Brian Fowler has worked with non-profit organizations for 10+ hours each week for more than 25 years.
Early mentors and the four years with the National Federation of Independent Business, a membership-based nonprofit serving small businesses conviced him of the value in community service and he continues to “pay it forward”.
1995-2000 National Federation of Independent Business Brian Fowler was the senior insights market research manager and independent business owner subject matter expert for five years for the largest small and independent business membership organization in the United States. Through dozens of studies with entrepreneurs and their teams he worked strategic wonders for the marketing, human resources, IT, and sales teams.
He has served as a volunteer community leader for more than two decades with nonprofits including the Insights Association, the American Marketing Association, the American Association for Public Opinion Research, and at 8 other community nonprofit organizations.
In January 2022, Brian launched the Insights Career Network (ICN), the job search and career community for insights professionals, with five like-minded colleagues. The ICN helps people working in UX, CX, Market/Marketing Research, and the Behavioral Sciences find their voice and their way. The 2,400+ member ICN is 100% volunteer-run and completely free.
He has been particularly instrumental in establishing the ICN’s LinkedIn Company channel which has more than 21,000 followers as of Feb 2025, InsightsCareerNetwork.org and co-hosting most of the 60+ Job Seekers & Allies meetups available for free on the website. He currently leads a volunteer of 15 dedicated professionals, many coducting important profession-focused research studies.
Mr. Fowler served as an elected official in several business community organisations. Marketing, Research and Insights professionals may know his work as a long-time elected board member with the chapters of the American Marketing Association and the Marketing Research Association/Insights Association, where he served multiple terms as President and earned awards including “Volunteer of the Decade”. Or it might be his four years with PAPOR, the West Coast chapter of the American Association for Public Opinion Researchers.
His hands-on development and team leadership with these groups developed and marketed new programs continuously that informed and connected professionals. As President, Brian led each of the organization’s finances, business operations, events, and marketing, rebranding each most of their websites at some point.
He also modernized and revitalized Bike Walk Alameda‘s web presence and Finance operations, re-launching the organization’s website and introducing new ways to leverage existing content, while updating the organization’s financial systems and reporting processes.
In his Alameda, California community, he has also been an active, transformational volunteer leader and Treasurer with two Alameda, California 501c(3) organizations, including the Edison Elementary PTA who benefited from his energy and experience when the pandemic changed everything.
1998-2008 American Marketing Association, San Francisco and Nashville. President (2x), Treasurer (2x), Events, and everything but sponsorship.
Awards
2020 Volunteer of the Decade Award by the Northwest Chapter of the Insights Association after a year of creative service, including 11 virtual events and an annual 1.5-day conference for 10 years
2008 & 2018 Chapter of the Year Award, Insights Association
2004 Chapter Event of the Year Award, American Marketing Association
Spotlight: Active Insights Job Seekers LinkedIn Campaign
