Brian K. Williams has distinguished himself as a specialty-finance entrepreneur and executive who launched his own company at age 28.

Williams is the founder and CEO of Crown Asset Management, which purchases distressed consumer receivables mostly from large national creditors and outsources the purchased accounts to CAM’s proprietary network of collection agencies and law firms for recovery. These agencies and firms are selected after they complete a rigorous audit and compliance onboarding process, followed by consistent oversight.

Since 2002, Williams has been involved in the purchase and sale of more than $15 billion in receivables.

He attained a bachelor’s degree in finance from FSU in 1997. After graduating, Williams worked briefly for Merrill Lynch, now Merrill, then became a banking and investment advisor with First Union National Bank, now part of Wells Fargo. That led to a role as a consultant for a small debt-buying business, where he spent about four years. Then he founded Crown Asset Management, which celebrated its 22nd anniversary in 2026.

Also in 2026, Williams and his wife, Cortney, a 1998 FSU graduate who also majored in finance, became inaugural members of the college’s IMPACT Society, which celebrates its predominant donors. The recognition follows a steady stream of philanthropic support from Brian and Cortney, including $500,000 in 2024 to strengthen their Williams Family Endowed Student Success Fund. 

The couple’s previous gifts include a $1 million bequest in 2018 to establish the Brian and Cortney Williams Family Endowment and another $1 million investment in 2020 to create the Williams Family Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship Fund, the Williams Family Endowed Graduate Fellowship Fund and the Williams Family Endowed Student Success Fund. The latter gift included $250,000 to establish the Williams Family Classroom in the Herbert Wertheim Center for Business Excellence.  

Williams serves on the Herbert Wertheim College of Business Board of Governors and the FSU Foundation Board of Trustees. He previously served on the Seminole Boosters Board of Directors.

Through his company, Williams supports causes in his Atlanta-area community and beyond.