By Anthony Tisdall
Ms. Iman Brown is a lifelong resident of Southwest DC. She graduated from Elizabeth Seton High School and played volleyball, which became a lifelong passion of hers. After graduation, she attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in journalism (and avid volleyball player). Her degree would play a pivotal role in her selection as a marketing assistant for the Southwest-based JMA Solutions in 2016, after graduation.
Hired mainly for her social marketing skills, Iman quickly took to the various aspects of marketing for a rapidly growing government consulting firm, embracing the company culture, family atmosphere, and the spirit of giving back to the community created by JMA Solutions CEO and president, Jan Adams (also a resident of Southwest DC). In short order, Ms. Brown began to actively manage the company’s social media, which included Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and other accounts. She wrote press releases, newsletters, speeches and supported the many philanthropic efforts of the company and the executive team. With her can-do attitude and friendly and outgoing demeanor, Iman became the face of JMA to the community and a valuable part of the JMA team. She received her first promotion to marketing coordinator within her first two years while simultaneously pursuing her passion for volleyball by refereeing with the DC Fray. She then moved on to her master’s degree in sports industry management from Georgetown University, graduating in 2020.
Fueled by JMA’s ultimate mission and vision of giving back to the community, Iman has led the coordination in a company that supports over 40 charities annually. Iman not only serves as the main point of contact for the company’s philanthropic outreach efforts, but she also makes it a priority to volunteer at these events. Some of the organizations that she supports regularly include Luke’s Wings, Project Giveback, Arena Stage, NFL Player Josh Norman’s Starz24 foundation, the USO, and several veteran’s organizations.
Every Thanksgiving, Iman volunteers at Project Giveback’s Thanksgiving Food Basket Distribution to help pack and deliver food baskets to needy families located in DC and hand-deliver baskets to several families in Southwest. In the summer, Iman volunteers at Luke’s Wings charity walk to raise money for military families to visit their loved ones who were wounded while serving their country.
Iman is the JMA corporate representative for the DC Adopt-a-School Program as well. She works closely with Amidon-Bowen and Jefferson Middle School Academy schools (JMA has adopted both schools) to ensure that students and teachers have the necessary supplies and equipment. She spearheads annual teacher appreciation events sponsored by JMA and recently visited both schools to hand out monogrammed teacher appreciation mugs to each teacher. JMA employees have the opportunity to volunteer for career days, tutor or participate in game nights and contests for the students.
Ms. Brown was part of a panel of young professionals that addressed scholarship recipients from Southwest for SWNA. She has supported the Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund in the past by providing opening remarks, drafting closing remarks, and other voluntary editorial support. She has written numerous articles for The Southwester that highlight JMA Solutions community service, awards, and contributions.
Never one to look for the spotlight, Iman has authored numerous award nominations for the company. Her efforts have resulted in JMA receiving the following accolades, to name a few: ranking in Black Enterprise as one of the Top 100 Largest Black Businesses in America, INC 5000’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America, the Washington Business Journal’s Book of Lists for the Largest Veteran-Owned Companies in Washington, DC, The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Small Employer of the Year Award, and Washington Business Journal’s Corporate Philanthropy Award for Cash Giving Donations in the Mid-Sized Business Category.
Ms. Brown worked with the NBA’s Mothers of Professional Basketball Players to coordinate a banner that JMA sponsored for their welcome reception at the NBA All Star event in Chicago. She also coordinated with the John Wall Family Foundation to deliver 1000 bottles of water to accommodate the 1000 meals for their holiday food drive giveaway in Southeast DC. She attended and volunteered to support every effort throughout the event.
When COVID-19 shut down the JMA office in March 2020, Ms. Brown interviewed numerous, on-line hosting platform companies and single-handedly moved the JMA summer and holiday in-person events, for over 170 employees and their families, to very successful virtual events with gift giveaways and meals delivered to their respective homes. Each event was highly praised and appreciated by all employees. She also hosted JMA-sponsored virtual happy hours for the Air Traffic Control Association and the Professional Women Controllers, Inc., at their annual conferences. Again, comments from the attendees highly praised Ms. Brown for her attention to detail and her professional demeanor.
Ms. Brown spearheaded food deliveries to Southwest fire stations and police departments during the pandemic shutdown. She coordinated a dessert bar for the SWDC MPD police station during Police Week in 2020, and coordinated with and provided snacks for approximately 3000 U.S. Capitol Hill Police as they worked additional shifts in January 2021.
For her efforts, Ms. Brown was recently promoted to marketing team lead, where she will mentor and guide new marketing employees, develop strategy, and expand the brand of JMA Solutions beyond our current client and partner portfolios. JMA has recognized her work with their Above and Beyond and Job Well Done awards for her morale-boosting planning of employee events, alongside her other accomplishments.
The list is endless and there is no doubt that Iman will continue to make an impact on our community on behalf of both JMA Solutions and herself. There is a lot to learn from this dynamic and thoughtful young woman who understands and practices the true meaning of community involvement, especially giving back.
Anthony Tisdall is the senior vice president of Global Affairs and Aviation Solutions for JMA Solutions.