OUR MISSION
People are busy, and typically their primary job
isn’t planning events.
Southwood Event Group is here to help our clients pull off flawless events without having to worry with the details.
OUR APPROACH
We use our experience and relationships in the event & festival community to produce events everyone gets to enjoy.
We have a proven process that works for all events, big and small. It all starts with discovering your vision, and we take it from there. The only thing you have to do is dream w
LET US HELP YOU PLAN YOUR EVENT
MEET THE TEAM
BRIAN ELLSWORTH
Founder
From development and planning to marketing and customer service, Brian has been able to apply proven expertise to every facet of the live event business. He has conceived and executed strategic plans for carnivals, fairs, music festivals, expositions, agricultural fairs, trade shows, beer festivals and other events across the United States, both as a hands-on operator and as a sought-after consultant.
Whether it’s launching a new concept or reinvigorating a long-running institution, Brian is eminently qualified as a proven leader in the large-scale event space. Years of experience, mistakes, knowledge, passion, and work ethic gave Brian the ability to deliver full-time problem solving while working with various people from all across the country in the form of the live event business.
Over the past decade, Brian has served in event management, consulting and executive positions among other management, consulting and executive positions.
In these capacities, Brian oversaw and implemented plans from the ground up including logistics and layout, equipment buying and rental, sales and marketing, talent acquisition, and public relations.
As a Memphis resident, Brian prides himself in community involvement serving as the Chairman of Memphis Younglife Capernaum, board member of Memphis Younglife and For the Kingdom, a member at Hope Presbyterian Church, takes on advisory committee roles for Angel Streets Ministry and Memphis Athletic Ministry, and is an active member of the Greater Memphis Chamber and Memphis Tourism.
Brian founded Southwood Entertainment Group, a turn-key event production and management company that has created 15+ large scale live festivals and has consulted with other event owners and event coordinators to bring fresh ideas and energy to events in the live event space, with clients like the Live Nation Urban, Mid-South Fair, the Levitt Shell, Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, etc.
Outside of work, Brian enjoys playing golf, traveling, and spending time with his wife, Loye and 2 children, Colby and Eden. More times than not, you can find Brian at Houston's Memphis, Andrew Michael's bar, or Itta Bena catching up with friends over a drink at the bar.
GRACIE LEATHERS
Known for her community involvement and relationship-building skills, Gracie specializes in building brand awareness, creating and maintaining new vendor and business relationships, coordinating processes for various events, consulting events, as well as sales and operations.
With over 6 years of experience, Gracie has built numerous relationships with a diverse range of organizations in event planning and production.
Memphian born and raised, Gracie is no stranger to the Memphis community as she was a mentee for the LoveWorks leadership program, is on the Programming Board for the Nexus Leadership Program, is a mentor for Streets Ministries, regular attendee and volunteer for cityCURRENT, is an member of the Junior League Of Memphis, and also an active member with the Greater Memphis Chamber and with Memphis Tourism
Prior to joining the team at Southwood Entertainment, Gracie graduated from the University of Mississippi with a BBA in Marketing, was the Executive Assistant to the SVP of Promotions at Universal Music Group Nashville, started her own wedding and event planning company, Gracie Leathers Wedding and Event Planning, was an Event Producer for Simply Delicious Caterings, as well as a Marketing Specialist/Analyst for American Residential Services.
Outside of work, Gracie enjoys gathering friends for dinner or happy hour, running, traveling to see friends and family, trying out new restaurants in Memphis, and listening to podcasts.