Brown to take over as PCED Executive Director

Michal Brown begins her new role as Phillips County Economic Development Executive Director this week. Mikey, as most know her by, brings employment expertise in various roles in health care with plans to soak up knowledge and experience in her new position in Phillips County.

Brown grew up on a small farm outside of Iliff and attended Caliche Schools until her parents built a house and farmed closer to Sterling. She graduated from Sterling High School. As a teen mom, she entered the workforce right out of high school.

"I was introduced to one of my best friends' brother, and well, that's how I originally came to Haxtun," Brown said. "We got married and have added two more children and a very ornery basset hound to our chaos."

Brown said when she first came to Haxtun she didn't want to drive out of area for work so she walked into Haxtun Health and took the first job that was available. "Over the next nine years I worked my way up from housekeeping to my most previous position as intermediate accountant. When we moved here, the community was so welcoming and took us in and it has become our forever home," she said.

In 2018, Brown went through Northeastern Junior College's EMT class through Melissa Memorial Hospital. After she acquired her National Registry Certification, she volunteered for both Haxtun and Holyoke's ambulance services. She is currently enrolled at CSU-Global to obtain a bachelor's degree in accounting with a specialization in human resource management.

Brown begins her new role with Phillips County Economic Development on Dec. 1 and she said she is looking forward to establishing new working and personal relationships within the County. First on her to-do list, she said, is to soak up and learn from former Executive Director Trisha Herman. Herman recently accepted a new position with the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority as a Community Relations Manager for eastern Colorado.

"She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in economic development," Brown said. "I will definitely be relying on her guidance and the guidance from the Phillips County Economic Development Board of Directors."

Brown said economic development is a big topic everywhere, but especially in Phillips County. "Our county has a lot of small moving pieces and a lot of big moving pieces. But, all of those moving pieces are essential for our county," Brown said. "For example, our residents need access to food, housing, childcare, education, healthcare, fuel and so on. All of these pieces play into a much bigger picture of not only the survival of our rural communities, but allowing them to thrive so our next generations have the opportunity to be successful. So to get to be a small part of the fulfilling work in what I am passionate about is why I chose to work with Phillips County Economic Development."

While at Haxtun Health, Brown said she had the opportunity to observe and learn from some of the best teachers and mentors.

"What I have found in any position that I have been in, is to be knowledgeable, be flexible, slow to speak, but most of all be kind," said Brown. "While I may not be an expert in this new role, what I can do is research and establish relationships so that moving forward I can be a resource that is knowledgeable."

Brown and her husband, Jerry, have a large, close-knit family and she said they stay fairly busy with their kids activities. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading and listening to live music.

The Phillips County Economic Development organization is overseen by a board of directors that includes Nici Akey, Tom Bennett, Marc Bornhoft, Julia Biesemeier, Shauna Strecker, Michelle Lock, Lori Lundgren, Staci Tempel and Kevin Scott.

"I would like the community to know that I have an open door policy. I encourage questions, suggestions and ideas," she added. "What I don't know, I want to find out. As I get started in this position, I will be making introductions but anyone is welcome to reach out."

To reach Brown, contact her on the Phillips County Economic Development cell phone at (970) 580-3614.