THE DIGITAL REPOSITORY FOR THE BLACK EXPERIENCE
Search Results
Ronald Brown
Maker interview details
Sponsored by
AON
Interview
- March 28, 2007
Profession
- Category:
BusinessMakers
- Occupation(s):
Investment Chief Executive
Birthplace
- Born: August 1, 1953
- Birth Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Favorites
- Favorite Color: Blue
- Favorite Food: Thanksgiving Dinner
- Favorite Time of Year: Fall
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Cabo San Lucas, New York City
Favorite Quote
"The More You Sweat During Times Of Peace, The Less You Bleed During Times Of War."
Biography
Atlanta Life Financial Group President and CEO Ronald DeWayne Brown was born on August 1, 1953 in Cleveland, Ohio to Bettye Williams and Clifford Brown. He was raised in New York City by his mother and stepfather, Gifford Williams. Brown was a graduate of Morehouse College with a B.A. degree in political science and economics. He was also a graduate of the Financial Management Program at Columbia University School of Business.
Brown began his career in 1977 working with Equifax in Atlanta, Georgia where he held various managerial positions. In 1988, he began his tenure with the Dun and Bradstreet Corporation and its successor companies, becoming the President and CEO of Sales Technology. There, he developed sales force automation software for the consumer packaged goods and pharmaceutical industries and was instrumental in taking the company public. In 1998, Brown became the CEO of Strategic Technologies, a premier market research firm with operations in 90 countries. By 2000, Brown was the President of Synavant, a global leader in customer relationship management software and solutions for the pharmaceutical industry.
In 2001, Brown joined the board of directors of Atlanta Life and became the CEO and managing partner of Variant Group. Charles E. Cornelius, President of Atlanta Life Financial Group retired, and in 2004, Brown was appointed the sixth President and CEO in the 100 year history of Atlanta Life Financial. He was also the Chairman of Jackson Securities, a full service investment bank, now affiliated with Atlanta Life, founded by the late mayor of Atlanta, Maynard Jackson.
Brown served as a business mentor at Morehouse College and the Georgia 100 Mentor program. He was the 2005 recipient of the Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Business Advisor of the Year Award. He was also a member of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta Executive Committee and the Rotary Club of Atlanta.
Brown passed away on April 28, 2008 at age 54.
Brown was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on March 28, 2007.
Previews from the Digital Archive
Watch the full interview in the Digital Archive
- Slating of Ronald Brown's interview
- Ronald Brown lists his favorites
- Ronald Brown describes his maternal grandfather
- Ronald Brown describes his maternal grandmother
- Ronald Brown talks about his mother's college education
- Ronald Brown describes his paternal grandmother
- Ronald Brown describes his father's upbringing
- Ronald Brown describes his father's golf career
- Ronald Brown describes his relationship with his parents
- Ronald Brown describes how his parents met
- Ronald Brown remembers moving to his mother's home in New York City
- Ronald Brown talks about his parents' move to Cleveland, Ohio
- Ronald Brown lists his siblings
- Ronald Brown describes his earliest childhood memory
- Ronald Brown remembers the community of Bessemer, Alabama
- Ronald Brown remembers George Washington Carver Elementary School in Bessemer, Alabama
- Ronald Brown remembers living for the summer in Brooklyn, New York
- Ronald Brown recalls his relocation to New York City
- Ronald Brown talks about his stepfather
- Ronald Brown describes his early education in New York City
- Ronald Brown remembers his teacher, H.W. Brendle
- Ronald Brown describes his extracurricular activities
- Ronald Brown describes the sounds and smells of his childhood
- Ronald Brown describes the sights of New York City
- Ronald Brown remembers his mother's involvement in the Civil Rights Movement
- Ronald Brown remembers Seward Park High School in New York City
- Ronald Brown remembers his experiences in the Baptist church
- Ronald Brown talks about his early understanding of racial identity
- Ronald Brown talks about the political climate of the 1960s
- Ronald Brown remembers his decision to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia
- Ronald Brown describes his experiences at Morehouse College
- Ronald Brown remembers his influences at Morehouse College
- Ronald Brown describes his part time work experiences
- Ronald Brown describes his social life at Morehouse College
- Ronald Brown describes his early career
- Ronald Brown remembers his roles at Sales Technologies, Inc.
- Ronald Brown recalls the expansion of Sales Technologies, Inc.
- Ronald Brown remembers his tenure as the CEO of Sales Technologies, Inc.
- Ronald Brown remembers the initial public offering of Sales Technologies, Inc.
- Ronald Brown remembers his introduction to international business, pt. 1
- Ronald Brown remembers his introduction to international business, pt. 2
- Ronald Brown talks about his family
- Ronald Brown recalls his career at Synavant, Inc.
- Ronald Brown recalls joining the board of the Atlanta Life Financial Group
- Ronald Brown describes the history of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company
- Ronald Brown recalls his appointment as the CEO of the Atlanta Life Financial Group
- Ronald Brown describes the Atlanta Life Financial Group's role in the community
- Ronald Brown talks about the future of the Atlanta Life Financial Group
- Ronald Brown talks about Jesse Hill's role in the Civil Rights Movement
- Ronald Brown describes his commitment to minority financial education
- Ronald Brown talks about his board memberships
- Ronald Brown describes his hopes and concerns for the African American community