The Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is pleased to name Mark Brown, President of Brown’s Auto Salvage in Bomoseen, the Business Wellness Leadership Award recipient for 2022. The honor recognizes Brown’s motivational role modeling, generous service to the community and strong leadership in sustaining a culture of wellbeing.
Brown, 63, and his wife of 39 years own and operate Brown’s Auto Salvage, a full-service auto body shop in Rutland County, alongside their son, who serves as general manager. Brown’s Auto Salvage employs 55 Vermonters. The Brown family extends their wellness values to their employees, customers and the wider community in numerous ways: Mark Brown serves as a volunteer fire fighter, recreation department leader, and multi-sport coach.
“All Vermonters deserve the building blocks of wellness, which I believe are a livable wage with health insurance and PTO (paid time off),” Mark Brown said. “From there, it is essential that the workplace builds a social community, so people can love and feel loved along with feeling respect and self-worth. Only then is it a reasonable goal to help people enjoy the natural environment with good nutrition and exercise.”
Brown recognizes and celebrates the various “wins” inherent in everyone’s wellness journey – meeting his employees and community members where they are and encouraging continued success. “For some folks it’s a Mediterranean diet and running a marathon, and for others it’s eating less fast food and walking a mile. Both are wellness successes.”
“Mark Brown leads by example through his active lifestyle, volunteerism and generous service to the community as a multi-sport coach, group cycling and ski trip leader and ski instructor for people with intellectual challenges,” said Janet Franz, Council ch
airperson. “Our council m
embers were impressed by Mark’s enthusiasm for motivating people to exercise and make healthy choices. He is truly a wellness leader and an excellent role model and spokesperson for fitness and health in Vermont.”
Brown has coached cross country running, softball and baseball, and volunteers skiing with people with intellectual disabilities. He is the founder and leader of the Castleton Community Development and Economic Revitalization Committee. He also is the founder and leader of Super Tuesday, a community recreation program that offers cycling and skiing, depending on the season, and leads participants through all kinds of weather – rarely missing a day during the past 20 years.
Brown’s nominator wrote, “Mark exemplifies everything you are looking for in this award. He has been active in the Castleton community and the Rutland County region for over 30 years. He helps people create healthy habits and he motivates them to exercise and practice wellness. He not only motivates but he also facilitates and connects people to one another. He’s quite inspiring.”
When not at work, Brown can be found enjoying the beauty of Vermont from a mountain bike, gravel bike or road bike with his wife and friends. In winter, he takes to the moun
tains for telemark skiing in the backcountry. He also enjoys running, hiking, swimming and kayaking.
Governor Phil Scott and the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports will present the Vermont Business Wellness Leader Award to Brown on August 23. The presentation coincides with the Worksite Wellness Awards and Conference, an annual event hosted by the Vermont Department of Health and the Council honoring Vermont employers for their commitment to the wellbeing of their employees and the community.
The Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports promotes health and wellness through physical activity for people of all fitness and ability levels.
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