, IIDA, NCIDQ, EDAC
From friendly cornhole competitions to the annual Heart Walk, ESa celebrates a tradition of giving back to the American Heart Association
At ESa, improving lives isn’t limited to the spaces we design. It’s part of who we are. That commitment extends into the ways we connect with one another and give back to the community. Nowhere is this more evident than in our decades-long involvement with the American Heart Association (AHA).
From cornhole tournaments in The Gulch to walking side-by-side in the annual Heart Walk, our team has rallied around a shared mission: raising awareness, funding research and supporting heart health across the community. In honor of World Heart Day on September 29, we’re reflecting on how our partnership with AHA continues to shape ESa’s culture of connection and care.
Why it matters: Heart health and the AHA’s evolving mission
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Beyond awareness, AHA programs now focus on prevention and education. Initiatives like “Hard Hats with Heart,” STEM opportunities for young women and school wellness resources are among the many programs ESa is proud to support.
For ESa, these efforts align naturally with our work in healthcare and AEC design by bridging professional expertise with community impact.
A shared mission with personal meaning
For many at ESa, supporting the AHA is more than tradition, it’s personal. Tara Myers, risk manager and principal, has been connected to the cause for over 20 years. Inspired by her father’s journey with heart disease and the influence of former ESa president and CEO Dick Miller, who once chaired the Heart Walk, Tara helped make AHA a cornerstone of our culture.
Senior interior design manager, Erin Matchett, brings her own powerful perspective. Born with a congenital heart defect, Erin has undergone three surgeries, including open-heart surgery. Her experiences highlight how advances in care, made possible by research and funding, can change lives.
Events that bring the mission to life
What began nearly a decade ago as an idea from Erin has grown into one of our favorite annual traditions: the AEC Cornhole Tournament. With strong community participation, hands-only CPR training led by AHA and help from generous sponsors like Market Street Enterprises, JE Dunn Construction and Structural Design Group, the event is a fun way to make an impact. In 2025 alone, ESa helped raise nearly $10,000 for AHA through the tournament.
“Seeing how far heart research and care have come in my lifetime has been incredible,” said Matchett. “It’s living proof that the fundraising we do matters.”
Each September, ESa also joins the Heart Walk, a tradition spanning more than two decades. Employees, families and friends walk together, celebrating survivors, honoring loved ones and strengthening ties with the Nashville community. Both events reflect how giving back is woven into ESa’s culture, and our team looks forward to it each year.
A culture that connects design to community
At ESa, team members are encouraged to support causes they’re passionate about and turn those interests into action. The result is a culture where passion for design and community engagement go hand in hand.
From the cornhole tournament to the Heart Walk, CPR training inside our office and partnerships across industries, our team finds ways to strengthen connections and improve lives. These efforts build lasting relationships with clients, partners and peers and reflect our philosophy to leave things better than we found them.
“It shows people we’re here to improve lives in every way we can,” said Myers. “Whether it’s through design or through the causes we champion.”
As World Heart Day approaches, ESa’s message is simple: building a better community begins with building a culture that cares.
