Kirk Brown is the Chief Executive Officer at HANDY, Inc. in Broward County. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and a Bachelors of Arts degree in Sociology from Florida Atlantic University and a Masters in Social Work from Barry University. He has twenty-three years of experience working with economically disadvantaged families and communities. Mr. Brown helped to guide the development of the HANDY LIFE program and focus primarily on building a community of hope with engaging community partners, donors and policy personnel to become involve in the mission of educating, empowering and embracing communities of need. Mr. Brown has served on the National Governor’s Policy Academy, taught as a Professor of Social Work at FSU, was the Statewide Director of Independent Living for DCF, was also Policy and Performance Analyst with DEO and the Lead Behavioral Management personnel with Big Bend Community Based Care. He develops community partnerships in order to secure housing options and job opportunities, and identifies vocational training programs for youth with specific career interests. Mr. Brown is married proud father of Kirk Mikyle Brown (19 yrs old), Malachi Miles Brown (17 yrs old), and Daxton Solomon Brown (3 years old) and Zoey Brown (4 months old). Kirk’s leadership style is a servant leadership, people first leads to amazing productivity.

 

Fun fact: I am a polymath nerd and a home-body.

What is your favorite South Florida dining destination? Coopers Hawk in Coconut Creek.

What do you like to do on weekends? Spend time with my best friends: my wife and kids.

How do you unwind from a long day at work? Relax with my family.

What is your favorite quote? SOLUM OPTIMA PETENDA SUNT: Only the Best is Good Enough.

From whom, or what, do you draw inspiration? I look to the leaders in the Bible as my leadership example. I admire Marcus Aurelius’ approaches and the never-give-up mentality of the people I work with and the families that we serve.

What has been the biggest accomplishment of your career? Assisting in the formation and implementation of the Statewide Tuition Waiver to include youth aging out in Relative care.

What has been the most challenging moment in your career and how did you overcome it? Transitioning from State government to local non-profit management. I overcame it by focusing on the people in the process. The staff, client and community at the local level are all direct contributors to the desired outcome of the organization. Therefore the process alignment has to have actionable and visible outcomes that speak to all the participants.

What advice would you give an up and coming professional? Be open to failure, evolution comes in those hard times of uncertainty.