WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Leah Brown’s journey has taken her from Hometown Queen to Community Champion. Long before she was the visionary behind some of the Southeast Region’s most vibrant celebrations, she was a proud Manatee High School Hurricane—Homecoming Queen, Class of 1997—with a heart for service and a natural flair for bringing people together. Her love for community and tradition was already shining through, especially after high school. She joined the award-winning debate team at Manatee Community College and became a member of Hernando DeSoto Historical Society’s Queens Court, where she represented the region with grace and pride.
During high school, while serving as a student sports medicine trainer, Leah first met Brent Brown—a standout basketball player during the team’s off-season. Though life led them on separate paths for many years, fate had other plans. The two eventually reconnected, writing a beautiful next chapter filled with shared purpose and deep roots in the community they both love.
Leah’s passion for people and storytelling put her on the path to study Public Relations and Hospitality Management at Florida International University in Miami, where she was introduced to the city’s vibrant event scene. There, she met lifelong friend and mentor Pamela Canellas, owner of Hot Jam Entertainment, who opened the door to an entirely new world.
Through her work with Hot Jam, Leah gained hands-on experience producing everything from high-caliber intimate gatherings to fast-paced South Beach nightclub events and large-scale community festivals. “It was a truly game-changing time in my life,” said Leah. “One that cemented my love for the energy, orchestration, and impact of creating something meaningful from the ground up.”
“Meeting Leah in South Beach in the late nineties while we were working on the launch of the revival of the Volkswagen Bug was exactly what my thriving Entertainment & Dance company needed for growth and development,” said Pam Canellas, Owner of Hot Jam Entertainment. “I immediately hired her! She is outstanding in everything she does. Her attention to detail, her personality, her positive and professional attitude, and her approach to everyone involved, whether it is a major scale event or smaller ones, is always over and above.”
That passion for hospitality and creating experiences then launched Leah’s 18-year career in corporate events with Bright House Networks (BHN) and later Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum. She led high-profile events across the region, working alongside executives, elected officials, and community stakeholders to bring powerful brand experiences to life.
Marva Johnson, Group Vice President at Charter Communications, worked closely with Leah for over a decade. “Leah Brown’s event management is the real-life, professional manifestation of Pixie Dust Magic,” she said. “I had the privilege of mentoring and working with her, where I witnessed her growth of this extraordinary talent. Whether it’s a corporate event with dignitaries or a small-town celebration, Leah’s magic shines through. She’s a brilliant planner and thoughtful team player who consistently creates memorable experiences and lasting value.”
Leah looks back on those years as incredibly formative. “The family I gained during my time at BHN and Charter Communications left a lasting impact on my life,” she said. “The colleagues I had the privilege of working alongside helped shape the person I am today. I’m forever grateful for the opportunities I was given and the experience of collaborating with such dedicated and talented individuals.”
After years of producing events on a regional and national stage, Leah began to feel a deeper pull—a desire to return to her roots and realign her passion with her purpose. More than anything, she wanted to spend meaningful time with her husband Brent and their growing teenage daughter Taya while using her talents to uplift the community that helped shape her.
With the unwavering support of family and the friends who have cheered her on every step of the way, Leah launched The Big Idea Strategic Events—a company built on connection, creativity, and a deep love for the people and places closest to her heart. Through this next chapter, Leah is not only creating unforgettable events, but she’s living out her dream: to nurture her family, give back to her hometown, and make every celebration feel like it truly matters.
“Leah was always very inquisitive and loved to create,” said her mom, Sherry Knowles. “I often collected unique things for her to make for colleagues or to decorate outfits for plays or dances. She enjoyed decorating her room and outfits from a very young age. As an adult and business owner, she finds her true calling serving others. She spends hours imagining how to create the best possible experience for people. It’s always a joy to volunteer at her events, and seeing how happy she makes others truly fills my heart.”
“Thank you to my mom, Sherry, my dad, Mike, and my brother Aaron for always being my biggest cheerleaders!” added Leah.
One of Leah’s most meaningful legacy projects while at Charter Communications was Amazing Grace Park. The 3-acre sacred space in Marion, South Carolina, is dedicated to remembrance, healing, and community connection. Home to the Clementa Pinckney Memorial, the park honors the shooting victims of the Charleston’s Emanuel Nine.
“Leah brought vision, energy, and heart to Amazing Grace Park from day one,” said South Carolina State Senator Kent Williams, a leading advocate for the project. “Her ability to turn meaningful ideas into lasting, community-centered experiences helped transform this project into a true legacy for Marion, South Carolina. Her work will inspire generations to come.”
Since launching The Big Idea Strategic Events, Leah has led signature programs such as the Amazing Grace Park Endowment Gala, Bradenton Area Convention Center European Holiday Market, Palmetto Fourth Fest, School District of Manatee’s Excellence in Education Awards, Sundown Get Down on Historic Bridge Street, Symphony on the Sand, and Taste & Toast Gulf Coast at the Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa—each one delivering meaningful memories for thousands across Manatee County and the Southeast.
“With twenty years of friendship and after countless professional collaborations, getting to work with Leah again is the best full-circle moment,” said Jill McGarry. “We launched The Big Idea Strategic Events and McGarry Marketing at the same time, and now we have the opportunity to work together with a deep understanding of each other’s work ethic. Our synergy truly creates something special.”
Along with the many large-scale productions, Leah planned two events that hold a special place in her heart. “Planning the retirement celebrations for Charles Clapsaddle, Station Manager for METV, and Shirley Groover Bryant, Mayor of the City of Palmetto, were very special for me,” said Leah. “They are two individuals I call mentors, friends, and a guiding light in my professional journey.”
Call her a planner, yes, but she’s also a vision architect, a community connector, and a celebration strategist. And behind every event she produces is a foundation of careful planning, artistic flair, and intentional design.
“When the planning, the people, and the purpose all align—that’s when the real magic happens,” said Leah. “It’s not just about the event itself; it’s about how it makes people feel. With creative thoughtfulness at the heart of everything I do, my goal is simple: to create something truly impactful and unforgettable.”
Elliott Falcione, Executive Director of the Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau, was one of the first people Leah had the pleasure of working with when she launched The Big Idea. “The partnership with Leah and her team allows our office to optimize our special event objectives by utilizing her unique talents and relationships within the region and beyond,” he said.
That early partnership meant more to Leah than Elliott may realize. “I am very grateful for Elliott and his team for believing in me,” she said. “His friendship and mentorship through the years have helped shape my path more than he will ever know.”
Leah is quick to recognize others who’ve influenced her journey. “I have so many shout-outs to the many people that have helped me along the way,” she said, “but a special thanks to Ben Breazeale, my former boss and ultimate confidant, who always let me fly, and to Rusty Smith, retired County Administrator of Florence County, South Carolina, who unknowingly gave me my greatest gift.”
That gift was a moment of recognition that sparked something big. “One day, Rusty looked at me and said, ‘Mrs. Brown, whenever we work with you, you make things bigger and better.'” It was that comment that earned her the nickname “Leah, The Big Idea”—and ultimately inspired the name of her business.
“The Big Idea Strategic Events reflects the influence of so many people who believed in this vision,” Leah said. “Their support helped shape something with heart, meaning, and a sense of purpose. I’m thankful for every step of the journey and for everyone who walked it with me.”
