Brian Wommack
Founder & CEO
Brian is the leader and driver of Opal Myth, working on projects he is passionate about, either solo or in combination with bespoke teams. He brings a long track record of promoting entities, people, brands and ideas through innovative, data‑driven campaigns, programs, media outreach, social media, speeches and advertising — now increasingly powered by advanced AI strategy and implementation.
A trusted advisor on the practical application of artificial intelligence, Brian helps organizations design and deploy AI to enhance communications, marketing, insights, workflow efficiency and decision‑making. His work spans AI readiness assessments, governance and risk management, use‑case prioritization, tool selection, implementation roadmaps, and change management — ensuring AI adoption is responsible, effective and aligned with business objectives. He also advises leaders on navigating the reputational, regulatory and cultural implications of AI at moments of rapid technological and societal change.
Brian has protected and defended corporate reputations during existential crises and helps organizations prepare for the worst through rigorous planning, auditing and drilling, including AI‑driven scenario modeling and crisis simulations. An expert networker, he prides himself on recruiting, deploying, nurturing and retaining excellent teams – human and AI‑enabled alike.
Recently, Brian has helped global brands nuance conversations around uncertain earnings, sudden tariff‑induced paralysis, strained supply chains and rocky business prospects, while also guiding companies facing sudden political, cultural or algorithm‑amplified attacks. At the same time, he has empowered clients to seize unexpected opportunities — jumping into AI‑accelerated trending conversations to capture attention or uncovering new markets sparked by shifting national and technological dynamics.
Prior to founding Opal Myth, Brian led communications and marketing for the leading dietary supplement trade association, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN); was an entrepreneurial leader of a communications boutique as a partner at law firm Cameron LLC; served a full spectrum of corporate, government and nonprofit entities in an 18‑year career at communications powerhouses Ketchum and Powell Tate / Weber Shandwick; worked as a lobbyist at the well‑respected boutique The Carmen Group; and practiced law with global firms Jones Day and King & Spalding.
Brian is a graduate of Duke University, where he double majored in English and Political Science and served as president of his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta; as an assistant editor of the Duke Journal of Politics; and as a disc jockey for campus radio station WXDU Durham 88.7 FM. He earned his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law, graduating with honors while serving as a founding editor of the Elder Law Journal and winning numerous moot court competitions for excellence in oral advocacy. He has continued his education at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, completing selected MBA coursework in leadership, business analytics, marketing strategy and finance — expertise that now underpins his hands‑on work in applied AI strategy.
Kendall Ridley
Vice President
A multitalented strategist and a fearless and award-winning communicator, Kendall is the director of marketing for Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center. She is responsible for managing hospital communications and the center’s overall image and reputation. Whether bringing brands to life, building brands up once formed, executing smart creative that tells a story, engaging smartly with the media or other key audiences, or leading teammates into battle, Kendall is someone Brian is always delighted to have on his team. Her experience spans nonprofits / philanthropies, trade associations, financial services, technology, and commercial real estate. Kendall was Brian’s right arm when they both served the Council for Responsible Nutrition during an intense time for the organization, supporting more than 200 CRN member companies as the global pandemic changed the industry’s dynamic and trajectory.
