Leslie Gerrish is a small business owner and mother of two living in Vermillion. She and her husband Ed, a professor in the Political Science Department at USD and co-owner of XiX (19) Brewing Company, moved to Vermillion eleven years ago, in May of 2015. In 2016, Leslie opened The Bean Community Coffeeshop with co-owner Martin Prendergast. And in 2021, Leslie and Martin opened the Cow & Spoon ice cream shop with two other community members. Both shops have become anchor businesses in downtown Vermillion.

Leslie also is the owner of Creative Meetings & Events. Her event planning career spans twenty-five years and across the globe. She graduated from Purdue University with her undergrad degree in 2003, and she earned her Masters in Public Affairs from Indiana University in 2012, where she served as the Graduate Student Association President.

Leslie and Ed have two little girls in Vermillion School District—Clare, age 8, and Ceci, age 7. Leslie is the President of the United Way of Vermillion, the Chair of the Clay County Democratic Party, and has served on the executive team of the Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Company.