BIO

Jimmi’s first formal role in diversity was as Best Buy’s first director of diversity and inclusion in 2004. During that time, he led the creation of award-winning programs and helped Best Buy become more inclusive and diverse at all levels of the organization. Highlights of his accomplishments include an award-winning leadership development program, launching ERGs across the USA, and implementing transgender awareness training.

 He left Best Buy in 2009 to start his own business. His clients have included Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, small businesses, police chiefs, government agencies, high schools, universities, and religious organizations.

 In 2016, Jimmi became chief administrative officer at Hennepin Theatre Trust, one of the largest arts organizations in Minnesota. He oversaw a large portion of the business: human resources, finance, IT, communications, public relations, marketing, facility management, The Hennepin (an arts and cultural event center) and Brave New Workshop (the nation’s oldest sketch comedy theatre company). He continued his consulting business since joining the Trust.

In December of 2022, Jimmi became the director of equity and human resources at the City of Brooklyn Center. The city is the most diverse city in Minnesota. Jimmi will be leading Brooklyn Center’s diversity, equity and inclusion work and also overseeing human resources.

 Jimmi is also a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He plays guitar, slide guitar, harmonica, mandolin and banjo. His band, Jimmi and the Band of Souls, plays blues, R&B and American roots music. Their album, The Devil You Know, was voted best blues album in Minnesota in 2011 by the Minnesota Blues Society. They were semi-finalists in the International Blues Challenge in 2015. Their latest album, Live, Baby, Live!, was released in 2022.