This is the first in a series of Brooks Resources Corporation (BRC) board member spotlights we will be presenting over the coming months. These features will share the personal side of our leadership and add to our rich history and story.
We recently sat down with Colin Brooks, who has been a board member since 2013. He shared some of his story and his family’s legacy with us.
Q: What is your background or history with BRC that led or drew you to become a board member?
A: Soon after the death of my great-grandfather (Edward Brooks) in 1954, my grandfather, Conley Brooks, Sr., was appointed Executive Vice President of Brooks-Scanlon Lumber Company working alongside John Hollern who served as President. One of their responsibilities was overseeing the company’s mill in Bend. BRC was incorporated in 1969 to pursue real estate development opportunities, and my father – Conley Brooks, Jr. – joined the board later after the sale of Brooks Scanlon in 1980.
Con Sr. loved visiting Bend and wrote in his memoirs that he considered moving to town. Our family group came to Bend a few times during my childhood for reunions, and I have fond memories of these trips and the natural beauty of the area. When Mike Hollern asked me to consider joining the BRC board just over twelve years ago, I enthusiastically said yes.
Q: What do you hope you will help BRC achieve in the next 5 years?
A: I hope to contribute to a coordinated, thoughtful approach to the continued development of the Bend Central District.
Q: What do you imagine Bend would be like today if Brooks were not such a key contributor to the local development landscape?
A: Fewer Ocean Rolls?
Q: Do you serve on any other boards or are involved with any other organizations?
A: I recently joined the board of Breck School, an independent college-preparatory school located in Golden Valley, Minnesota. Previously, I spent six years on the board of the Montessori Center of Minnesota which provides Montessori training and education for teachers. Other trustee roles include two private, charitable foundations: Bend Foundation and Greystone Foundation.
Q: Please tell us a bit about your professional and personal background.
A: I am a Vice President and Trust Officer at Sawmill Trust Company where I provide investment management and financial planning services to individuals and families. My wife (Minna) and I met in business school, and we live in a town called Wayzata with our three children, ages 15, 12, and 10. Fun fact: Wayzata was also the childhood home of Brenda and Brandon Walsh, fictional characters from the ‘90’s television show Beverly Hills, 90210 – a keystone cultural series for my generation.
A highlight of the past year was our family’s experience at Korean immersion summer camp. Minna was born in Seoul and speaks the language with our kids; seeing them fully engaged and excited about Korean language, culture, and food was special for us. We are planning to visit the country in 2026.
Q: What is your favorite way to enjoy your time off from season to season?
A: My great-grandfather (mentioned previously) built a cabin in 1931 on Gull Lake in northern Minnesota. This place has remained a place of summer relaxation and family togetherness through the generations.
As for time off in the winter, well, there really isn’t any. I have two kids playing hockey, a sport that is part of our collective Minnesotan identity (and takes up a lot of time all year round).
Q: What has been your greatest takeaway or learning from your time serving on the Brooks board?
A: My greatest takeaway has been the importance of creating, developing, and maintaining strong relationships. A significant amount of Brooks’ success is due to the company’s partnerships with smart, honest people such as the Tennant, Miller, and Taylor families to name a few, as well as an incredibly talented, intelligent, and loyal team running the business. My family is fortunate to be associated with people of such high caliber and character.
