Brian Whitmer

Background

About Brian Whitmer

Guided by my lived experience, I champion special populations—those who often lack broad support—and turn empathy into positive change. A trilingual public-sector innovator with over 14 years of experience, I deliver world-class employment services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers, veterans, youth, and jobseekers facing barriers. As Program Delivery Supervisor at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, I lead a team that connects agricultural and non-agricultural employers with seasonal workers and ensures those workers have access to critical resources. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Labor and state and local partners, I oversee Ohio’s Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Outreach (MSFW) and Foreign Labor Certification (FLC) programs. I design and implement technology-driven process improvements to serve thousands of seasonal workers each year, streamline H-2A and H-2B visa job order processing, and help employers meet their staffing needs efficiently. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, I leverage my language skills and leadership to foster innovation across my team and organization. Under my direction, we’ve earned multiple ODJFS Circle of Excellence Awards for nationally recognized public service achievements. Outside of work, I founded the LipomAware Research Initiative (LARI)—the first-ever targeted crowdfunding project to support NIH research. Through LARI, I mobilize community funding and expert partnerships to accelerate patient-led, non-surgical solutions for lipoma and other under-researched fat disorders.