CHAIR OF THE BOARD

Wade is a born-and-raised Bradentonian, and a supporter of the “Friendly City” both personally and professionally. He is a co-founder of Independent Jones (a live music & entertainment event company) and former board member at Realize Bradenton (an arts and culture nonprofit dedicated to Bradenton). He is currently a community manager at Connect Central (a flexible workspace in downtown Bradenton) and a member of the investment team that brought Oscura back in 2022 to fulfill a purpose; to bring quality bands to local audiences and quality audiences to local bands. He also volunteers as the parent-manager of his son’s competitive soccer team and spends any of his “spare” time on the kayaks with his family.

Born and raised in Bradenton, Florida. Shannon attended Bradenton Christian and from there went on to Palm Beach Atlantic University and Art Institute, receiving degrees in Psychology and then in Fashion Design.  Her love for painting and pattern design led her to start doing more illustration work. After college, Shannon began freelancing for Bealls as a surface designer. Shortly after, launching her own illustration studio in 2011.  She began creating custom wedding invitations and selling her art and stationery designs on Etsy.  In 2016, she launched the wholesale side of her business at the National Stationery Show in New York and began to grow a stationery line.  Shannon’s line has since been sold in over 100 stores nationwide and she have been able to collaborate with brands like Hallmark, Anthropologie, Nordstrom, Trader Joes, Paper Source and more.  As she continues to work on a range of custom projects, growing my wholesale and retail business and participating in local markets like the Friendly City Flea. She currently resides in Bradenton, FL with her husband and two year old son (& pets) where she works out of her sunny home studio.

Leah is a Manatee County native and proud graduate of Manatee High School. After many years producing large-scale events in the corporate and government affairs industries, she returned to her roots to launch The Big Idea Strategic Events, a company rooted in creativity, connection, and community impact.

Leah is a member of both the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce and is a graduate of Realize Bradenton’s Start-Up Circle Cohort 5. She maintains strong ties to the local arts and culture scene through her work with organizations such as the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, Manatee Performing Arts Center, Herrig Center for the Arts, formerly ArtCenter Manatee, and Realize Bradenton.

Leah is married to Brent Brown, and they are the proud parents of their teenage daughter, Taya. Outside of her professional work, Leah enjoys golfing, reading, and creating meaningful connections throughout the region. She is honored to contribute her energy and experience to the Friendly City Foundation’s mission.

Adam has worked in both the early education field and event operations in non-profit settings for the past 10 years. He is a proud graduate of Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in education, minoring in leadership. Currently, Adam is working on developing his own business in event planning to help guide clients to local talent matching all of their event needs. 

TREASURER

Ali is a CPA with Carr, Riggs & Ingram who lives and works in the Friendly City. She specializes in tax planning and preparation for businesses, individuals, and nonprofit organizations, and serves a wide variety of clients in the area. In her free time she enjoys reading, cooking, photography, exploring nature, attending community events, and giving back to the community by supporting local nonprofits. 

Blair Bloomston is the Co-Founder and CEO of Leaders Uplifted, a professional development agency focused on leadership, well-being, and high-performance at work. She's spent the past 20 years supporting clients such as NASA, Deloitte, Hilton, and the U.S. House of Representatives through her expertise as an instructional designer and facilitator, as well as her background leading interactive, game-based training experiences. Most importantly, Blair's is a proud parent of two young sons with her husband Shane, Co-Founder at Leaders Uplifted, and she also brings her 1st generation Floridian and Bradenton-born pride to the Friendly City.