Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah Olivia Farmer. She and her team share their story with us below:
Deborah Olivia Farmer is President of Brown Farmer Media Group, a full-service Chicago & Atlanta-based communications firm. Established in 2014, the fast-growing firm provides strategic media advice and counsel to a select clientele that includes small businesses and entrepreneurs, faith-based and community organizations, media personalities and more throughout the Chicagoland & Atlanta area and nationwide.
Ms. Farmer was born into a family that stressed loyalty to kin, community, church, and country. With that mantra instilled in her from birth, she has made a conscious, persistent effort to use her talents and hard work to reach personal goals while assisting others in achieving theirs.
Prior to forming her company, Ms. Farmer in 2006 was named Director of Station Relations at NBC5-TV Chicago, an NBC Universal-owned and operated broadcast station. Serving as the link between the station and the community, she provided media exposure for hundreds of underserved non-profit organizations across the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Under her leadership, NBC5 sponsored several community initiatives focusing on health & wellness, youth & education, and arts & culture including the Making A Difference Campaign, which raised awareness of those giving back to the community. Mrs. Farmer also spearheaded the Community Action Board which served as the morale compass of the station, comprised of over 85 civic, business and community leaders from around the city. In addition, she launched NBC5’s first-ever Women’s History Month clothing drive benefiting Clara’s House and The Primo Center for Women and Children, which became a model for drives across all the station groups.
Her stellar academic career was accentuated by participation in student government, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Pan-Hellenic Council and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Father Aquinas award recipient and culminated with Farmer earning a bachelor’s degree in Radio-TV Broadcasting in May 1995 from Lewis University. Her degree opened the door to an internship with World’s Greatest News (WGN-TV). Her goal was to learn from and add to the station’s reputation as a national broadcast powerhouse. She most recently spoke at the Lewis University Silver Circle Awards dinner and made a generous donation to benefit a current student studying Radio & TV Broadcasting.
She worked the assignment desk, a bit of a juggler in the circus-like world of television news, researching facts, getting wind of breaking news and sending reporting crews out to get the story, set-up video-shoots and even conducted interviews for airing. As her talent was increasingly recognized, Ms. Farmer was promoted to several positions including segment producer for WGN’s Morning News. In that capacity, she developed special segments and features such as “Unsung Heroes,” which touted noteworthy individuals who give back to the community, mirroring her own sense of commitment.
With a strong conviction to give back, Ms. Farmer works tirelessly in the community. She is a member of Rotary Southeast, where she lives out their motto, “Service Above Self”. She sat on the boards of The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Achievers program, Black Perspectives, and the United Way Diversity Committee, to name a few. Mrs. Farmer was also recognized as one of “12 Women We Admire” by N’Digo magazine, as well as one of WVON-AM Radio’s and Ariel Investments’ “40 Under 40 Game Changers.”
Ms. Farmer formerly sat on the board of directors for Goodcity Chicago, which served to identify high-potential community-based entrepreneurs whose goals are to create and enhance neighborhood and faith-based programs that promote self-sufficiency, hope and a sense of purpose in the lives of individuals in under-resourced communities. She and her adopted son reside in Atlanta, Georgia and are members of World Changers International in College Park, GA.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I was blessed to have a strong support system in place and friends/mentors in the industry to assist me along the way. It was not a smooth road, but where it got bumpy-God helped navigate me through.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
A communications specialist by trade, Deborah Olivia Farmer founded Brown Farmer Media Group Inc., a full-service communications firm, after two decades working in Chicago’s newsrooms. In 2016, the firm gained national attention after being awarded a competitive contract with the City of Chicago to lead a diversity recruitment initiative for the Chicago Police Department that came to be known as “Be The Change.” Under Deborah Olivia’s leadership, the communications firm has also aided in the growth and success of dozens of other clients nationally, spanning corporations, not-for-profit organizations, and high-profile leaders. We raise the profile of dynamic individuals and organizations while strengthening communities. BFMG has a standard of high-level performance with an emphasis on quality, not quantity. We are the go to agency for projects that need results quickly. Our firm stands out because of my strong television news background.
We offer the following services: Communications, Media Training & Media Relations, Media Buyer, Strategic Partnerships & Planning, Public Relations, Event Planning, Brand Development & Image Consulting, and Social Media Marketing.
What’s next?
I am looking to expand my business model to the Atlanta area, as Chicago is my base. I am excited about the new connections and business opportunities on the horizon. I plan to grow my team and provide internship opportunities to aspiring media professionals and serve as a mentor to them.
I am also currently working on my line of products as I am a lover of beauty products. There will be a portion of the proceeds from the line to benefit a women’s organization in Ghana and a girl’s organization in Barbados. My roots are in Barbados, as this was the birthplace of my dad. I did an African Ancestry DNA test in 2008, and my lineage was traced to the Akan people of Ghana. This was a life changing discovery and when I touched down on the soil of the Motherland close to 10 years ago, I vowed to stay connected and to give back. I am still in awe both these places, and I want to make sure I give back to my people in a meaningful way.
Finally, I am forever committed to spreading the message about adoption. As an advocate, there is an opportunity to transform insensitivity into opportunity for inspiration — to reshape the perception of what family means through bringing clarity to the wonders of adopting babies, children and teens.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brownfarmermedia.
com/ www.myjourneytojoshua.com - Instagram: @theoliviafarmer & @Brownfarmermediagroup/
myjourneytojoshua - Facebook:@
BrownFarmerMediaGroup/My Journey With Joshua
Image Credits
Liz Anderson, Vizualize Filmz
