Behind Our Mission - Brian Easley
Brian Easley is a WAC Life Member and former Board Chair, who first became involved with WAC ten years ago as WAC's International Visitor Program Manager. Originally from Texas, he had moved to Louisville from Washington, D.C. after several years in military and government service. In 2017, he joined his wife's family business in restaurants and real estate, specifically with the Dairy Queen brand, and joined the WAC Board of Directors. Brian was also an ardent supporter of the arts, and had become a film producer, starting out in the documentary space.
One of Brian's long-term projects, The Man with the Big Hat, a documentary film on Texas Poet Laureate Steven Fromholz, had its world premiere this March at the 2026 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film and TV Festival in Austin, Texas. SXSW is one of the largest and most influential cultural events and film festivals in the world. Brian is the executive producer of the film. He is also involved as a producer with the upcoming documentary series about folk-rock icon and Kentucky resident Shawn Phillips, called Stargazer.
Some of Brian's favorite memories of WAC include arranging and hosting home stays, dinners, and resource meetings with dozens of international delegations comprised of students and global professionals, as well as special events with WAC speakers, where he could interact with figures like Louisville Mayors Abramson, Fischer, and Greenberg; share a glass of Pappy Van Winkle with Malcolm Nance; or lunch at Vincenzo's with Fiona Hill. Joining WAC broadened Brian's horizons, not only globally, but across our region, as well; granting him access to individuals and companies he might never have normally had the chance to engage with outside of WAC.
Brian is an alumnus of the U.S. Army, Wounded Warrior Project, DePaul University, Trinity Washington University, and the University of Louisville. He lives in Glenview with his wife Catherine and their children, Robert, William, and Emily.
