A Matter of Place
A Matter of Place with Jeff Siegler is an exploration of the places we shape, and how in turn, those places shape us. The built environment has a tremendous impact on the lives we lead and people's overall health and well-being. It's a topic that receives far too little attention considering the outsize impact our surroundings have on our lives. Episodes will alternate between Jeff's experiences working in the Place Industry and interviews with those people dedicated to improving the conditions of our built environment.
A Matter of Place
I Gotta a Guy with Allan Branch
On this week's episode, I got to catch up with one of my favorite people, Allan Branch. Allan got his start in software development before turning his eye to his hometown, Panama City. Not only has he been a leading advocate for bringing the downtown back to life, but he has been one of the pioneers in the process through his real estate development efforts. Allan and I became pandemic pals before I had a chance to visit with him in Panama City and you could not meet a more sincere, community-minded individual. Take his words to heart as there is a lot of wisdom in his approach.
Allan in his own words - I really don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. Maybe that’s common. Over the past 20 years of entrepreneurship, I’ve been a part of building software companies, video production companies, real estate, and now brewpubs. We’ve built businesses, sold a few, bought a few, made tons of mistakes but survived. But it all started with growing up in my family’s restaurant and car wash business. Anything we’ve accomplished, the vast majority of that success rests on the shoulders of the people around me. These people forgive me for all my character flaws, who work hard knowing the business idea has good intentions, and allow me to play a supporting role. I’ve been called a community-focused entrepreneur and real estate developer…maybe that’s me in this chapter of my life.
Thanks for listening to A Matter of Place.
For more information you can check out my website, follow me on Facebook or purchase my book, Your City is Sick.
Jeff