Brian Ricklin

Following nearly two decades of dedicated service, Brian Ricklin retired from active governance at Creative Art Works in 2026. As President of the Board, Brian focused on external engagement, business and board development, and provided vital counsel and strategic partnership to CAW’s executive leadership.

Prior to his presidency, from 2010 to 2023, Brian served as the Executive Director and CEO of the organization—a role he stepped into after serving on its Board of Directors since 2007. Throughout his tenure, he brought extensive experience in strategic development, board management, and a deep commitment to the arts, philanthropy, and community service to bear on his leadership.

Brian’s leadership of CAW was consistently dedicated to organizational best practices and the strategic expansion of all its program-related investments, partnerships, and initiatives. He brought CAW recognized, tangible, and innovative results in board management, strategic and succession planning, and programming impact, including achieving top ratings for transparency, constituency feedback, revenue growth, and program expense efficiency. Brian was responsible for nearly two decades of vital capacity-building at CAW, including attracting talented program and development staff.

Since his formative childhood years, Brian has maintained three simple principles that brought him to CAW: empowerment through creativity, grass-roots community service and authentic engagement, and leadership as a fiduciary. Prior to serving CAW full-time, Brian served on numerous nonprofit boards of directors, as well as in leadership roles on his local community board and numerous boards of corporate investments.

He spent over 25 years in real estate portfolio management, acquisitions & dispositions, asset management, and capital markets. He is the founder of Real Estate Acumen, a principal real estate investor and advisory firm. Brian served previously as the Senior Director and Global Head of Asset Management at Marathon Asset Management, an alternative investment advisory firm, directing $4.5B in real estate and real estate operating company investments in the Marathon Real Estate Opportunity Fund portfolio.

One of Brian’s greatest joys throughout his time with CAW was introducing his two grown children, Zach and Michelle, as well as his late parents, to the young people and community partners who have been so powerfully impacted by CAW’s mission.