Get to know the next generation of district leaders
Bobby Brown – Golf Chair, PMA Chicago
Industrial Buyer, B.L. Duke
As the sales manager at B.L. Duke, a scrap metal recycling company and long-time member of PMA, Bobby Brown’s experience with PMA started through his attendance at events and golf outings. Bobby said he had been attending district events for about a year-and-a-half before joining the board in 2018 as program chair. He has since moved into a golf chair position.
Diversity is Key
When asked about the PMA Chicago district board, Bobby attests to the fact that it is a very inclusive environment. “Our district welcomes younger generations speaking up and sharing ideas.” He speaks highly of Laura Profita, district administrator, and other senior officers within the district, who empower the younger board members. Through that encouragement, there is a blend of new, fresh ideas with the experience to effectively execute its success. But it also works vice versa.
It’s All About Being Social
One of Bobby’s favorite parts of the PMA Chicago District are the social events. As golf chair, Bobby works closely with Ron Pitcher, district director, and Laura Profita, district administrator, to make it happen. “I enjoy organizing the event because as someone with a sales personality, it helps me meet members and expand my relationships with board members, getting me introduced to new people and feeling more involved.” Having come from the program chair position, Bobby says, “Now, as golf chair, I still get to encourage more members to get involved in events, including the ones I get to plan,” and apparently, golf has only grown in popularity. “Since the pandemic, golf has become an increasingly popular sport in the Chicagoland area, which has been helpful in getting both men and women, older and younger people involved with the district.”
Make Learning Easy
Another event that Bobby believes can be impactful are virtual lunch and learns. “These events allow you to learn something new in a short time frame. With a panelist-style setup and Q&A, there is little time commitment to attend the event, and others can get the content on-demand. “
Bring Other Organizations Together
As with their PMA membership, B.L. Duke is involved with many other organizations. Going forward, Bobby sees opportunity with the district to work with similar organizations. “B.L. Duke is very diverse – from the markets we serve, to the many women on our team, and a variety of age ranges, so we belong to many other associations, like the Association of Women in the Metals Industry (AWMI). It’s important to continue to find ways to partner with similar organizations, to see what’s working for them and to expand our networking potential.”