JM Family’s Colin Brown is 2017 Business Leader of the Year
Colin Brown directs all of JM Family’s businesses, including Southeast Toyota Distributors, the world’s largest independent distributor of Toyota vehicles; JM&A Group, one of the leading independent providers of finance and insurance products in the automotive industry; World Omni Financial Corp., a diversified financial services company; and JM Lexus.
Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business will host the 26th annual Business Leader of the Year breakfast on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at 8 a.m., at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 East Camino Real, in Boca Raton. This year’s program celebrates the accomplishments of Colin Brown, chairman and chief executive officer of JM Family Enterprises, Inc.
“JM Family has been a key business in South Florida for many years and has established an exceptional reputation with its customers, business partners and the community as a whole,” said Daniel Gropper, Ph.D., dean of FAU’s College of Business. “Colin Brown exemplifies the kind of leadership characteristics that FAU celebrates with our Business Leader of the Year Award.”
JM Family Enterprises, Inc. is a diversified automotive corporation ranked No. 21 on Forbes’ list of “America’s Largest Private Companies.” As CEO, Brown leads the entire organization, including JM Family’s Executive Management Team, which oversees the development and implementation of the company’s objectives and strategies for future growth. Brown also serves as chairman of the company’s board of directors.
Brown directs all of JM Family’s businesses, including Southeast Toyota Distributors, the world’s largest independent distributor of Toyota vehicles; JM&A Group, one of the leading independent providers of finance and insurance products in the automotive industry; World Omni Financial Corp., a diversified financial services company; and JM Lexus.
Brown joined the family-owned business in 1992 as vice president and general counsel. He was appointed chief operating officer in 1997 and president in 2000. Brown was named CEO in January 2003, becoming the first non-family member to hold the titles of first president and then CEO. In 2017, Brown was appointed chairman of the board while retaining the title of CEO.
Since 2005, Brown has served on United Way of Broward County’s Board of Directors. As chairman and CEO of JM Family, Brown leads the company’s annual United Way giving campaign. Additionally, Brown has led the company’s support of the Habitat for Humanity of Broward through both corporate contributions and volunteerism. Brown currently serves on the board of directors for the Youth Automotive Training Center, a tuition-free, nine-month training program that educates disadvantaged youth in basic automotive repair, academic remediation, job readiness and life-management skills.
Brown graduated from Duke University School of Law with a juris doctorate and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. Raised overseas in a Foreign Service family, Brown resides in Lighthouse Point and has three children.
Founded by Jim Moran in 1968, JM Family is a $14.9 billion company ranked No. 55 by FORTUNE® as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For®, its 19th consecutive year on the list. JM Family has approximately 4,200 associates and is headquartered in Deerfield Beach.
Sponsorships for the event are available, including a corporate table and event admission at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. A portion of the sponsorship dollars raised from the Business Leader of the Year event will provide scholarships to students enrolled in the FAU College of Business who have strong academic achievement and demonstrate leadership qualities.
Since 1991, FAU’s College of Business has presented the Business Leader of the Year award, honoring the work of outstanding contributors to the overall business climate of the southeast region of Florida and the state. Brown joins other honored recipients of the award, including Heiko Dobrikow, Naren Gursahaney, Jeff Stoops, Jordan Zimmerman, Wayne Huizenga, Jim Robo, Mike Jackson, Ronald Assaf, Alexander Dreyfoos, Jim Moran, Carl DeSantis, Bud Paxson, Jerry Levin, Pat Moran, Alan Levan and Mike Maroone.
Tickets are available online at business.fau.edu/bloy. For more information, contact Tonya May at 561-297-4732 or tmay@fau.edu.
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