Alan Brown

Alan is an Ohio native and a graduate of The Ohio State University. After a 15-year career in corporate advertising and marketing with Procter & Gamble, Pepsi and two advertising agencies, Alan founded DNA, one of Seattle’s fastest growing branding and advertising agency. DNA has also been recognized by Advertising Age as their 2021 Small Agency of the Year. DNA has also been recognized over multiple years by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of their Fastest Growing Private Companies and in 2018 received their Corporate Citizenship award. Today, DNA is one of the only LGBTQ+ and Black advertising agencies in the country.

 

Alan has been an advocate for diversity in the advertising industry, creating two projects “Come Out to Work” and “Project Violet” – focused on improving safety, creating opportunity and expanding mentorship for LGBTQ workers.

 

Alan currently serves on the board of StolenYouth, a Seattle based non-profit working to end child sex trafficking in Washington state.  Alan has served on the marketing committee, as luncheon chair and co-chair and was Board Chair for three years. His recent efforts have been leading the creation and development of Project: SugarFree, a social media technology that intercepts potential trafficking solicitations online. Project: SugarFree was recognized by Fast Company as a World Changing Idea in 2022.

 

Alan also recently joined and serves on the board of The Fifth Avenue Theater. He also currently serves as the North American Regional Director for ICOM, a global network of advertising agencies.

 

Alan also served on the board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society where he helped lead the development of the nationally recognized awareness campaign called “Why Here?” He also served on the board of Lifelong, a northwest organization serving the LGBTQ community.

 

In 2017 Alan was chosen by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of their “Outstanding Voices” for his leadership in the LGBTQ business community. In 2022, Alan was recognized by Campaign US Magazine as one of their 40 Over 40 Leaders in Advertising. And in 2023, Alan received the Silver Medal Award by the American Advertising Federation for leadership in the advertising industry.

 

Alan is married and has two adopted children.