Photo by ELIZABETH A. MUNDSCHENK James Brown, Oneida County Stop DWI. Portrait done at the #3 Mill in New York Mills on Wednesday, September 5, 2001.

By LINDA MURPHY
Observer-Dispatch

UTICA — James C. Brown started a job recently at Herkimer County Trust as the company’s vice president of marketing, public relations, security and facilities.

Although his background is in law enforcement, his many years of volunteering have enhanced his career.

“I’m not technically a banker, but for the last 11 years I have been involved in the community doing marketing and public relations,” said 35-year-old Brown.

Along with his new job, Brown will continue to serve as the assistant chief of police for the Village of Frankfort Police Department.

Until recently, Brown worked as the Oneida County STOP-DWI program administrator and the victim impact panel coordinator.

In the past, Brown was the chief deputy of operations for the Oneida County Sherriff’s Department, in charge of all civil division and law enforcement operations and placed third in the chain of command. He was the youngest person ever appointed to that position.

Brown came to the attention of his nominator, Stephen P. Merren, vice president of Smith Television of New York Inc. and general manager of WKTV, when they worked together organizing the 2001 Empire State Games.

“In all my years in business, I have never met a more capable, articulate person than Jim Brown. His energy and enthusiasm for the Mohawk Valley is boundless. His work ethic is impeccable, and he has worked tirelessly for over a year to bring 6,500 of the state’s most talented athletes to Central New York to compete in the exciting Empire State Summer Games,” Merren said.

“Jim has been an inspiration to our local organizing committee during our past nine months together,” Merren said. “He takes his responsibilities very seriously and is thorough in carrying out his tasks.”

Brown has served the community in various ways:

• As the director of security for the Boilermaker Road Race and the National Distance Running Hall of Fame.

• On the staff of the New York Special Olympics Spring Tournament.

• In the 1980s, he volunteered and was a staff worker for the Empire State Games.

• As the volunteer police supervisor for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

• Brown is active in Oneida County Republican politics, having served as a committee member on both the City of Utica and Oneida County Republican committees.

• Brown acted as treasurer for the Friends of Michael R. Caruso and was past-president of the Oneida County Republican Club.

Public service runs in the family, Brown said.

“We grew up in the family business,” said Brown, whose parents owned Utica Floral.

“We grew up around Rotary activities, political races ... we’d hand out fliers for candidates as kids. Public service always was a part of our family fabric — it’s an important lesson for kids to learn.”

Brown wants to pass the legacy to his three young children.

“Family is my number one priority and I want to influence my family by setting a good example,” Brown said.

In his free time, Brown spends time with his wife and kids.

“Spending time with my kids is my hobby,” he joked.