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MU
RIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
November 6, 2025
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142; D.C. Official Code § 1- 523.01), and pursuant to section 2 of the Commission on African-
American Affairs Establishment Act of 2012, effective March 14, 2012 (D.C. Law 19 -106; D.C.
Official Code § 3-1441), I am pleased to nominate the following individual:
Mr. Ben-James Brown
South Dakota Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20017
(Ward 4)
for appointment as a public member of the Commission on African-American Affairs, filling a vacant
seat formerly held by Salim Adofo, for a term to end July 8, 2028.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-m entioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel B owser
Mayor
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at the request of the Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To confirm the appointment of Ben-James Brown to the Commission on African-American
Affairs.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA , That this
resolution may be cited as the "Commission on African-American Affairs Ben-James Brown
Confirmation Resolution of 2025".
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
Ben-James Brown
South Dakota A venue, NE
Washington, DC 20017
(Ward 4)
as a public member of the Commission on African-American Affairs, pursuant to section 2 of the
Commission on African-American Affairs Establishment Act of 2012, effective March 14, 2012
(D.C. Law 19-106; D.C. Official Code§ 3-1441), filling a vacant seat formerly held by Salim
Adofo , for a term to end July 8, 2028.
Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
BEN-JAMES BROWN
Senior financial executive with over 20 years of experience in regional leadership, business execution, public affairs and strategic
planning. Solid business acumen with unique competencies in optimizing capital management, managing highly effective teams
and delivering change management initiatives to bolster brand reputation and enable growth across key business initiatives with
vigor. Passion for fostering strategic partnerships with nonprofit, philanthropic and community audiences committed to civic
engagement and economic equity.
CORE STRENGTHS & SKILLS
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
REGIONAL BANKING SENIOR MANAGER VP 2012 - PRESENT
Wells Fargo Bank Washington, DC
District Manager is responsible for the effective management of multiple Wells Fargo locations with one line of business that provides
products and services to a designated marketplace while meeting the profitability goals and objectives of Wells Fargo Bank.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Oversee territories in the District of Columbia and Maryland Markets, leading 36 stores with > $450MM in deposits and
$68MM in loans.
• Launched and successfully piloted two new enterprise concepts for the Consumer Bank (Neighborhood Stores and
Express Centers), while partnering with Wells Fargo’s Innovations Group to help streamline processes for operation
focused on technology/products that support financial health.
• Charged with aligning business strategy and growth goals for minority, low income and
disadvantaged communities by creating and activating on programs to attain financial stability and build community
wealth through entrepreneurship.
• Develop KPIs, processes and impact analysis to foster individual and team accountability to business objectives for
financial health initiatives in the District.
• Manage appropriate staffing levels through attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining top talent across the District.
• Partner across business lines to strategically position internal/external engagements with community and philanthropic
organizations to bolster Wells Fargo’s reputation.
• Accelerate District growth and financial objectives while ensuring adherence to compliance regulations and policies via
risk mitigation.
• Activate on annual initiatives as national liaison for 100 Black Men of America where I developed financial health
strategies that open pathways to economic advancement for youth and young adults
• Led programs and teams to support entrepreneurs through training, individual consultation, education, mentoring, and
financial coaching, assisting thousands of youth and young adults in achieving
business goals.
• Designed programmatic engagement opportunities in partnership with communities including opportunity youth,
formerly incarcerated persons, women head of households, immigrants and refugees. Currently serving as President of
Wells Fargo Employee Impact Team for DC and Maryland.
• Expanded access to banking services and education to unbanked and underbanked individuals through
forging relationships and mutually beneficial engagement with companies and
community-based nonprofits.
• Spearhead strategies to support high levels of team engagement, team member retention and leadership development.
• As an Enterprise LGBTQ+ Ambassador and Executive sponsor for DMV Pride ERN- support planning efforts and
implement programs targeting for LGBTQ+
• Collaborate on product innovation, research, and policy, share portfolio insights with stakeholders.
Capital Management Marketing Development Process Implementation
Civic Engagement Operations Management Public/ Media Relations
Excellent Communication People Management Social Impact
Executive Leadership Portfolio and Risk
Management
Strategic Planning
Greater Washington DC Public Affairs Council 2017 - PRESENT
Wells Fargo Bank Washington, DC
To oversee market-level reputation risk, local philanthropy, opportunity management and manage a strategic approach to
integrated Public Affairs disciplines including philanthropy, community development, communications and storytelling, government
relations and stakeholder relations.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Manage grant portfolio > $2MM, developing financial projections, and analyzing variances for the Greater Washington
DC Market.
• President of DMV Employee Impact Team and serves as liaison for nonprofit grantees with 8 Team Member Resource
Networks across Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia to facilitate deepening volunteer effort and
relationship with applicants.
• Counsel on grant making for youth and young-adult priorities.
• Lead efforts to advance all aspects of diversity and inclusion at Wells Fargo and in the marketplace.
• Manage external engagement sponsorship through monitoring of external engagement activity and leverages partners to
support priorities.
• Partner with executive leadership to calibrate grant portfolio and align with enterprise objectives.
HIGHLIGHTS AND AWARDS
Ranked 6th of 644 Districts enterprise wide for performance, #1 in Sales and Service in GWDC East/ North District, 2013-2016
Sales and Service practices adopted as Regional standards, 2014-15.
Increased DC North’s District performance from 85% mid-year to 98% YTD and achieved behavioral transformation with 7 of 12
newly hired Store Managers, 2014
Increased Investable assets in Market by establishing monthly skill builder/ partner workshops with increased inspection points on
skill behaviors, 2014-16
Credit Management Series, Rolling Out Magazine, 2014
Get Smart About Credit Article, Washington Informer 2015
Led Manager Associates Program Initiative GWDC, 2015-16
Opened first 3 Neighborhood Segment Store Enterprise wide
Piloted New Digital Branch Express Center 2019
Exceeds Performance rating 2012-19
D&I Task Force, HBCU Talent 2020
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Presenting Sponsor Remarks DC CAPS Luncheon 2013
Presenting Sponsor Remarks Young Playwrights 2014
Wells Fargo’s Business Credit Series Article (Rolling Out Magazine 2014)
Presenting Sponsor Remarks Jazz in the Hood U Street Festival 2014
Financial Literacy Building Your Credit Article (Washington Informer 2015)
Key Note Presenter at Thurgood Marshall “Building Your Brand” 2015
Key Note Presenter at United States Black Chamber “Pitching Your Business” 2016/2017
Presenter at 100 Black Men of America Leadership Conference 2017-2022
Key Note Presenter at UNCF “Organizational Visibility” 2017-2020
Presenting Sponsor Remarks Minority Access Inc. Diversity Conference 2017
Key Note Speaker/ panelist at NaFFAA 2017 Leadership Conference
Presenter at Calibr Annual Conference “Minority Small Business” 2017
Key Note Speaker at DC Black MBA Association “Same you, New Year, Different Approach” 2018
Key Note Speaker at Howard University Credit Conscientiousness 2019
Mayor’s Office of Father Men and Boys Flip the Script Initiative 2019
Howard University Collegiate 100 Navigating through the Pandemic 2020
Thurgood Marshall Financial Literacy Virtual HOB Experience 2019-2021
BOARD MEMBERSHIPS
Wells Fargo Atlantic Contributions Council Committee Member 2019-Present
Greater Washington DC/ Maryland Employee Impact Team President 2021-Present
100 Black Men of Greater Washington DC- Vice President 2013- Present
DC Scores- Board of Directors/ Treasure 2018- Present
PRIDE ERN Executive Sponsor for DMV
Commissioner for the Mayor’s Office of Father, Men and Boys for the District of Columbia 2019-Present
EDUCATION
University of Phoenix BS Management 2012
Diverse Leaders Program- UCLA Anderson School of Business Executive DEI 2014
E
xecutive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
B
en-James Brown
M
r. Ben-James Brown serves as the Regional Banking District Manager
for Wells Fargo Bank and has overseen territories in the District of
Columbia and Maryland, leading more than 42 branches and 500
employees in his career. He is responsible for the effective management
of multiple Wells Fargo locations that provide products and services to a
designated marketplace while meeting the profitability goals and
objectives of Wells Fargo Bank. He currently manages a portfolio of
nearly a billion dollars in deposits, six hundred million dollars in loans
and over one billion dollars in managed assets.
Last year, Mr. Brown mentored a group of four young men to compete in
a competition sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank at the 32nd Annual 100
Black Men of America Conference, where they developed a job readiness application called
“IMPRESS.” This app focused on four components: appearance, articulation, assessment and
advice to assist jobseekers, ages 16-24 (lowest employment rate based on age). Mr. Brown
volunteered more than 80 hours towards this effort which helped this team place second of fifteen
teams nationally. He plans on further developing this app with these young men in hopes of
launching in 2019.
Mr. Brown is the Treasurer and a board member for the Young Playwrights Theater in Washington
D.C. and is the Vice President for 100 Black Men of Greater Washington D.C. In both of his
affiliated organizations, he gives back countless hours of volunteer time to help underserved
communities across the District of Columbia. Mr. Brown was named a Board of Directors member
for the non-profit organization DC Scores, serving over two thousand students across Washington,
D.C. He was also the proud recipient of the DC Made Man award in 2018 and Black Enterprise’s
2019 Modern Man honoree.
A Ward 4 resident, Mr. Brown earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management
from the University of Phoenix.
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Kimberly A. Bassett, Steven Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: June 4, 2025
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of a resolution appointing Philip Pannell, Jacqueline
Stallworth, Yolanda Young, Kristin Shymoniak, Rashida Taylor, Dr. Denise
Wright, Jalelah Ahmed, Lakeitha Anderson, Ben-James Brown, and Wanda
Henderson as public members of the Commission on African-American Affairs
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced Resolutions and
found them to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Kimberly Ulan, Associate General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at
202-727-2292, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth Cavendish