My Story
From Sketches to Systems: A Journey from Storyboard Art to GenAI.
An unconventional adventure:
My career began in the labor-intensive world of 3D animation, medical illustration, and technical product illustration – disciplines that taught me precision, visual storytelling, and created a deep understanding of complex systems and how they work together. This foundation led to creative leadership roles in marketing and advertising, directing growth campaigns, shaping travel experiences for outdoor brands, and learning from hundreds of business owners how to think about cross-department resource management, operations, and the importance of establishing sustainable growth strategies.
Entrepreneurial Spirit:
My creative background soon intersected with technology and leadership. I found my stride in product management, leading information architecture and enterprise UX for groundbreaking SaaS platforms in advertising and digital publishing. This eventually led to a Head of Product and General Management role for an education startup where we successfully brought several pilot programs and educational products to schools and regional PBS stations throughout the Midwest – learning to navigate layers of education bureaucracy in the process.
After noticing tourists in Vail struggle to use town maps on their newly minted iPhones, I launched a digital mapping company, info-maps, where we introduced mobile-friendly mapping services by turning Google Earth into a first-of-its-kind WordPress theme and plugin for municipalities, outdoor events, and adventure travel websites.
info-maps led to the foundation of Fall-Line Productions where I spent 5 years guiding the development of digital and physical products, while honing my expertise in SEO, content strategy, and product-led growth strategies. Several clients went on to lead their industries and as a strategic partner, I helped launch an award winning adventure rental outfitter in Colorado – learning to navigate regional and national government bureaucracy along the way.
The AI Chapter & The Ethical Imperative:
My journey eventually led me to take on product and product marketing leadership roles spanning the design and integration of large-scale, ML-powered personalization engines, guiding successful launches of AI-on-Edge Security Systems, and, more recently, helping to launch multiple award-nominated Generative AI experiences.
Working side by side with ML and AI engineers has taught me just how powerful the technology can be and will continue to be. And what’s clear is that the true impact of AI hinges on how responsibly and ethically it is designed and implemented. This realization fuels my current mission.
Building AI with Integrity, My Philosophy:
I believe AI should augment, not diminish, the human experience. My work now focuses on ensuring AI is built and used with integrity, empathy, and a clear understanding of its real-world implications. I combine strategic product leadership with a rigorous ethical lens to help organizations not just adopt AI, but truly thrive with it, building trust, fostering positive interactions, and creating sustainable value.
In 2025, I relaunched Fall-Line Productions, where I work as a Fractional Product Leader, partnering with outdoor and adventure travel brands to help optimize their operations across product, marketing, AI, and technology to build scalable, human-first products and memorable experiences.
Beyond the Screen:
When I’m not wearing one of my many product hats, you’ll find me far from the screen, off-grid and unplugged. Whether I’m rowing the Grand Canyon, heli-skiing untouched powder, fly fishing, or backpacking, these experiences reinforce my commitment to balance, resilience, and building systems that enhance human and natural connections. These adventures are not just hobbies; they are integral to my perspective, fostering the clarity and vision I bring to every challenge. And it’s where the name ‘Fall-Line Productions’ got its start.
What They Say
“Brian is a gifted product leader, designer, and marketing professional. He is also an excellent problem solver. Brian has a calm, “can do” attitude. I am always confident when Brian takes the lead position that the task will be completed on time and more importantly that it will be done right. I have never been disappointed in this regard.
Recently, I worked with Brian on a challenging “startup” initiative. The nature of a startup means people must be willing to take on new tasks that are outside their normal job description. Brian immediately took a leadership and quickly gained the confidence of everyone on the team. Thanks to his great work; the project is on budget, is ahead of schedule and is gaining momentum.”
~ Tim F. CEO
Brian Forkner is a strategic and proven leader across product, operations, marketing, and experience design. With a passion for helping entrepreneurs and small business owners succeed, Brian works as a trusted partner, building the connective tissue between user, brand, and system by translating vision into human-centered physical and digital products and experiences that scale. Today, Brian leads Fall-Line Productions, a strategic consultancy specializing in outdoor and adventure travel brands where he helps optimize operations across product, marketing, and technology to build and launch scalable, human-first products and memorable hybrid experiences for those who still love to explore.