Speakers

Tripp Muldrow, FAICP

Tripp Muldrow, FAICP, is a nationally recognized expert in downtown planning, branding, and economic development. As a principal at Arnett Muldrow & Associates in Greenville, SC, he has worked in over 600 communities across 35 states and six countries, helping Main Streets turn vision into action. With a background in city planning and economic development, Tripp’s career spans decades of hands-on experience in revitalizing downtowns, shaping market strategies, and guiding communities to success.

A past president of the South Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association, Tripp has served on numerous boards and advisory panels, including the South Carolina Main Street program. In 2018, he was inducted as a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He has spoken at national and state conferences across the country, delivering engaging, practical insights that help communities make lasting change.

Blake Sanders

Blake Sanders is President and Landscape Architect of Studio Main, LLC, a planning and design firm based in West Pelzer, South Carolina. A 2006 Clemson University graduate, Blake has dedicated his career to helping communities across the Southeast create stronger, more vibrant places through downtown revitalization, master planning, public engagement, parks, streetscapes, and economic development.

His professional work draws on twelve years of local government service, including eight years as Mayor of West Pelzer, where he helped lead the town through an award-winning community revitalization effort focused on smart growth, walkability, and economic development.

In 2024, Blake was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 9 in Anderson County. His experience as a landscape architect, planner, small business owner, former mayor, and state legislator gives him a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges communities face.

Tim Blair

Tim Blair is a real estate professional with more than 30 years in the industry, having participated in hundreds of real estate deals as a sponsor, investor, or transaction broker. He was the CCIM Institute's global president in 2021. He was the 2017 National Association of Realtors’ Commercial Advocate of the Year.