Michael L. Brown

Experience

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  Big Lots

  Jan 1984 - Jan 1987

  First Assistant Manager

  Had 4 Asst. Managers and an average staff of 20 to 40 full-time and part-time employees that reported to me. Did scheduling, managed sales floor resets, special merchandising, stock handling, and customer service/service desk/cashiers. Hired, coached, performed appraisals, and terminated subordinates as required. Found a real knack for motivating employees by providing an honest, caring, yet totally professional example, for others to follow.

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  Dungeon Enterprises

  Aug 1984 - Apr 1989

  Founder / General Manager / Product Development

  In 1983, at the age of 20, I was inspired with my first real product development idea. It was for a game where players "went about going on adventures in an imaginary medieval world, wherein they could try to do whatever they might want, but where dice would be used to determine their ability to succeed at important tasks". When I mentioned the idea to a friend of mine, he said that such a game had already been developed. It was called "Dungeons & Dragons", and he had played it regularly as a student in college.Well, I had heard of D&D before, but I had never really known what it was about. To me... the concept was altogether new. Soon after mentioning it to my friend, we sought out a "Dungeon Master" in a neighboring town... and began playing regularly. I became enamored with the game, and in no time, I was DMing a group of my own. In the process, I developed and fleshed out my own campaign world, developed a history for it (much like Tolkien did for "Lord of the Rings"), filled it with various cultures, and groups, and places to explore, and developed my own plots and story-lines (situations), that I would put in front of my group of players.After playing regularly for over a year. I decided that I would like to open my own roleplayer gaming retail store, and develop products for the industry as well.While I had no money to open a store at that time, I fleshed out my plans for the store, and developed my ideas for all of the different things the store would provide for roleplaying enthusiasts. I also began developing my own lines of adventure modules, character record sheets, dice bags, etc., and designed various other products.In 1989, I finally got the chance to set up at my first Roleplaying Gamer Convention, and over the course of the weekend, found that an insufficient market existed within the industry at that time, and decided that I needed to shelve further development of the idea, at that time, and move on to something else. Show less

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  Atlas Industries, Inc

  Jan 1989 - Jan 2001

  Stockroom Manager / Final Inspector / Shipping Clerk / Internal Auditor / Trainer / Machine Operator

  14 years experience.Hired in as an entry level machine operator in 1989. Within 9 months, was promoted to head up the company's final inspection processes, and played an integral part in turning around the facility's poor quality rating. --- Within my first 2 weeks in this position, I determined the primary short-comings within the system, and devised and implemented solutions and controls that took the facility from being considered one of our primary customer's worst suppliers, to being recognized as one of their best suppliers (with a 99.998 quality rating), within 18 months. During this time, I also participated as an Internal Auditor in our plant's QS9000 Internal Auditing Program.In 1997, I was offered and accepted the position of "Stockroom Attendant" (Manager), because the facility was incurring massive inefficiencies and operational downtimes due to poor inventory control in the areas of tooling and supplies. Again, within my first 2 weeks on the job, I devised and implemented systems that led to the virtual elimination of inventory control problems (and operational downtimes attributable to them) over night.Continued in this position and additionally went on to head up the plant's QS9000 Internal Auditing Team, as well as participate as 1 of 13 Trainers in an Employee Training Program, where I taught a class on "Troubleshooting and Tool Changes" and earned top honors for "Best Presentation, Most Informative Class, and Best Overall Class".Left the company in 2001 to join my wife in her mortgage company. Show less

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  The Music Industry Information Network

  Mar 1990 - Mar 1995

  Owner / General Manager

  The Music Industry Information Network was a musician referral network wherein I helped Bands find Musicians, helped Musicians find Bands, and helped Bands/Musical Groups locate service providers (i.e. booking agents, recording studios, sound & lighting providers, etc.) and venues in which to perform. Published a monthly newsletter. Promoted live music. Expanded the network to cover 65% of the State of Ohio before giving it up in 1995. This was a side business that I ran while continuing to work a factory job to support my family. Basically, I worked my day job from 7a.m. to 3:30pm. Then my office hours started at 5:00pm and ran till 12a.m. Then I would continue to work on the business until around 4a.m. Then I'd get 2 to 3 hours of sleep and do it all over again. And I did this for 5 years, running it on a shoe-string, until I finally had to close it down due to lack of adequate capital to finance the company's required expansion. Show less

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  Excel Telecommunications

  Aug 1995 - Feb 1996

  Independent Representative / Trainer

  At the time, Excel Telecommunications was using network marketing as the strategy for developing it's sales force and customer base. In August of 1995 --- just after closing down the musician referral business that I had been running for the previous five years --- I was introduced to the program... signed up as an independent rep... and began my first experience with network marketing.Within a month, I had signed up the ten long-distance customers that I was required to have in order to qualify for commissions, and within another month, I had developed the organization beneath me to the point where I had earned back my sign up fee for becoming a rep. I was largely even at that point.I then became an Executive Director (Trainer) within my organization, and worked with my down-line members, helping them sign up everyone they needed.2 months later, Excel began having problems keeping up with it's exponentially-growing sales force, and checks stopped flowing. Almost immediately --- the "heavy hitter" that had sold me on the Excel Opportunity, said it was time to jump ship, and said "come on --- follow me into "Destiny Telecom. They have a binary organizational system that works better, and they're selling phone cards that also had the advantage of being collectible."Even though, I had my misgivings, and had already come to understand all of the ins and outs, and the good and bad side of network marketing --- I decided I would give it another try and joined Destiny. Show less

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  Destiny Telecom

  Mar 1996 - May 1996

  Independent Representative / Trainer

  I jumped into this network marketing program, right after Excel Telecommunication's MLM program began floundering.Within a month, I had once again recruited all of the people that I needed to recruit, in order to get all of my signup fees back, and was having great success in building my organization beneath me. And I did so, by being honest about the opportunity, and network marketing in general. --- I did so, by selling people on the idea of becoming truly "PROFESSIONAL" network marketers.The problem was that within two months, the program got shut down by the government, because everyone was focusing on the recruiting of new reps, and not really trying to sell the phone cards, that were really what had been making the program legal.Again, while I knew about the ins and outs, and both the good and bad sides of MLM... and knew that there was still something that I liked about the business-building method --- I decided that I was done with network marketing. --- At least until I found, or devised a program of my own, that could overcome the short-comings associated with network marketing, that kept making these programs crash and burn, leaving thousands of new recruits disappointed and angry, and disillusioned with network marketing in general. Show less

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  New Horizons Information Marketing Club

  Jul 1996 - Dec 1996

  Founder / Inventor / Program Development

  Following my recent involvement in two failed network marketing programs over the previous year, I began researching potential ways for solving the problems associated with network marketing, that kept causing these programs to "implode" when their sales organizations reached "critical mass" --- otherwise known as: the point at which no business organization can possibly keep up with the frantic pace of exponential growth in new rep recruitment.Within a few weeks, I had figured it out and began work fleshing out the marketing materials, and other printed materials, that would be needed for the program --- which centered around the somewhat familiar, but refined notion, of people producing their own written works (how-to reports, stories, lists of recipes, etc.) and selling them to others through a particular marketing device (that I am not at liberty to disclose at this point in time... because it would give my idea away, and I think I could really do something with this idea --- now that the internet has become so prolific.)You see... in 1996, the internet was still largely undeveloped, and there was a facet to my idea that would have run it afoul of U.S. Postal Regulations.Now that the internet has grown to the incomprehensible levels at which it exists today --- my idea for the New Horizons Information Marketing Club is ripe for revisiting.(Does anyone have some money they'd like to put into the development of such an idea. If so --- contact me.) Show less

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  B&B Enterprises of Northwest Ohio

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2006

  Bookeeper / Unpaid Independent Counsel

  6 years experience. This was a business that was owned and operated by my wife and brother-in-law, wherein my role was primarily in keeping the company's books, assisting in the assessment of properties for purchase, participating in the planning and management of property renovation projects, and getting them ready for re-sale, as well as offering my suggestions in the decision-making processes concerning how the business should be managed, and moved forward.Suggestions of mine that went unheeded, led to the eventual collapse of this business in 2006. Show less

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  Mortgage Center, Inc.

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2007

  Assistant Office Manager

  7 years experience. Was responsible for streamlining the company's productivity and information management systems, in order to position the company for expansion. Also participated in office operations and all facets of decision-making within the business, including marketing, governmental compliance, etc.Went part-time in this capacity after 6 months, while additionally assisting with my wife's real estate investment business, as well as beginning work on new entrepreneurial projects of my own. Show less

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  Brown Developmental

  Jul 2003 - now

  Founder, President, CEO, and Consultant

  Brown Developmental --- "Solutions for a Changing World..." --->Brown Developmental is a think tank / consulting / and business services company that utilizes the 30+ years of business development skills and expertise of it's founder, to work on and solve some of the biggest problems in business, economics, and society today.Brown Developmental provides a variety of direct hire project management, and independent consulting services in Economic Development, Business Development & Planning, Strategic Development and Planning, Business Troubleshooting, Product / Service Development, Marketing and Brand Development, Business Culture and Staff Development, Conceptual Web & Internet Development, etc.Brown Developmental's primary project at this time revolves around preparations for the imminent roll-out, market test, and refinement of the localized service offerings behind its HELP WANTED:USA Project, in the area of Hancock County, in Northwest Ohio. Following a successful market test of these locally-focused resources, plans call for the expansion of the concept, business model, and network, through the licensing/franchising of county-based operations throughout the United States and abroad. ---- (Parties that would like to find out more about the project, or the possibility of obtaining franchise rights for their local areas, should contact me for more information.)Under the Brown Developmental banner, Michael is available for independent consulting and project work, as well as training and speaking engagements, with applicable experience carryover to virtually any industry. Show less

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  Brown Business Development

  Jul 2003 - Sept 2007

  Founder, President, Director of Development

  While working part-time in the mortgage and real estate investment industries... worked full-time on the development of a new publishing concept that would "Make it HUNDREDS OF TIMES EASIER for people to Find Jobs... Build Careers... and Start and Expand Both New and Existing Businesses... throughout Ohio, the United States, and the Entire Industrialized and Developing World". --- Tagged it as "A New Economic Engine for a New Economic Age..." because of the potential impact that the project could have on small business development, job growth, and economic efficiencies around the globe.Wrote the 250-page Operational Business plan that outlined the $23-MILLION DOLLAR LAUNCH that would take the project from R&D completion, to expansion throughout Ohio, within 18 months. (The launch plan encompassed the establishment of a State Operations Office, 6 Regional Offices, up to 88 County Operations Franchises, and the creation of more than 1,200 jobs statewide --- and set the stage for expanding the publishing concept to other states throughout the U.S.)Met with attorneys, local economic development people, business consultants, the Ohio Department of Development, the SBA, etc... in seeking out assistance to help in finalizing the first draft of the business plan, acquiring seed capital for use in attracting a talented launch team, and a licensee for the operations in Ohio. Despite my best efforts, and despite everyone being in agreement that the plan and project was a very good and highly logical idea, I was unable to connect with anyone who could seriously provide the assistance I required.Finally, when the mortgage industry melted down, so did the financial backing that allowed me to continue working on the project full-time, and I was forced to put the project on hold, and find a new job.In 2007, the name "Brown Business Development" was changed to "Brown Developmental", to more accurately reflect the organization's overall focus and social perspective. Show less

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  MAG-NET MEDIA HUB LTD

  Sept 2008 - Nov 2013

  Founder, CEO, and Director of Development

  The MAG-NET MEDIA HUB Project is an effort under development by Michael Brown and Brown Developmental, to develop a new internet portal capable of bringing many high value innovations to the web, and to the world, while creating the most exciting and efficient web-surfing experience imaginable.CURRENT STATUS: While a limited pre-launch development prototype version of the MAG-NET MEDIA HUB has been developed, further development of the project is largely ON HOLD as I seek investment capital to finance the project's continued development and eventual rollout. --- (Would you like to invest your time or services on this project? If so, contact me.) Show less