Rep. Brown Announces Leadership Team

WASHINGTON –Today, Congresswoman Shontel M. Brown (OH-11) announced key members of her Congressional Office leadership team, including: Veleter M. B. Mazyck, Esq., Chief of Staff; Kimberly Hodge Edwards, Deputy Chief of Staff/District Director; Jasmine Lastery-Butler, Executive Assistant and Scheduler; Julian Sham, Legislative Director; Conor L. Fryer, Communications Director; and Ebony Webster, Press Secretary.

“I am pleased to announce the members of my leadership team who will be instrumental in my efforts to deliver results for the people of Ohio’s Eleventh Congressional District,” said Rep. Brown. “Ms. Mazyck, who previously served my predecessor Secretary Fudge, and Ms. Edwards, a longtime local leader with deep ties to the Cleveland community, have a proven track record of public service and are well-prepared to lead my staff in both the Washington, D.C. and district offices. With a combined wealth of policy and local experience, the leadership team has a deep understanding of the issues that matter most to our community. I am confident they will ensure the people of Northeast Ohio are well served."

Veleter M. B. Mazyck, Esq.

Veleter Mazyck, Chief of Staff, served Rep. Brown’s predecessor, Secretary Marcia Fudge, in that role since 2011.  Her previous roles have involved providing representation, advice and counsel for more than two decades to urban Boards of Education and their Superintendents/CEOs as General Counsel in Atlanta, GA and the District of Columbia, and Assistant Solicitor in Pittsburgh, PA. In her current role, Veleter moved from implementing and litigating various statutes and regulations to helping develop solutions through legislation and constituent outreach.

Admitted to the Pennsylvania, District of Columbia and Georgia bars, Veleter is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University School of Law, and a 2007 Broad Superintendents Academy Fellow.  She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and served for several years on its National Executive Board. 

Kimberly Hodge Edwards

A lifetime resident of the City of Warrensville Heights, Kimberly H. Edwards earned her bachelor’s degree from Urbana University and her Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University.  Before joining the Office of Congresswoman Brown as Deputy Chief of Staff/District Director, Kimberly worked in social services for more than 25 years, assisting children and families who were victims of abuse and neglect, and helping to reunify families.  She also assisted with successful adoptions for those children needing families. For 18 years, she helped individuals with disabilities find employment and independence, while ensuring their health and safety.  In addition to these roles, Kimberly served as a City Council Member in the City of Warrensville Heights for 22 years. 

Jasmine Lastery-Butler

Jasmine Lastery-Butler, SHRM-CP, is Rep. Brown’s Executive Assistant and Scheduler.  With almost a decade of human resources experience, Jasmine’s expertise includes city, county, and state government employee relations, professional development, and policy integration. During that time, she supported the launch of the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court Families First Program, which supports parents experiencing substance use and mental health issues. She also worked with the mental health community, developing strategies to lower recidivism rates. Before joining Congresswoman Brown’s office, Jasmine worked at John Carroll University as the HR Generalist, where she developed new programs to manage the impact of COVID-19 in the workforce.

Jasmine received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology/Criminology from Ohio University and earned a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion certification from Southern Florida University. She is currently a 2022 MBA candidate at John Carroll University. 

Julian Coleman Sham

Julian Coleman Sham serves as Legislative Director in the Office of Congresswoman Shontel Brown. Previously, Julian served as Policy Advisor in the Office of Representative Ted Lieu where he covered various legislative issues.  They included, but were not limited to, agriculture, election security, environment, labor, small business, transportation, trade and emerging tech. Julian holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Merced and a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University.

Conor L. Fryer

A native Ohioan, Conor Fryer previously served Ohio’s Eleventh Congressional District for two years under Rep. Shontel Brown’s predecessor, Secretary Marcia Fudge. A member of both the communications and legislative teams, Conor managed digital media platforms, coordinated press activities, and handled a policy portfolio for then-Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge. Conor earned a bachelor’s in science from the Ohio State University and a Certificate in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

Ebony Webster

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ebony Webster earned an associate degree in Journalism from Cuyahoga Community College, a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Cleveland State University, and master’s degree in Communications Management from John Carroll University.  Ebony is currently pursuing her PhD in Business Management, focused on Organizational Behavior.

With over 20 years’ experience in broadcast media, public relations, professional development and brand establishment, Ebony has implemented successful marketing and professional development strategies. She has also created reciprocal community relationships and events, increasing organizations’ brands and revenue.

Ebony is an Adjunct Professor of Communications at Kent State University, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and the Society of Professional Journalists.

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