Meet The Team
Brian Giese
Founder
Prior to establishing the foundation, Brian was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the AI technology company True Influence. Brian co-founded True Influence in 2008, and over the next 13 years, the company grew to thousands of full-time employees and contractors worldwide, scaling it to extraordinary revenues and years of escalating profit. In November 2021, Brian led the company’s acquisition to a successful outcome.
Now, he is dedicating his time to finding and implementing innovative solutions to improve non-profit performance. To this end, Brian and his wife, Patty, founded the Brian & Patricia Giese Foundation in 2022.
Brian is originally from Maryland and now spends time in Annapolis. He lives with his wife, Patty, and is the proud father of three children and three grandchildren, all of whom also live in Annapolis.
Patricia Giese
Founder
Patty’s heart has always been drawn to caring for others. After graduating from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania, she worked as a registered nurse (RN) for many years in various fields and settings, including at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Her love for the Lord and for children led her to serve for over a decade in the children’s ministry of Community Bible Study (CBS) in Bethesda, Maryland, and now in children’s programs in Annapolis, Maryland.
Patty is excited to give back through the Brian & Patricia Giese Foundation, impacting lives and helping build communities grounded in God’s love, hope, and compassion. Patty also finds joy in her women’s small-group Bible study, biking, traveling, weight training with her husband, pickleball, and spending time with their grandchildren.
Dr. Michelle W. Hellstern
Executive Advisor
Michelle W. Hellstern is a faith-anchored leader whose 23+ years spanning academic health systems, compliance and ethics, and nonprofit governance have shaped her for a purpose far greater than career — a mission divinely ordered. When God opened the door to the Brian & Patricia Giese Foundation, Michelle recognized it not as a next step but as a confirmed calling.
As Executive Advisor, she brings expertise — ethical leadership, grantmaking, governance, and community stewardship, sharpened across academic health systems and nonprofit boardrooms — to the service of others in Anne Arundel County. Her personal journey through caregiving, loss, and renewal deepened her conviction that compassion are not policies to enforce, but values to embody. For Michelle, philanthropy is intercession in action: standing in the gap, believing for communities, and building what endures.
Sekou Murray
Director of Marketing
Sekou Murray is an expert storyteller, creative strategist, and marketing executive who believes that meaningful impact begins with meaningful connection. As Director of Marketing for the Brian & Patricia Giese Foundation, he leads the foundation’s efforts to support our non-profit partners in marketing, communications, digital strategy, and public storytelling, amplifying the organizations, initiatives, and people creating positive change throughout Anne Arundel County.
Before joining the Brian & Patricia Giese Foundation, Sekou built a career leading creative direction, brand storytelling, and content production for globally recognized brands and platforms, including Disney, Nike, Apple TV+, Comcast NBCUniversal, and Revolt TV.
