Opportunities are almost always about something good.
The opportunity to learn. To grow. To succeed.
When we see an opportunity, we think about what it means for our own future.
But when Brian Carman is looking for opportunities – he’s looking for something good … for someone else.
It’s never about Brian – it’s always about the mission. Wendi Boyen, head of Community Development Lending & Investment at Regions Bank
“If he sees a need, he tries to fill that need,” said Wendi Boyen, head of Community Development Lending & Investment at Regions Bank. “It’s never about Brian – it’s always about the mission.”
And that’s not just how he volunteers. His role at Regions Bank focuses on lending and investments that promote stronger, more vibrant communities. He works with Commercial bankers, the Regions Community Development Corporation, the company’s Affordable Housing division, and any number of financial professionals whose expertise can make a difference in communities that could use an economic boost.
But what sets Carman apart isn’t just what he does – it’s how he does it.
“Brian is a mission-driven associate who consistently goes above and beyond to create meaningful change,” Boyen said, noting how Carman serves a multi-state territory that largely focuses on the Midwest. “He anticipates needs, finds better ways to achieve outcomes and ensures the optimal solution is offered.”
That instinct to notice gaps and step into them has defined Carman’s work both inside and outside the bank.
Brian Carman and Shadrieck Kamwendo, Director of the Mosaic Center.
Making an Impact Early
“You don’t have to be here 18 years to make an impact,” said Rodney Abston, Regions’ Little Rock market executive, about Carman’s influence. “He’s been here less than two years and is already making a difference.”
Abston describes Carman as thoughtful, genuine and deeply team-oriented – someone who shows up because he cares, not because he has to.
“Brian has that right balance between the business objectives and the community aspects,” Abston added. “He’s optimistic, community-focused and very much about the team concept.”
You don’t have to be here 18 years to make an impact. He’s been here less than two years and is already making a difference. Rodney Abston, Regions’ Little Rock market executive
A Gap He Couldn’t Ignore
That same perspective is what led Carman to launch In Pursuit Of, a nonprofit organization providing professional interview clothing to under-resourced men and veterans in Central Indiana.
I had this middle-of-the-night moment where In Pursuit Of popped into my head. I liked it so much that I pulled out my phone and filed the 501(c)(3) paperwork. Brian Carman
The idea started with clothes Carman needed to give away but it quickly turned into something more.
“I had this middle-of-the-night moment where In Pursuit Of popped into my head,” Carman said. “I liked it so much that I pulled out my phone and filed the 501(c)(3) paperwork. Once that was done, there was no turning back.”
The mission is simple but powerful: remove one barrier to employment by ensuring men feel confident and prepared when walking into job interviews.
“Clothing can seem superficial,” Carman said. “But when it empowers someone with confidence, it really isn’t. Our goal is that the last thing someone worries about in a job interview is being under-dressed, so they can focus on being their best.”
Through referral-based partnerships with workforce development organizations, In Pursuit Of has already collected more than 300 suits, dress shirts, pants and shoes through a network of more than 30 community partners. Work attire is often only the beginning, with mock interview coaching and one-on-one support also part of the ensemble. In 2026, they will serve over 300 individuals through their referral partner network.
Driven by Something Deeper
In Pursuit Of inspired in part by Carman’s late brother, Patrick, who passed away in early 2025.
“My brother always advocated for the underdogs,” Carman said. “A lot of the folks we serve face an uphill battle. He’s a big driving factor behind why I do this. It is a way for me to stay connected to him in a manner that I thought I would never have again.”
That purpose was evident to everyone who attended the organization’s launch in September 2025, where Carman shared the story behind the work.
“When he first brought this to me, it was clearly a passion,” Abston said. “He wasn’t excited because it would help him professionally – he identified a real gap in the community.”
Support That Goes the Extra Mile
What Carman didn’t expect was how quickly others would rally around that mission.
Associates across Regions began sending clothing donations from multiple states. Leaders at every level stepped in to support the effort.
“It felt like a great opportunity for us to support him and the organization,” said Erik Miner, longtime Regions banker.
From my immediate manager to the top of the organization, they support associates not just in their careers, but in what they’re pursuing in their communities. Brian Carman
Carman also credits Regions’ Making Life Better Institute with helping In Pursuit Of gain visibility – support that led to widespread media coverage across Indianapolis.
“That coverage was the catalyst,” Carman said. “And it doesn’t happen without that support.”
For Carman, the backing reinforced why the work matters.
“From my immediate manager to the top of the organization, they support associates not just in their careers, but in what they’re pursuing in their communities,” he said. “That’s incredibly meaningful.”
Why It Matters
Carman personally meets with many of the people receiving suits, helping them choose what they’ll wear and talking through their upcoming interviews. Later, he often receives text messages with photos, thank-you notes and updates on job offers.
“That human connection tells me everything I need to know,” Carman said. “People tell me they walked in nervous yet walked out feeling empowered.”
From the personal level to the community level, Carman sees a need – and the opportunity – and chooses to step forward.
People tell me they walked in nervous yet walked out feeling empowered.Brian Carman
And that’s why his colleagues say Brian Carman doesn’t just go the extra mile.
He lives there.
