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Powering Prosperity The Leaders, The Lessons, and The Conversations That Shifted Everything

Author: Desiree Whitehead

If part one of LegacyCon opened my heart, part two opened my focus. The “Powering Prosperity” session was where inspiration sharpened into action. It was where community, business, and leadership intersected with intention.

Moderated by Anthony Bonamy, the panel featured three leaders shaping both Broward and Miami’s economic landscape in meaningful ways: Steven Anthony, Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen, and Casneve “Khass” Oupelle. They came from different lanes, but their message carried one unified thread. Prosperity is built with intention.

As a first-time LegacyCon attendee, this session made me understand why people return every year. It was real, direct, and rooted in solutions, not slogans. The conversation was grounded, practical, and deeply connected to community uplift. No clichés. No hollow inspiration. Real insights with real implications.

Steven Anthony:
Steven Anthony: Building for the Future, Not the Moment

Steven Anthony offered the perspective of someone who understands economic development at a systems level. His message centered on building for longevity, not quick wins. When he said,
 “Economic mobility is not about what you build. It is about who you build it with,”
 the room paused. It was clear this was not theory. It was a lived experience.

Steven talked about how Miami Beach is intentionally positioning itself to support entrepreneurs and future-facing industries. Not just tourism. Not just nightlife. Real business ecosystems. Real opportunities.

During our one-on-one conversation after the panel, he mentioned something that surprised me. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. Despite living my entire life in Broward County, I had never heard of it. After looking into it, everything he shared was confirmed. It is the official public and private economic development partnership for the county. It supports business attraction, innovation, and expansion. It is designed to help founders like me plug into a larger ecosystem.

That one conversation shifted my awareness. It reminded me that prosperity grows when you understand the infrastructure around you. It showed me that sometimes the resources you need are in your own backyard, you just have to know where to look.

Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen: Leadership Rooted in Responsibility

Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen spoke with a clarity that resonated deeply. As the Vice Mayor of Coral Springs, she represents the very community I have lived in for years. She spoke about what it means to serve, to lead, and to show up for the people who depend on your decisions.

Her message challenged me. She emphasized that many residents of Broward County do not realize they can volunteer, sit on boards, or support civic initiatives beyond their immediate neighborhoods. That struck me because it was true. I had never thought about the boards, committees, or advisory groups in Coral Springs that could benefit from my expertise.

After the panel, I walked up to her and said, “You have been looking for me.”
And we both knew exactly what that meant.

As a founder, strategist, and agency owner, I have skills that can support my own community in meaningful ways. I told her that I want to serve. I want to volunteer my time. I want to give back through the lens of marketing and communication because that is what fills my cup. She welcomed the conversation and encouraged the follow-up.

That interaction grounded me. It reminded me that leadership is not just about the spaces you grow into. Leadership is also about the spaces you choose to serve.

Casneve “Khass” Oupelle: Opportunity Is Here If You Are Willing To Step Into It

Casneve “Khass” Oupelle brought the entrepreneurial lens to the panel, but my biggest insights came from our one-on-one conversation afterward. On stage, he shared high-level themes about opportunity. Off stage, he made it real.

He talked about what it looks like for founders to relocate or build their business in Miami Beach. He highlighted the growing number of support systems available. Grants. Programs. Incentives. Community partnerships. Industry pathways.

What stood out most was how practical and accessible he made the opportunities feel. Miami Beach is not just a destination city. It is a city intentionally building a business ecosystem. And it is ready for founders who want to plug in.

His insights came at the perfect time. The way Howl is growing, the idea of expanding into new markets is already on my radar. Hearing him talk about the support available made me want to explore the Miami Beach landscape more intentionally. We agreed to stay connected, and I fully intend to follow up.

His perspective reminded me that entrepreneurship is not meant to be isolated. It is an ecosystem. It is a collaboration. It is opportunity meeting preparation.

The Real Thread of Prosperity

Listening to these leaders made something unmistakably clear.
➤ Prosperity is built.
➤ Prosperity is shared.
➤ Prosperity is a responsibility.

Prosperity requires:
➤ collaboration
➤ intentional leadership
➤ civic engagement
➤ strategic decision-making
➤ community awareness
➤ access to resources

This was not a motivational session. It was a reminder that prosperity is the outcome of deliberate choices made by individuals who care about the communities they serve.

Perspective is Everything

➤ I walked out of this session with clarity.

➤ I left wanting to connect deeper with the economic development organizations in Broward and Miami.

➤ I left wanting to follow up with Vice Mayor Bowen about serving on boards in Coral Springs.

➤ I left wanting to explore what it could look like to expand the footprint of Howl Marketing into the Miami Beach ecosystem.

➤ I left wanting to invest more intentionally in the communities that have shaped me.

As a strategist, I always tell clients that growth becomes predictable when you build the right systems. This panel reminded me that prosperity becomes predictable when the right people are aligned and informed.

It’s Bigger Than LegacyCon

LegacyCon placed this panel exactly where it needed to be. After grounding us in session one, it challenged us to think about prosperity in a way that is sustainable, inclusive, and rooted in service.

It reminded me that the people shaping our communities are accessible. They are open to conversation. They are willing to collaborate. They are ready to support. The only missing piece is whether we step forward and engage.

➤ Prosperity requires clarity.
➤ Prosperity requires action.
➤ Prosperity requires showing up.
➤ Prosperity requires follow-up.
➤ Prosperity requires community.

And I left that room ready to do all of it.

Part three takes us into the women who lead. And the women of LegacyCon had something powerful to say.

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