Brandii Toby-Leon is director of press and public relations for DIY Network, where she oversees the network’s press strategies and serves as the primary liaison between consumer and trade media as well as DIY Network’s talent and executives. Under her leadership DIY Network has received tremendous media attention, including regular home improvement segments on NBC’s Today show and inclusion in articles for such leading publications as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Sports Illustrated. Toby-Leon joined DIY Network in 2006 and has spearheaded award-winning campaigns for various network programs including Blog Cabin.
Prior to joining Scripps Networks, Toby-Leon was publicity manager for the Fox Television Stations duopoly in New York City (WNYW-TV and WWOR-TV). Other corporate and entertainment public relations experience includes a stint with LB Lipman Public Relations in publicity, where she handled the nationally syndicated television shows Maximum Exposure and Real TV.
Toby-Leon is a member of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT). She worked on the 2009 WICT Leadership Conference committee and is an active member of the WICT Atlanta chapter, serving as the director of communications on the 2010 Board. She received the 2009 WICT Atlanta Rising Star and Cheryl Greene Fellowship Awards.
In addition, she’s involved with the Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS), Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC). She is a member of the Diversity & Marketing Communications Committee and the Community Pillar Team for Scripps Networks. In November 2007 Toby-Leon was one of 40 selected in the cable industry to participate in NAMIC’s Leadership Seminar.
Toby-Leon is a graduate of American University’s School of Communication with a master’s degree in journalism and public affairs. She holds bachelor’s degrees in communications (TV/film) and criminal justice from California State University, Fullerton. She lives with her husband, Rennie, in Knoxville, Tenn., and enjoys cross-country road trips, reading, watching movies and dancing.
