Brian Wommack
Founder & CEO
Brian Wommack is the founder of Opal Myth Consulting, where he advises organizations on reputation, risk, stakeholder trust and the practical adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
He currently serves as Vice President of Communications at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, leading enterprise communications strategy across litigation, public policy, crisis response, executive visibility and institutional reputation. His advisory work through Opal Myth is conducted independently and reflects his personal expertise and experience.
A lawyer, corporate affairs executive and former agency leader, Brian has spent more than two decades helping organizations navigate complex operating environments, manage consequential risks and communicate effectively during periods of change, uncertainty and heightened scrutiny.
Brian advises leaders facing challenges that do not fit neatly into a single discipline — where business strategy, reputation, public policy, legal considerations, technology and stakeholder expectations intersect. His work includes executive advisory services, reputation and risk management, crisis preparedness and response, AI strategy and governance, stakeholder engagement and strategic communications.
A trusted advisor on the practical application of artificial intelligence, Brian helps organizations identify high-value use cases, establish governance frameworks, manage organizational change and deploy AI responsibly. He works with leaders to align AI initiatives with business objectives while addressing reputational, regulatory, workforce and stakeholder considerations.
Throughout his career, Brian has advised organizations during some of the most complex and consequential business challenges of the past two decades. His experience spans major corporate crises, regulatory investigations, product recalls, executive misconduct allegations, restructurings, workforce reductions, class action litigation, activist campaigns, mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy proceedings, public policy controversies, supply chain disruptions, trade and tariff disputes, cyber and data incidents, competitive attacks and periods of intense media and stakeholder scrutiny.
He has counseled leaders through moments where legal, operational, reputational and stakeholder risks converge — helping organizations assess evolving situations, make informed decisions under pressure and communicate with clarity when the stakes are highest. His approach combines legal, policy, communications and business perspectives to help leaders navigate uncertainty while protecting organizational credibility and trust.
Before founding Opal Myth, Brian held senior leadership roles at Weber Shandwick and Ketchum, where he counseled Fortune 100 companies, trade associations and nonprofit organizations on reputation management, crisis and issues response, media strategy and stakeholder engagement. He also led communications and marketing for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, served as a partner at Cameron LLC, worked in government relations at The Carmen Group and practiced law with Jones Day and King & Spalding.
Brian earned a BA from Duke University and a JD, with honors, from the University of Illinois College of Law. He has also completed executive and professional studies in business, leadership and artificial intelligence.
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.
