About Us

Founder & Principal Consultant, Elevate_BRC

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“I have discovered that most people have no one to talk to, no one, that is, who really wants to listen. When it does at last dawn on a man that you really want to hear about his business, the look that comes over his face is something to see.”
— Walker Percy, The Moviegoer

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Listening is where trust begins. Brendan’s career, which spans finance, law, banking, and consulting—has been shaped by that principle. Starting as a computer science major drawn to logic and technology, Brendan pivoted to finance out of a fascination with markets and managing the risk of investments. While earning his degree, he worked as a credit union teller and interned at an investment banking firm, gaining early exposure to very different ends of the financial services spectrum.

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A personal experience shifted his trajectory toward law school, where he discovered a passion for advocacy and civil rights. Introduced to mental hygiene law by a professor during his second year, Brendan represented individuals facing involuntary psychiatric treatment, a role that demanded empathy, precision, and a nuanced understanding of competing interests. This experience reinforced his commitment to ethical, thoughtful decision-making, his pursuit of complex problems, and advocacy for his clients' interests.

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After law school, Brendan returned to financial services, starting in AML and sanctions compliance. For Brendan, compliance was the perfect intersection of his collective skills: regulatory and legal interpretation, analytical thinking, and leveraging data and technology to solve complex problems. These roles sharpened his expertise, but Brendan sought broader exposure to different organizations, challenges, and subject matter. That pursuit led him to join Protiviti, where consulting opened doors to diverse industries and projects. Over nearly five years, Brendan honed his ability to deliver practical, high-impact solutions under pressure and fostered lasting relationships, setting the course for the rest of his career.

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“What is the nature of the search? you ask. The search is what anyone would undertake if he were not sunk in the everydayness of his own life. To become aware of the search is to be onto something. Not to be onto something is to be in despair.”

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Some opportunities we must seek out, and others are presented to us. Brendan was presented the opportunity to gain deeper exposure to strategic and complex regulatory matters with Promontory, freshly acquired by IBM. Surrounded by former regulators and industry leaders, he thrived on complex, high‑profile engagements, leveraging his ability to master intricate subject matter and execute with precision. IBM’s acquisition fueled his passion for AI, automation, and GRC innovation, themes that would define his future work.

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Working alongside regulatory and industry luminaries, Brendan gained a front‑row seat to how policy, technology, and business strategy intersect. He helped clients translate regulatory expectations into practical frameworks, harness emerging technologies for compliance and efficiency, and guide organizations through uncertainty with clarity and confidence. Those experiences became the foundation for Elevate_BRC, a firm built to combine deep expertise with innovation, and to help clients not just meet the moment, but shape what comes next.

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After seven years of success, which included leading Promontory's Risk and Compliance Practice, Brendan embraced a new challenge: helping Treliant pivot in preparation for a potential acquisition. He refocused its risk and compliance strategy, deepened technology enablement, forged partnerships, and strengthened collaboration. These efforts culminated in an acquisition.

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​“A man must live by his lights and do what little he can and do it as best as he can. In this world goodness is destined to be defeated. But a man must go down fighting. That is the victory.”

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​​​​​​​With the transition complete, Brendan faced a choice: continue on the same path or build something that reflected his values. The experience reinforced his belief that true impact comes not from scale alone, but from aligning expertise with client needs and harnessing innovation to solve complex problems. It was a turning point, a recognition that the next chapter should be about creating a firm where clarity, resilience, and measurable outcomes are the standard. That conviction became the foundation for Elevate_BRC.

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BRC stands for Business, Risk, and Compliance, but it also carries a deeper meaning: the bedrock of Brendan’s life, his family. While he may be the “B” in the equation, the “R” and “C” matter even more to him: Rebecca, his wife of over 13 years and greatest source of strength, and Cullen, their three‑year‑old son and the center of their universe. Together, they embody the values of resilience, clarity, and purpose that Brendan brings into his work, making Elevate_BRC a firm where personal conviction meets professional impact.​​

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Guided by the principles of listening, searching, and living by one’s lights, Elevate_BRC embodies these values in practice. Listening first, because trust begins when someone feels heard. Embracing the search, because growth comes from questioning the ordinary and striving for something better. And living by one’s moral compass, because integrity and perseverance matter, even when challenges seem insurmountable.

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Success begins with the courage to try. In that sense, the act of building Elevate_BRC is already a victory, proof that progress starts when you face a challenge.