As chair, Brandon serves as ULI HQ’s lead representative to the district and region – focusing on building connectivity and growing impact locally in alignment with the organization’s three mission priorities:

1. Educating the next generation of diverse real estate leaders.
2. Decarbonizing the real estate sector + accelerating progress to net zero.
3. Increasing housing attainability in communities around the world.

Brandon has been a highly active and engaged member leader with ULI Memphis for the last 8+ years and was most recently the district council’s Inspiration (Programs) Committee chair. So, he brings to the role honed insight with a very clear vision of what comes next for ULI Memphis under his leadership.

The following is a statement of Brandon’s vision in his own words:

I have been thinking lately about the history of the Urban Land Institute’s work in our region, and our ongoing role in the local real estate community. Over this chapter’s 16 years, ULI Memphis has provided much of the thought-leadership behind the important work of creating more vibrant and sustainable communities. Our district council has maintained itself as the preeminent forum for inspirational ideas around real estate development and land use. Moreover, our leadership has consistently and earnestly explored the collective knowledge of a national Urban Land Institute with over 45,000 members. In doing so, we have met and worked with extraordinary people across the country. 

And yet, for many years, the success stories within that collective knowledge were mostly imported. They were inspirational stories from far off places brought to us by encouraging sojourners. Whether presented through a speaker series or written in the pages of Urban Land, every story had one thing in common. It was developed in places besides Memphis.

Through these stories however, we began to develop a broader picture of what Memphis could become. We developed strong desires to implement walkability, density, and contextual scale. Our city leaders began the arduous task of building a new, comprehensive plan, rooted in the urbanism of ULI. And, through collective investment and hard work, something pretty inspirational was starting to happen. 

Those stories were now becoming our stories. 

We have entered a time of maturing perspective. Memphis is a city now operating within the Memphis 3.0 Comprehensive Plan. As a result, our real estate community is more intentionally focusing on core growth, neighborhood scale, and greater connectivity for all Memphians. The city is investing heavily in improving roadways and intersections to better accommodate bike and pedestrian movement. And most importantly, citizens are beginning to leverage the power of community engagement to shape their neighborhoods. In virtually every aspect of the built environment, changes are taking place. And we’re just getting started. While we are still a city full of extraordinary challenges, ULI members are not backing down from them. 

So, moving forward, where does ULI Memphis find itself? Well, I have a few thoughts on that. Our local district council must continue to increase thoughtful exchange and engagement within our real estate community. ULI principles have always provided the catalysts for change within the built environment, and our members have always been the ambassadors of those principles. As such, we should strive to grow a Memphis district council that not only better reflects the makeup of our city but knows its pulse as well. 

Lastly, we must invest in a new generation of diverse leaders who will continue the work of transforming the built environment to create a better, more attainable, and more sustainable way of life for our neighbors and ourselves. I am so heartened by the dedication I have seen from our membership, and I am anxious for us to continue to harness that collective energy in new and exciting ways. There is much work yet ahead of us!

Brandon Herrington | BIO

Brandon currently serves as Director of Marketing + Business Development for Montgomery Martin Contractors (MMC). In the role, he is focused on a systematic approach to business development + pre-construction planning – with over $1 billion in construction put-in-place during his time there. He also serves on the Steering Committee for nonprofit support at First Evangelical Church. He is a member of both the Memphis Chapter of Kiwanis + the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis’ GiVE365 program. He is a Past-President of the South Main Historic Arts District + a former neighborhood liaison to the River Arts Festival.