Colleen B. Brown is an experienced Corporate Director and seasoned public company CEO. As an independent director, she currently serves on the boards of three diverse and dynamic companies: True Blue Inc. (TBI) a leading provider of workforce solutions; Big5 Sporting Goods (BGFV), a leading retailer of sporting goods; and Port Blakely Companies, a family-owned forestry and consumer products company.

She leverages her expertise in digital transformation, finance, technology, governance, and strategic corporate development to advise, oversee, and support the direction, performance, and risk management of these organizations. She is committed to continuous learning and professional development, as evidenced by her NACD Leadership Fellow designation, earning a Cyber-Risk Oversight Certificate from NACD/Carnegie Mellon and attending Stanford Directors College. Her mission is to contribute to the long-term success and sustainability of the companies and communities she serves.

Brown is the former CEO and executive director of Fisher Communications, Inc. (FSCI). Fisher was a multimedia and technology company based in Seattle, WA. She recently completed her work as Interim CEO for Spark Networks, based in Berlin. She is a known collaborative, versatile leader with a deep understanding of how Public and Private companies excel in today’s complex environment.

Her independent board experience has included election to Board Chair for two public companies. She has served as chair of audit, compensation, nominating & governance and innovation & technology committees. She has served on the boards of CareerBuilder.com, and ClassifiedVentures.com (Cars.com), DataSphere Technologies, Spark Networks, American Apparel (for the reorganization), BECU, Delta Dental Insurance of Washington and Young Americans Bank. She has significant experience with transforming and scaling companies, leadership excellence, cyber breaches, proxy contests, turnarounds and technology disruptions.

Brown was selected as “Director of the Year” by the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the NACD. In addition, she was selected by the NACD as a “Top 100 Corporate Director”. She has also been identified as a “Most Influential Director” by Women’s Inc. Magazine and a “Director to Watch” by Corporate Board Magazine.

Prior to Fisher, her work included serving in the C-Suite of Belo Corp. (BLC), a Fortune 1000 multimedia company, President of Broadcasting, Lee Enterprises (LEE) and a President at Gannett Co. Inc (GCI)/TEGNA a Fortune 500 Multimedia Company. While at Gannett, she was promoted from her finance and technology roles to establish and lead Strategic Planning/Broadcast at the company. 

Colleen was inducted into the Gamco Asset Management Inc. Hall of Fame. She was selected for her “outstanding contributions for enhancing shareholder value”. She was recognized as “CEO of the Year” by Seattle Business Journal and within the digital industry as “Innovator of the Year” for her work in hyper-local digital technology and as the “Technologist of the Year”, for her work in Mobile Digital Television.

Brown has served as a director for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), a director for the Associated Press (AP), as the elected Chair of the Washington Roundtable and as Chair United Way of King County. She is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Leadership Institute. Brown is a frequent international speaker and consultant on disruption, and governance. She co-founded “Women In Boards” in Seattle, which continues today.