Our Events
2026 Sparking Academic Excellence Breakfast
Meet our speaker: Bryan Earnest
Bryan is the owner of Amperage Marketing & Fundraising. For nearly 30 years, Bryan has guided Amperage’s vision, growth and evolution. He focuses on fostering a strong agency culture, overseeing operations and risk management, and leading the organization toward long-term sustainability. His forté is bringing people together—building trusted relationships, cultivating strategic partnerships and identifying new business opportunities and best practices that strengthen both clients and the agency.
Bryan, a 1987 graduate of Waterloo West High School, leads Amperage with his wife Erin. Between the two of them they have 6 children – Cole, Luke, Kyle, Payton, Jaxon and Evie. Cole, Luke and Kyle are all graduates of West High as well.
Throughout his entrepreneurial career, Bryan has successfully navigated five acquisitions and helped 10 owners transition from their businesses. Besides Amperage Bryan owns Vernon Research Group and NextStage Advisers.
Bryan is deeply engaged in business and community leadership. He has served as Cedar Valley United Way Campaign Chair, Board Chair of Grow Cedar Valley, and is a member of YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization). He has also served on the boards of the Cedar Valley
Hospice, American Cancer Society, Waterloo Schools Foundation and Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa and works as a business coach to emerging and established leaders.
His recognitions include American Advertising Federation Ad Person of the Year, Junior Achievement Young Entrepreneur of the Year, the Waterloo Courier “20 Under 40” Award, and multiple Inc. 500/5000 honors.
Bryan’s experience and energy fuel a simple belief: when you bring the right people together around the right opportunity, meaningful growth follows.