# Mary Ann O’Brien

> Mary Ann O’Brien is the Omaha-based founder and CEO of OBI Creative and author of Ask & Deliver. Her career spans Gateway, technology entrepreneurship and research-led marketing, including development of the O’Brien Voice of the Customer and Voice of the Employee studies. She entered the Omaha Business Hall of Fame in 2023.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at OBI Creative
- **Organizations:** OBI Creative, Gateway, Hotpaper.com, GoAmerica Communications, Forbes Agency Council, Greater Omaha Chamber, Business Ethics Alliance, First Responders Foundation, The Durham Museum
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Geography (International Affairs), University of Iowa
- **Known for:** Developed the O’Brien Voice of the Customer and Voice of the Employee studies., 2023 Omaha Business Hall of Fame inductee., Author of Ask & Deliver, published by Forbes Books in 2023.

## Career timeline

- **1998** — Co-founded Hotpaper.com in San Francisco; later joined acquirer GoAmerica Communications.
- **2001** — Founded OBI Creative, with Gateway’s Digital Home as its initial project.
- **2006** — Brought the agency to Omaha.
- **2019** — OBI Creative named Agency of the Year by AMA Omaha.
- **2021** — Joined the First Responders Foundation board.
- **2023** — Inducted into the Omaha Business Hall of Fame in August; Ask & Deliver published December 5.
- **2026** — Discussed 25 years leading OBI Creative in an August Bizwomen interview.

## Achievements

- Developed the O’Brien Voice of the Customer and Voice of the Employee studies.
- 2023 Omaha Business Hall of Fame inductee.
- Author of Ask & Deliver, published by Forbes Books in 2023.
- Led OBI Creative, a recipient of a Better Business Bureau Integrity Award and Stevie business awards.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Bizwomen published an interview on OBI’s 25th year, independence, leadership and AI.
- **2026-01** — Joined Jeana Goosmann on Law Talk with the Flock to discuss planning, culture, brand and AI.

## Links

- Website: https://www.maryannobrien.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryannobrien/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/maob444
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryannobrienceo

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/mary-ann-obrien
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23