Alumna Featured in Black Enterprise Magazine
An Old Dominion University graduate finds herself in some pretty exclusive company this month. Adriane M. Brown, who graduated in 1980 with a degree in environmental health, is on the cover of Black Enterprise magazine, listed as one of the top 100 executives in the United States.
Brown, President and CEO of Honeywell Transportation Systems, is singled out as someone leading a growing business in a challenging economy.
"We know that 2009 will continue to be challenging," Brown tells the magazine. But she's focused on driving results by creating an environment where employees can thrive.
"One of my greatest pleasures is seeing a customer recognize our team for accomplishing something that was once thought to be near impossible."
Under Brown's guidance for the past four years, the Transportation Systems division of Honeywell International has had annual revenues of $4.5 billion.
Headquartered in Torrance, Cal., Honeywell Transportation Systems consists of Honeywell Turbo Technologies and Honeywell Consumer Products Group.
Turbo Technologies is the world's largest manufacturer of turbo engines. The Forbes.com video network recently interviewed Brown, who said the fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and performance of turbo engines make them well-suited to help automakers with their current challenges in the global economic slowdown.
"I think whatever way you look at it, turbo-charging has a very important role to play in helping automakers meet the challenges that they face," Brown said.
"With a turbo vehicle, you get better fuel economy, you get reduced emissions, and you get the performance and power we all know and love."
In 28 years in corporate America, Brown has made tremendous strides. Beginning with a four-year stint at Corning Inc.'s Electronic Division in Raleigh, N.C., she worked 19 years at Corning in all, before jumping to Honeywell in 1999.
Starting as vice-president and general manager of Honeywell Aerospace's Aircraft Landing Systems in Indiana, Brown oversaw all commercial activity for a $400 million unit. Just a week after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, she became vice president and general manager of Engine System & Accessories, shepherding the Honeywell division through the turbulent post-9-11 economy.
She became President and CEO of Honeywell Transportation Systems in January of 2005. Later that year, Brown was named to Automotive News' list of 100 leading women in the North American automotive industry.
A married mother of one, Brown also acts as a mentor for African American women executives, and serves on the board of Jobs for America's Graduates, a dropout prevention and postsecondary transition program for at-risk youth. She is also a member of the Executive Leadership Council, and the Arizona Women's Forum, a chapter of the International Women's Forum.
Black Enterprise selected its Top 100 Most Powerful Executives by choosing each candidate from among the highest ranking executives within each corporation. Each executive holds a senior management position with one of the top 1,000 publicly traded companies or an international corporation with gross revenues of at least $1 billion.
Each of the executives selected holds a position critical to product development, or their company's bottom line. None has primary responsibility for staff functions in areas such as public affairs, community affairs or diversity.
They also, according to Black Enterprise, have all had significant influence on their company, or in their industry.