Demetrius Brown likes to help

Demetrius Brown, an operation support specialist, is a member of a talented team led by Tony Kendrick that makes PEO EIS buildings hum like well-oiled machines. 

“I like to say that we do a lot of everything,” Brown said. “We change light bulbs, maintain an inventory of office supplies, rearrange cubicles and deliver paper. We make sure everyone in the workforce can do their job effectively.”

When Brown is not in his office completing paperwork, he is running around the National Capital Region responding to requests while attached to his mobile phone. Brown, today’s #PEOEISTeammateTuesday, answered questions about his career and life.

Where were you born?
I was born in Washington, D.C.’s Garfield Hills neighborhood. My mom, a certified nursing assistant, instilled in me a strong work ethic. After I graduated from Anacostia High School, I started moving office furniture for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. I joined PEO EIS in 2009.

You still live in Washington, D.C. What do you enjoy about the city?
It’s a walkable city. You don’t need a car. You can get to where you need to go using public transportation.

How would your friends describe you in two words?
Loyal and happy. One of my friends needed help moving furniture out of an apartment, but everyone who agreed to help failed to show up. I always tell people, “If you need me to help, just call me.” She called me at noon. I helped her move her furniture. We returned her rented vehicle two minutes before the rental office closed at 5 p.m.

I don’t dwell on sadness. If you are sad all the time, you block your blessings. If I see a friend who is down, I try to cheer them up. One of my friends lost her dad around Christmas a couple of years ago. I took her to dinner and tried to make her laugh. I also rented a party bus for her 40th birthday. It was a surprise. I didn’t call her all day on the day of her birthday and showed up in the evening with a group of friends to take her to a restaurant for dinner. She thought her friends had forgotten about her birthday and cried when she saw us in the evening.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?
I enjoy spending time with my eight-year-old son. I also enjoy taking long walks and watching movies.

Have any movies inspired you?
I like the “Rocky” movies. Rocky grew up in an impoverished neighborhood and had to build himself up. He had to be torn down a little bit because he forgot where he came from. It humbled him, and he rose again.

How do you relax?
I sit in my house, light a couple candles, close my eyes and think about my blessings. I also think about the people who may die today and just reflect on life itself.

When are you happiest?
I am happiest when all of my friends and family have no complaints.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
When I was working for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, I was walking to Union Station with a group of co-workers while it was raining. When I was running into the Metro station, I slipped and fell. I pretended that I was doing push-ups. My co-workers burst out laughing.

Why have you been successful in your career?
I am willing to learn new things. My job can change at any time. It’s good to be a willing learner to pick up new skills. I come to work every day that I am not sick. I try to complete all of my major tasks in the morning, so I don’t have to cram everything in before I leave for the day. When I come to work, I look at my day and organize it, so I stay on top of my tasks and can handle any emergencies that pop up.

What does a good leader do?
A good leader listens to all workers, no matter how far up or down they are on the totem pole.

Describe the PEO EIS culture.
PEO EIS is a tight-knit community. People work hard. It can get hectic, but people remain calm. It’s a caring organization. In some organizations, people care about you as an employee but not as a person.

What is your favorite word?
My favorite word is “cool.” It is a word I can use if I don’t agree with you. We can agree to disagree.

What is the best advice you received?
When I started working for Irv Newell, I thought he was a little hard on me. But a co-worker told me that Irv was a little extra hard on me because he wanted to make me the best potential me. I took that advice to heart and ended up forming a close bond with Irv.

What advice do you have for PEO EIS staff?
Never be afraid to learn anything new because you don’t know what the reward will be at the end of the rainbow.

What is your proudest moment?
Getting my high school diploma was my proudest moment. It was important to my mom because she didn’t get one herself.

If you could thank one person for the role they played in your life who would it be and why?
My stepfather. He taught me that there is a workaround to everything. If a direct approach doesn’t work, you can find another way that works.

Who inspires you?
My mom’s work ethic inspires me. One of my brothers also inspires me. He works in the construction industry. Despite being laid off more than once, he has hustled to keep himself financially afloat. Washington, D.C. also inspires me. It’s where I got my tough grit.

How would you liked to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered as a man who will help anybody I can.