Hi, I’m Ben.
I’m a strategist working at the intersection of creative capital, housing systems, and narrative design—building the stories, structures, and strategies that shape how people live, invest, and connect in place.
For over 15 years, I’ve worked across urbanism, real estate, media, fintech, and the nonprofit sector—leading teams, advising institutions, and designing initiatives that translate communications and capital into community impact, and policy into possibility.
From helping launch the real estate crowdfunding platform Small Change, focused on community-driven investment, to directing initiatives that catalyzed over $500M in equitable development as Vice President of the Memphis Medical District Collaborative, my work centers on building platforms that connect people to place—and to each other.
Currently, I serve as Director of Place at a5 Branding & Digital, where I integrate development strategy, branding, and placemaking to shape how people invest, build, and experience place.
My writing has appeared in ARCHITECT, Belt, CityLab, and Metropolis, and I’ve served as editor of Chicago Architectand Newcity Design. I’ve lectured at Columbia GSAPP, the University of Chicago, and the University of Memphis, and currently serve on the boards of Community LIFT and the Progress & Poverty Institute. I’m a Good Work Institute and Next City Vanguard Fellow, and formerly served as President of BLDG Memphis.
Let’s talk housing, systems, cities, and story—and collaborate on broadcasting the value of places. Better yet, let’s do so in Buenos Aires.
Talk to me.