Leanne Prewitt was born in Omaha, and graduated from Mercy High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; but her journey to taking on the role as president of the local marketing and design firm Ervin & Smith took some detours through other cities.
Prewitt spent time in New York as a copywriter after graduating with a degree in journalism. She and her husband then decided to take a sabbatical for around five months to visit Sicily, Ireland, Tokyo and Paris, among other places. Her whirlwind tour of the globe with her husband couldnโt dissuade her from returning to the town in which she was born and raised.
โWe were always likely to come back to Omaha,โ Prewitt admitted. โWe were open to the possibility. Itโs generally a nice place to live.โ
Prewitt was seven weeks into maternity leave with her first baby when she received the offer to take on the role of president at Ervin & Smith on Aug. 23, 2021. Her career with the company started around seven years prior when she joined the team as a creative director.
Doug Smith, the founder of Ervin & Smith, was originally a writer, so Prewitt said her start as a copywriter in New York after graduating college โfeels like a full-circle momentโ now that sheโs taken on the role of president.
โBecoming president wasnโt necessarily a goal on my radar,โ Prewitt said. โI was more looking to grow into more influence and impact at work.โ
That is exactly what she did. Prewitt has made an impact at Ervin & Smith and as an avid volunteer. She serves on the board of Mercy High School and co-founded the political action committee Women Who Run Nebraska.
Though she didnโt necessarily set out to climb the ladder at Ervin & Smith the way she did, Prewitt admitted that working in an encouraging environment allowed her to thrive. The company operates under four core values: candor, happiness, innovation, and accountability. โThe four core values attract growth-minded folks,โ explained Prewitt. โIโve grown so much in the years Iโve been there.โ
โErvin & Smith has such a passion for leadership and development,โ said Prewitt, further explaining that the culture of the company attracts people who are passionate about volunteerism and serving on boards. โWe create things that matter, and we never settle.โ
Her fellow executives look up to her and admire her drive and work ethic. Ashley Bails, chief marketing officer at Ervin & Smith, said, โIโve always admired Leanneโs leadership and people-first approach to everything she does. She understands that when people have the support and resources they need to grow as individuals, they can achieve both personal and professional success. At the end of the day, that is how we will continue to serve our clients and stay ahead in the fast-changing marketing world we work in.โ
Her career trajectory is inspirational to other women who hope to climb the corporate ladder and smash the glass ceiling. Prewittโs advice for these womenโor to anyone else looking to ascend in the ranks of their careerโis to โsurround yourself with people whose work you admire.โ She added that it is easier to thrive in a work environment thatโs filled with joy and fun. โOtherwise,โ she says, โitโs awful.โ
โFind the people and places that truly support you as a person. Find men and women who will advocate for you and support you.โ
Prewitt made it her personal mission to support women and girls. She has been a board member at Mercy High for around five years and was involved in leading the re-brand of the school. Sheโs passionate about Mercy High not only as an alumnus, but also because โthe school was formed by women, run by women, and itโs for women,โ she said.
Women Who Run Nebraska is Prewittโs other passion. It started initially with letter writing, then hosting forums, attending political rallies and becoming more involved in community groups, but then eventually evolved into a state PAC with a focus on supporting progressive women candidates.
Prewittโs co-founder, Denise Blaya Powell, said, โLeanne is the creative force behind the Women Who Run Nebraska brand and all of the fun merchandise weโve produced. That work has helped our organization raise thousands of dollars to support women across the state. Her energy, passion and love for the work were such critical components to getting our organization off the ground and building the momentum that sustains us today. Iโm so grateful to know her and get to work with her in this shared cause.โ
Prewittโs contributions to Ervin & Smith, along with her contributions to the political and educational landscape of Omaha, demonstrate a woman who is indeed of influence and impact.
Visit ervinandsmith.com for more information.
This article originally appeared in the February/March 2022 issue of B2B Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.