Brian was raised in Bethel, Connecticut. His family were the first African-Americans to live there. When buying their home, a group of neighbors circulated a petition asking that the house not be sold to an African-American family.
Brian attended Oberlin College, earning degrees in political science and theater. He then attended the University of Chicago Law School and the Harris School of Public Policy. After graduating, he practiced law for 5 years. He pursued several entrepreneurial ventures and then moved to Turkey, with his future wife Nihal, teaching in the Dept. of International Relations at the Izmir University of Economics for three and half years.
They moved back to the U.S. in 2007, settling in San Francisco. It was during this time that Brian began wearing Hawaiian shirts in response to being mistaken for security every time he attended a tech conference or gathering.
In 2011, Brian and his family settled in San Anselmo, drawn by Marin’s open spaces and great public schools (his daughter attended Wade Thomas Elementary School; Nihal served on the Yes Foundation Board for 4.5 years, several as Chair of the Board, including partnering with the Executive Director and Board to oversee the highest fundraising year in the history of the YES Foundation). He joined the town Economic Development Committee, becoming Chair in 2013, was elected to San Anselmo Town Council in 2017 and was reelected in 2020, serving a term as mayor.
He spearheaded the ongoing Reimagining Creek Park effort which successfully transformed a flood mitigation project into a new community park that invigorated the historic downtown and created a vibrant open civic space for all to enjoy.
When COVID prompted pandemic shutdowns, he worked with Marin Recovers to assist local businesses and served on the steering committee for the inaugural Economic Vitality Strategic Plan.
Brian was the 2022-2023 President of the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers where he advocated for improving fire prevention and emergency preparedness measures and preserving open space. As the co-chair (with San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin) of the Mayors Select Committee, Brian provided strong support for all Marin cities during the pandemic. (Marin Economic Recovery Symposium Series, co-hosted by Brian and Mayor Kate: Read Symposium Series Overview, View Session 1, View Session 2.) In 2017 he joined the Transportation Authority of Marin and is currently Chair of the Board. He was appointed to the Board of Marin Transit during 2020 and is currently President of the Board.
He is currently wrapping up his second term on San Anselmo Town Council. He is running for Marin County Supervisor, District 2, where he won the Primary. Marin IJ notes, “He received 43.6% of the vote, far ahead of three challengers – all of whom brought strong qualifications and political experience to the race to succeed Katie Rice, who has held the job since 2011.” He will compete in the run-off on Nov. 5.
He was a Marin Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in August. He is the Director, Business Development and Patient Experience for an innovative medical practice in San Francisco.