Meet Dr. Beverly Brown
Who is Dr. Brown?
As an educator and life-long learner, Dr. Brown values education, research and service. As a Girl Scout, she values integrity, equity and hard work. As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, she values public service. As a dedicated wife, sister and aunt, she values family. As a dancer with the Smooth Steppers and an avid golfer, she values friendships. As a community member, she values collaboration and helping others. As a Christian, she values biblical principles. Finally, as a Lean Management scholar, she values good governance that is both effective and efficient.
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A retired educational administrator with a background in banking, she was the first African American female bank Vice President in Genesee County. As a banker she learned the value of currency and community. She volunteered with several non-profits which included Junior Achievement, Paint the Town, the Urban League, Flint Neighborhood Improvement and Preservation Project (Flint NIPP), the Salem Housing Task Force, Burton Neighborhood Housing, the Urban Bankers Forum and the Girl Scouts.
As the first African American president of the local Fair Winds Girl Scout Council, she embraced the importance of equity. She sharpened her leadership skills, examined budgets, and developed strategic plans. This experience enriched her effectiveness as a skilled executive.
Dr. Brown transitioned from banking to education in the mid-90’s. It was then that she accepted a newly created role at the Genesee Area Skill Center as the School & Business Liaison. This role allowed her to get to know the county even better by traveling to every high school in every school district. She met with superintendents and counselors about the opportunity for students to complement their book knowledge with a technical skill. Her recruitment efforts resulted in robust enrollment over a five-year period serving about 2,500 students annually.
After working as a school administrator for 16 years, Beverly enrolled in the doctoral program at Oakland University, completing a PhD in educational leadership. This led her to join the State Superintendent’s office in Lansing at the Michigan Department of Education. In this new role, Dr. Brown traveled across the state working to improve low performing schools, consulting with districts about achievement gaps, and developing Early Middle Colleges.
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“After retiring from Oakland Community College in 2021, I spent months traveling, playing golf, and bonding with family and friends. When I returned home to Genesee County, I felt that we could dream bigger, but I knew that it would require some changes. In the fall of 2022, I read two books that shaped my perspective about how I might be a part of that change. First, Stacey Abrams’ Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change convinced me that I didn’t need a political background to engage in politics. I realized that I could influence real change. The second book that shaped my thinking was titled Courage is Calling by Ryan Holiday. This text encouraged me to toss aside my fear and to overcome my imposter syndrome. It was then that I told myself I’ve got this.
I am running because I want to
set an example of effective collaboration that benefits our community,
live in a place that people wouldn’t mind visiting,
make our county a place where economic development thrives,
feel safe and secure morning, noon and night,
amplify the value of DEI and Lean Management in every layer of government.”
Meet Dr. Beverly Brown: Commissioner Brown has been happily married to her husband Willie Brown for 33 years.
Preserving Democracy: State Senator John Cherry and Commissioner Brown at the Democratic Party Picnic. The two also spoke at the Mundy Township Senior Center during Senator Cherry's Coffee Hour.
Economic Development: Commissioner Brown joins Commissioner DelRico Loyd at the old Buick City groundbreaking ceremony. Ashley Capital is redeveloping the land with the help of a $3 million ARPA contribution from Genesee County.
Effectiveness & Efficiency: Commissioner Ellen Ellenburg, Board Chair, joins Commissioner Brown at the Michigan Association of Commissioners (MAC) conference in Lansing.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Commissioner Brown listens to ideas from the deaf community for improving access to County Commissioner board meetings.
Supporting Labor: UAW Representative Steve Dawes acknowledges Commissioner Brown during the annual White Shirt Day at Local 659.
Economic Development: Commissioner Brown supports business owners like Sam Cox, McDonald's Franchise owner.
Beautification: Commissioner Brown joins volunteers on Earth Day picking up debris along Corunna Road.
Beautification: Commissioner Brown joins volunteers on Earth Day picking up debris along Corunna Road.
Infrastructure: Genesee County Commissioners Martin Cousineau, Beverly Brown, Ellen Ellenburg and James Avery turn on the new water tower valve in Burton.
Infrastructure: Commissioner Brown and Grand Blanc Township Supervisor, Scott Bennett preparing to climb the Burton Water Tower.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Commissioner Brown poses with American Sign Language (ASL) team at the 2023 CRIM.
Supporting Seniors: Commissioner Brown poses with attendees at the Senior Power Day event at Crossroads Village.
Economic Development: Commissioner Brown poses with representatives from HAP and the YWCA during the Corvette Anniversary event in Grand Blanc Township.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Commissioner Brown poses with Diana McKitrick and two other members of the deaf community at Senior Power Day at Crossroads Village.
Supporting Labor and Democracy: Commissioner Brown poses with Peggy Adams, former president of the League of Women Voters during the Genesee County Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) Women's History Tea Party. Dr. Brown also served as a panelist for the League of Women Voters to educate middle school students about county government.
Partnerships: Working for the Citizens of Genesee County and constituents in the 4th District.
Supporting Law & Order: Commissioner Brown forges a relationship with Sheriff Chris Swanson.
Cultivating Talent: County Commissioners pose with MSU Extension Student Commissioners as they learn how board meetings operate and how to govern at the county level.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Commissioner Brown congratulates the Consulting Engineer from Wade Trim who constructed the Center Road Elevated Water Storage Tank in Burton.
Supporting Law & Order: Prosecutor David Leyton with Commissioner Brown.
Economic Development: Commissioner Brown poses with the Smooth Steppers during the Diversity, Jobs and Resource Fair at Berston Field House. Yes, she is a member of the Smooth Steppers!
Effectiveness & Efficiency: Commissioner Brown networks with a fellow Saginaw County Commissioner, Michael Webster at the MAC Conference.
Economic Development: Mundy Township Supervisor Tonya Ketzler (left), Women to Women Editor Debra Collins (center) and Commissioner Brown (right) celebrate the grand reopening of the Gateway Hotel.
Supporting Labor: Commissioner Brown posing with the President of the Coalition for Labor Union Women (CLUW), Corissa Carter, during the Women's History Month Tea Party.
Effectiveness & Efficiency: Commissioner Brown networks with Commissioner Tom Tikkanen from Houghton County at the MAC Conference.
Cultivating Talent through DEI: Dr. Brown celebrates with the Women In Skilled Trades (WIST) graduates, 2024.
Economic Development: Commissioner Brown completed her first 10 mile race at the CRIM Festival of Races during 2022. Festivals like the CRIM and the new Regatta Boat Race event bring dollars into our communities.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Commissioner Brown received the Unsung Hero award from the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE) in Washington, DC in 2019.
Effectiveness & Efficiency: Commissioner Brown initiated a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to leverage resources between Genesee County and the University of Michigan Flint. The signing ceremony included Phillip Thompson, Outreach Coordinator, Paula Nas, Director of Economic Development, Dr. Sonja Feist Price, former Provost and Interim Chancellor, Dr. Donna Fry.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Commissioner Brown stands with five of the six women in the inagural Women in Skilled Trades (WIST) program that she brought to the Genesee Career Institute (GCI).
Supporting Law Enforcement and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Supporting our Genesee County Officers who keep us safe.
Cultivating Talent through DEI: Commissioner Brown poses with Diana Allard of the Genesee Career Institute, Pam Wells of CLUW and Carol Cool, Director of the WIST Program. Because of these ladies, WIST was brought to Genesee County.
Community & Sisterhood: Dr. Brown celebrates MLK Day with Deltas at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flint and Genesee County's 18th Annual MLK Inspiration Breakfast. January, 2024.
Community & DEI: Dr. Brown with Mr. James Avery, 2024 Board Chair at the Genesee County Commission at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flint and Genesee County's 18th Annual MLK Inspiration Breakfast. January, 2024.