A White House native’s journey to an Emmy began with a single elective that would open the door to a creative career.

At White House High School, Leslie Jones was involved in many extracurriculars—serving as class president, participating in Model United Nations, and most impactfully, joining Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA). For her DECA project, she focused on entrepreneurship promotion. 

“It didn’t seem that significant at the time, but looking back at my career now, it was the first piece of connecting with local businesses in White House and helping them thrive utilizing digital media,” Leslie recalls.

After graduation, Leslie enrolled in college with her sights set on pre-med. 

“I always thought I wanted to be a cardiothoracic surgeon,” she admits, crediting countless hours of Grey’s Anatomy for sparking that dream. 

But soon, Leslie realized her true calling was closer to her creative roots. She switched her major to marketing at the University of Tennessee, and later transferred to Western Kentucky University (WKU) as a business major to be closer to home. With a Master in Business Administration degree in hand, she began her professional career with a marketing job at WKU. 

“I like to think Bowling Green found me, I didn’t find it,” she says. 

The experience allowed Leslie to sharpen her skills and prepared her for her next chapter at Sublime Media Group, where she blended production, journalism, and marketing into her work.

Early in her time at Sublime, Leslie’s bosses asked her to create a campaign for the office. They provided a general idea, but left the creativity in her hands. Leslie and the team at Sublime developed a standout project, producing more than 30 pieces of content that captured the group’s humor, energy, and unique chemistry. 

“This truly was a whole team effort,” Leslie says.

The campaign not only resonated with audiences but also earned regional recognition. Their work was honored with a prestigious regional Emmy nomination — an extraordinary accomplishment for a campaign rooted in positivity and authenticity. 

“It is really rare to see a campaign like ours win,” shares Leslie. “Regional Emmys are usually for news breaks that are very sad or somber, so for us to win on just being who we are is really special.” 

From DECA to Emmy, this White House native’s path is a reminder that the best journeys are often the ones we don’t plan — the ones where passion and purpose guide the way. And while Leslie’s achievements are already remarkable, she sees her story as still unfolding.

“I don’t feel like I’m at my full circle moment yet,” she reflects. “That will come when I’m back in the White House community.”

With an Emmy on her shelf and her heart set on home, Leslie’s journey is proof that no matter how far your dreams take you, they can always lead you back to where it all began.

You can take a look at Sublime’s Emmy-nominated work here: https://getyourtimeback.sublimemediagroup.com