LaTron Brown, 39 / Managing Principal, Nortal Advisory Group
With a strong background in operations strategy and market analysis, LaTron Brown founded his first service-based business, Aging Well Roanoke Valley, catering to older citizens’ needs for aging in place. His subsequent roles at the Social Security Administration and Goodwill Industries of the Valleys further enriched his expertise. In 2023, Brown served as the interim Chief Strategy Officer at the Girls Scouts, orchestrating pivotal initiatives and a new strategic plan. Following this, he launched The Nortal Group, comprising Nortal Consulting, aiding business leaders in operations and growth, and Nortalent.com, a virtual career accelerator for early career starters. Brown’s community leadership encompasses roles on the Council of Community Services and Apple Ridge Farms boards, membership in the Salem Rotary Club and Roanoke Valley Breakfast Lions Club and advisory positions with the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Roanoke Valley program. “My passion lies in the work of solving complex problems while mastering the focus needed to create a healthy environment in which others can flourish,” he says.
Career:
- A Salem resident since 2009. Originally from Chatham, VA. Went to Gretna High School and Virginia Tech
- 2008 - Started career as a healthcare operations and market analyst for a multi-state skilled nursing and long term care facility management company (he got to work on interesting international projects involving nurse training in Asia and clinic development in Africa. This work sparked his interest in organizations with Corporate social responsibility and social initiatives
- 2009 - Developed Aging Well Roanoke Valley, a service helping older citizens to age in place. This was his first service focused business start-up experience at 25!
- 2014 - Worked as a program analyst at the Social Security Administration to expand knowledge of aging-related disabilities and retirement challenges
- 2017 - Transitioned into workforce development with a large nonprofit organization (Goodwill Industries of the Valleys), coordinating workforce development programs focused on Technology training, Re-entry services, staffing work teams for businesses throughout our territory)
- 2021 - Work at Goodwill lead to a promotion supporting large-scale organizational strategic planning efforts and serving as Manager of Strategic Projects
- 2023 - Joined the Girls Scouts as an interim Chief Strategy Officer where he was recruited to joint this organization and had the opportunity to oversee 2023 Cookie season, Retail and product program team, reorganize the Information Technology initiative, and kickstarted their new strategic plan
- Current – Launched The Nortal Group which consists of two entities to help people build careers and organizations they love: Nortal Consulting helps business leaders launch and streamline their operations and maximize their growth and community impact; Nortalent.com is a virtual career accelerator to help early career starters become top talent
Community Involvement:
- 2023 - Board member for the Council of Community Services and Apple Ridge Farms.
- 2023 - Member of the Salem Rotary Club and Roanoke Valley Breakfast Lions Club
- 2023 - Advisor for Roanoke Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Roanoke Valley program and member of Alumni Association
- Has served as BOD Member and Board Chair of Mill Mountain Zoo (2017-2021; attributes retired surgeon Nancy Dye in kickstarting his professional non-profit board journey)
- An ex-officio member of the Mill Mountain Advisory Board (2018-2020)
- The Member and Board President of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association Roanoke Chapter, 2013-2019
- Advisor: Leadership Roanoke Valley, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Education Team Chairperson-November 2016 to present, Leadership Roanoke Valley (LRV 2017)
- Board President - Virginia Tech Alumni Association Roanoke Chapter
- CAFE 5K Board Member, Cultural Arts for Excellence, Roanoke, VA
- Ex-officio Member Roanoke Cultural Endowment (Arts & Culture Committee)
- Ex-officio Member - Mill Mountain Advisory Board, Roanoke, VA
- Ex-officio Member - Virginia’s Blue Ridge PR Council
Community Service
- Served as a business mentor during the 2023 Gauntlet, a business plan competition of the Community Advancement Foundation
- Served as a fundraiser and support for various nonprofit organizations and causes. (Such as CAFE 5k Family Fun Run and Walk (Afterschool programs), Virginia Tech Alumni Cornhole Tournament (New student scholarship program), Stockings for Seniors (Christmas delivery with personal care items for elderly), Book contributions (Fundraiser for cancer research).
- Has been invited to contribute to books like "70 Things to Do When You Turn 70" (2013) and "80 Things to Do when You Turn 80 (2017)." As a part of his Aging in Place work for the elderly, he wrote about how their wisdom and insight shaped him and how we need more young people to benefit from their wisdom! This was a fundraiser and the series has raised over $350,000 for cancer research and prevention.
- A Committee member for CAFE 5K, Cultural Arts for Excellence in Roanoke ( fundraiser for an after school program for middle school students) 2011-2015
- Has been invited to present at nonprofit business conferences on program development topics. (such as ‘Millennial Philanthropy and Giving Back’ at Roanoke College Experience YP Summit (2017), New Student Experience Panelist for Virginia Tech’s Project 2022, ‘Community Outreach workshop for workforce development programs’ for Goodwill Industries International)
Education:
- Holds dual Bachelors’ degrees in Biological Sciences and Psychology from Virginia Tech, 2008. Concentrated focus on research and analysis.
- Earned a Master of Business, Averett University, 2011
- Continuing Professional Development in Data Analytics and AI and Social Impact Measurement
Awards and Certifications:
- Advisor Appreciation Award - Leadership Roanoke Valley, 2023
- Outstanding Board Service Award - Mill Mountain Zoo, 2020
- Certificate of Appreciation for Board Service to Mill Mountain Advisory Board - Roanoke Mayor & City Council, 2020
- As Board President of Virginia Tech Alumni Association-Roanoke Valley Chapter, regained Gold Chapter (Top tier) Rating, Outstanding Recruitment Program and Best Marketing, 2019
- Influential Alumni "Ut Prosim" Award - Virginia Tech Alumni Association, 2014
From the Nomination: “LaTron Brown has been a Salem resident since 2009 and has been in nonprofit service for most of his career! ... He was a High School Graduate of Merit Recipient which placed a high emphasis on community service. He maintained a high GPA while committing to many hours of community service. He continued this passion for service as a member of Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity. He served as Red Cross Bloodmobile Chair, Student Government Representative, and Treasurer. Volunteered over 100 years to many non-profit organizations.
During his career in non-profit service, his work has spanned individuals throughout the entire spectrum of life. He started his nonprofit career as an operations and market analyst supporting healthcare executives throughout the country with initiatives focused on enhancing evidence-based models to healthcare in skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes.
This work led him to develop Aging Well Roanoke Valley — a service helping older citizens age in place at 26 years old. This passion was driven by the support he provided his grandmother who suffered the detrimental effects of Alzheimer's Disease in his youth. Through this service, he would provide geriatric care support — getting them access to homecare, home modifications. He would raise money to buy food for individuals in need, hold canned food donation drives, and deliver them directly and to the Local Area on Aging. Each Christmas he held Stockings for Seniors drive and donated them to seniors each Christmas Eve. He was included in the Valley Business Front.
With a passion to expand his knowledge, he began working for the Social Security Administration as a program analyst where he learned a great deal about health conditions people face as they age, career and education regrets, as well as financial challenges they face in retirement. During this time he was introduced to workforce development.
He transitioned into workforce development with a large nonprofit organization and coordinated several programs throughout the organization. He successfully launched and grew a technology training program in Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg and the New River Valley. He moved into another division to develop and oversee staffing teams that placed with at partner sites. He worked closely with the region's nonprofit partners who needed support finding employment for their clients. He worked in the Reentry Program, creating employment pipelines for individuals who had been previously incarcerated. Eventually he went on to support the organization executive team as Strategic Projects Manager. where he deepened his understanding of formal project management, business intelligence, data analytics, and most importantly, how organizations align to make a stronger impact.
... Brown has been quite verbal about committing his life to service and his actions have spoken louder than words! Whether it is serving directly or inspiring others through his philosophical sayings in 'The Book of Tron.' He always asks how we can make not a difference but a long-lasting impact.
Currently, he has gone on to launch Nortal Consulting which provides consulting services to help nonprofits make a stronger impact in achieving its strategic vision by enhancing the workplace effectiveness. He has also launched Nortalent.com which provides mentoring to early career starters. He is committed to helping people throughout the nation make sense of their career and gain access to mentorship.”
What do you love about Roanoke?
“I love Roanoke because it serves as a beacon of community spirit and innovation. In addition to its natural beauty, this place is a canvas--rich with opportunities for involvement and innovation. It is a great place to develop a community of go-getters that continually encourage one another to maximize their potential, create a vibrant life, and make a lasting impact on the community.”
How does your passion impact our community?
“One cannot lead effectively without experiencing chaos and setbacks. The most important leadership trait that I admire and strive toward is bringing vision to reality. My passion lies in the work of solving complex problems while mastering the focus needed to create a healthy environment in which others can flourish.”