“Welcome to the Black-eyed Pea,” said the ambitious 16-year-old hostess. Even as a teenager, Leigh Sullivan-Guard had a sharp understanding of what clients want. She was a natural. And it was clear her inherent abilities would take her to the top.

Her passion and drive propelled her first into real estate, where she began her career as a title processor and worked her way up to a closer. Charged by the opportunities real estate presented, she went on to work for SullivanHayes, where she earned her broker’s license.

But the lure of small business ownership drew her back to the restaurant industry, as an owner of MAO, a chic Asian Bistro in Cherry Creek. This would lead to a position as marketing director of the Sullivan Restaurant Group—owners of Denver restaurants nine75, Ocean, and Oscar’s Steaks & Cigars. Here Leigh honed her skills: delivering award-winning service, implementing fresh ideas, and generating buzz that drove her business. Her involvement in nine75 would lead to many accolades, including first place in AOL CityGuide’s “Best Restaurant” category. Recently, she left the Sullivan Restaurant Group to start her own consulting firm, Leigh Sullivan Enterprises. With a focus on high-end, service-oriented businesses, LSE has given Leigh the chance to fully realize her talents, and she is well on her way to becoming a top resource for businesses in Denver.

 “My team and I understand that PR and marketing are the first things you need and the last things you can afford,” Leigh says. “We also know what works and what doesn’t—simply from experience—so we don’t spend my clients’ time and budget jumping from one strategy to another, trying to find one that will work.”

In addition to her professional career, Leigh is also involved in various charity events, including “Dancing for the Kids,” a fundraiser for Mount Saint Vincent children’s home, and “Costumes for a Cause,” a fundraiser for the Colorado Neurological Institute. A lifelong Denver local, her dedication to helping others and improving the community is one of her greatest passions. Over the course of a decade, Leigh became a successful broker, concepted and opened several restaurants, and started her own consulting firm.  She certainly has come a long way from the hostess stand.