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Ken Engelman | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 2, 1969 Englewood, New Jersey |
| Citizenship | American |
| Education | Southern Connecticut State University (BS) |
| Occupations | Non-profit founder, executive, volunteer, journalist |
Ken Engelman (born July 02, 1969) is an American non-profit founder, marketing executive, journalist, photographer, and volunteer advocate based in Connecticut. He is the founder of Community Volunteers United and is known for creating the “Please Be Kind!” campaign.[1][2][3][4]
Early life and education
[edit]Born in Englewood, New Jersey, Engelman received a bachelor of science degree in communications from Southern Connecticut State University.[2]
Career
[edit]Following his education, he started working in advertising, publishing, journalism, photography, and business development.[2] Engelman worked in media, marketing, publishing, and business development with organizations connected to the powersports and automotive industries. His career included roles associated with the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, and RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel Magazine. He also worked as a journalist and photographer and became a member of the International Motor Press Association.[1]
In 2013, Shore Publishing recognized Engelman as “Person of the Week” for community involvement initiatives in Branford, Connecticut. During the same period, he organized local volunteer and fundraising events, including the Woofstock community event on the Branford Green. Later, in 2019, Engelman received the Shore Publishing Beacon Award for volunteer and nonprofit work in the Branford area.
In 2020, he received recognition from WTNH News 8 as a “Wednesday Warrior” and also received a Connecticut House Hero Award for volunteer-related initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the same year, he founded Community Volunteers United, a Connecticut-based nonprofit organization focused on increasing volunteer participation and assisting nonprofit organizations through marketing support, media outreach, fundraising assistance, and public-awareness campaigns. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.[2][3][4][5]
In 2022, Engelman was featured by WFSB Channel 3 in its “The Bright Spot” segment for community volunteer and nonprofit initiatives. He launched the ''Please Be Kind!” campaign in Connecticut in the following year. The campaign used repurposed political lawn signs converted into red community-awareness signs displaying the phrase “Please Be Kind!” The signs were distributed throughout communities, including Branford, East Haven, and North Branford.[6][7][8] The campaign later expanded to include digital billboards, social media outreach, and additional public-service messaging connected to kindness, volunteerism, and civic engagement.[4][9][10][11]
In 2024, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont issued a proclamation recognizing Engelman’s volunteer and community-service activities. In the same year, regional media outlets, including CT Insider, NBC Connecticut, and the Hartford Courant, reported on the expansion of Engelman’s “Please Be Kind!” campaign across Connecticut communities.[9][10][11]
Engelman joined EPG Brand Acceleration as national account manager for its motorcycle group in December 2024. He has been associated with the powersports industry since 2009 and has previously worked with organizations including the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel Magazine. In 2025, Engelman attended BMW Boxer Days in Munich, Germany, where he tested BMW motorcycle models, including the R 1300 RT, R 1300 R, and R 12 GS at BMW’s Enduro Park.[1]
In 2026, he was named the Hometown Hero/Community Partner by the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce.[4] Engelman published his book, The Local Nonprofit Marketing & Fundraising Guide: How Small and Community Nonprofits Attract Donors, Recruit Volunteers, and Build Trust (ISBN: 9798248015368), in the same year.
Awards and recognitions
[edit]- “Person of the Week” by Shore Publishing (2013)
- Shore Publishing Beacon Award (2019)
- Connecticut House Hero Award (2020)
- WTNH News 8’s “Wednesday Warrior” recognition (2020)
- WFSB Channel 3’s “The Bright Spot” recognition (2022)
- Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont’s proclamation (2024)
- Hometown Hero/Community Partner by the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce (2026)
Personal life
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 Baker, Brendan (2025-10-07). "Ken Engelman on building connections and giving back to powersports". Powersports Business. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Engleman Honored for Work With Local Nonprofits". zip06.com. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- 1 2 "Serving the Future with Volunteerism". zip06.com. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Santiago, Ellyn; Staff, Patch (2026-01-28). "Ken Engelman Named Shoreline Chamber's Community Partner/ Hometown Hero For Branford". Branford, CT Patch. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- ↑ "Wednesday's Warrior: 'Community Volunteers of America' help local nonprofits". WTNH.com. 2022-04-27. Archived from the original on 2022-05-29. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- ↑ "Conn. man has an unusual message and even says 'please.' Have you seen his signs?". theday.com. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- ↑ "'Please Be Kind': Signs with simple message pop-up in Branford, East Haven & Guilford". WTNH.com. 2024-01-25. Archived from the original on 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- ↑ Kyrcz, Sarah Page (2024-01-15). "'Please Be Kind!' signs catch on in Branford, East Haven and North Branford, part of larger mission". New Haven Register. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- 1 2 Cuevas • •, Jennifer (2024-11-15). "Branford man turning campaign signs into messages to be kind". NBC Connecticut. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- 1 2 3 Kyrcz, Sarah Page (2024-01-15). "'Please Be Kind!' signs catch on in Branford, East Haven and North Branford, part of larger mission". CT Insider. Retrieved 2026-09-15.
- 1 2 Cross, Alison (2024-11-15). "Can a CT man's movement bring back civility? It's spreading across the state in a very big way". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 2026-09-15.