FRANKLIN
If you’re one of our many advertisers, chances are good that you’ve already met — or will soon meet — Sameerah Brown, who is the new advertising account executive for Tidewater Publications, which includes this newspaper.

Her journey to Western Tidewater begins in St. Catherine, Jamaica, where she was born. At age 3, her parents moved the family stateside first to Maryland. When it came time for college, Brown first chose to major in advertising and marketing at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.

She had changed course to becoming a paralegal because, “My dad wanted a daughter as a lawyer … It never happened,” Brown said laughing.

Her career in advertising began when a temp agency in Lakeland, Florida, got her work at The Ledger. Two weeks in, she was hired full-time and employed there for 1-1/2 years.

“I moved to Virginia after the recession hit Florida in 2007 and papers were doing outsourcing,” Brown said, adding, “Also, I was looking for a change in environment.”

Further, her best friend from college lived in the commonwealth, so she had a familiar face to help in a new territory, so she moved to Virginia in January 2008.

Finding work at the Virginian-Pilot, Brown worked there as an account executive, and did work similar to what she’s doing now.

“The Pilot took my advertising skills to another level with Internet advertising and marketing. I was in my mid-20s when I started and have matured,” she said. “I learned to love event planning, time management and marketing.”

Then as now, Brown is focusing on what she loves about her work:

“Interacting with my customers and helping them come up with creative ideas and fulfilling their vision,” she said. International Paper was one past example, where Brown would make sure the company had a constant presence in the paper. “Their name stays out in the community, and how they’re helping to rebuild the Franklin community.”

But after 7-1/2 years, she felt it was time to move on.

“Again, I was looking for a change. I have to constantly evolve. I learned everything I could at The Pilot.”

Before, Brown would sell and schedule ads and then pass them along to be created and placed. Now, she’s more hands-on with customers, which is what she prefers.

“I wanted something different, something new and to learn a lot more,” Brown added.

When she’s not working, Brown is raising her two daughters, Sierra, 12, and Ivanna, soon to be 10. They also have a dog, Bella, a cat, Shala, and an aquarium of fish.

For your advertising needs, contact Brown at 562-3187, ext. 309; or at sameerah.brown@tidewaternews.com.