West Virginia Executive Fall 2017 | Page 115

Jamie Summers-Brown

President & CEO , Bricks Without Straw

JAMIE SUMMERS-BROWN can rarely be caught without headphones . A member of West Virginia ’ s creative class , he has been using music as a motivator since his first job at Waldenbooks when he was 16 .
“ I worked in the back of the store unboxing stock for inventory and shelves ,” he says . “ The best part was an old cassette player , so I started taking mixed tapes of bands I loved and just worked and listened to music . It ’ s something I do every single day . When you have headphones in , you can tap into a different dimension that most people forget about .”
From that first job , Summers-Brown learned the art of customer service , which has served him well as president and CEO of Bricks Without Straw , a web-based company he created in 2004 . He is known across the Mountain State for expertly addressing the unique needs of each of his clients when building websites or creating marketing materials , and with offices in West Virginia and Japan , this reputation has driven clients from around the world toward his services . For Summers-Brown , a win for the client is a personal victory .
“ When I see that the solutions I implement for clients make their jobs easier , it ’ s like we high five one another ,” he says . “ Seeing the relief on their faces is incredible . We should be able to focus on what we do best — that ’ s what I try to convey to everyone I work for .”
An entrepreneur , business owner and frequent traveler , Summers-Brown makes time in his busy schedule for a variety of community service roles . An active volunteer and board member for Special Olympics West Virginia and the Bob Burdette Center , he gives not only his time but his services , offering free computer and marketing work . He helped create the Charley West BBQ Fest in 2016 , a large fundraiser that benefits the Bob Burdette Center ’ s after-school program , and he also volunteers with Manna Meal and the Walking Miracles Family Foundation .
“ I ’ m excited about technology and applying that technology to these groups ,” he says . “ I want to drive them to do the best work they can do .”
Summers-Brown aims to strike the perfect balance of art and technology in his work and his personal life . Whether it is adding to his collection of traditional Japanese tattoos , creating the ideal logo for a startup company or serving the community he loves , all of his passions tell a story . The story he is most proud to tell is that of the Frank Brown Community Partnership . Established in 2013 , the program is inspired partly by the generous spirit of West Virginia and partly by Summers-Brown ’ s relationship with his grandfather , for whom the initiative is named .
“ The partnership has really opened the doors for me to serve the community in other ways ,” he says . “ I think that ’ s sort of the spirit my grandfather embodied . Be approachable , be helpful , and think things through .”
Charitable organizations across the state can apply to be chosen as Bricks Without Straw partners and , if chosen , receive free website , design and development services .
“ I started offering free services to groups about 11 years ago , and it just grew from there ,” says Summers-Brown . “ I ’ d get asked by associates if I would be interested in guiding charitable organizations with their online presence and marketing . Since the inception of my community program , I ’ ve served the Bob Burdette Center , Children ’ s Therapy Clinic , Manna Meal and the Secret Santa Foundation of West Virginia . We have even managed to do some additional projects with the Walking Miracles Family Foundation along with some fundraising efforts for the Children ’ s Home Society .”
Summers-Brown believes it is his duty as a West Virginian to support the people of the state he loves . Since the partnership ’ s inception , he has given $ 250,000 in free services to Mountain State charities .
“ I feel that I don ’ t choose the groups , they choose me ,” he says . “ I am proud to know I serve the children of West Virginia . I ’ m always going to be their cheerleader , I ’ m going to listen to them , I ’ m going to engage them academically , and I am going to support them in whatever they choose to do .” •
SAMANTHA CART TRACY TOLER
What is your favorite …?
Place Japan
Movie “ It ’ s a Wonderful Life ”
Song “ Sulfur Giants ”
Something You Have Yet to Accomplish :
Designing and building a smart home
Your Favorite WV Activity : Driving around the state in the fall months . Fall in West Virginia is one of the greatest places in the entire country .
Summers-Brown outside of The Press Room , a restaurant that occupies space once reserved for the Independent Newspaper printing press .
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