We recently connected with Rhonda Brown and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Rhonda with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
The only answer to this question is “I am my parents’ child!” My parents both were hard workers who showed me and my brother daily their passion, pride, and determination. They told and showed us that nothing is given, no matter who you are or who you may know. However, worked hard, show up, and show out in whatever our hearts desired.
This work ethic has also flowed into my healthy living lifestyle! I am a lover of pilates and practice 6 days per week! Talk about work ethic!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am the Director of Economic Development for the Memphis Medical District Collaborative (MMDC), a community development organization. At MMDC, I wear many hats. First is real estate where I lead the development of mixed-use, residential, and commercial new construction and re-development projects and stand-up development opportunities for other developers including identifying and leading acquisition and pre-development activities consistent with the MMDC Real Estate Strategy. MMDC’s strategy includes affordable and workforce housing, and the development and training of emerging developers, including minority and women-own developers.
Second is Economic Development includes business recruitment into the mixed-used or commercial developments, business technical support for small businesses and entrepreneurs to assist them in scaling, and our Buy Local procurement imitative, where we work closely with our medical and educational Anchor institutions, to spend with local, minority and women-owned businesses.
Lastly, I support our Streets and Public Spaces. Streets and Public Space creates the strategy and implementation of streetscape improvements and public space enhancements, and engagement with the communities that we serve.
I love the work that I do as it creates both generational and community wealth. It is such joy to see real estate developments going up where small businesses can plant roots, homeownership, and providing quality mobility and pedestrian safety.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
It goes back to what my parents taught me, Passion, Pride and Determination has been most impactful! You have to have passion for something for you to take pride in, and determination is connecting of dots for both and that leads to achievement!
My advice is never give up, even when, and it will be, naysayers. When you tune out the naysayers, magic happens!
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents not only taught me to have a work ethic, but they also taught me about entrepreneurship and making sure you have your own! My father was a serial entrepreneur. Growing up, my parents, by way of my father wanting to create generational wealth,
owned a dry cleaners, a dump truck for hauling, and candy store. However, the main thing was real estate. Growing up, I felt that their real estate portfolio was a waste of time. But now I understand the value of real estate, and that my parents understood and was providing quality affordable housing when it was not a thing. My parents were truly “Game Changers” when it came to entrepreneurship, and that laid the foundation for the career in economic development.
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