BRIAN PHILPOT

CEO & PRINCIPAL OWNER, AGAMERICA, LAKELAND

A financing company specializing in agricultural real estate, AgAmerica provides financing designed to meet the needs of farmers, ranchers and rural landowners. It employs more than 100 people. Philpot's background includes extensive experience in real estate investing, agriculture lending, real estate law, market analysis and negotiation. AgAmerica developed from his longtime investment company, Land South Group, which focused on timberland, agricultural and conservation real estate across the southeastern U.S. Along with other business leaders, Philpot created Lakeland Leads, a nonprofit that partners with the local school board and businesses to produce a skilled workforce.

EDUCATION: Florida State University (BS), University of Florida (JD)

NOTABLE TREND: Political and consumer trends have a significant and direct impact on farmers. The work farmers do is often taken for granted. What they do is not only a business, but a lifestyle, and it requires tremendous effort, planning and risk in order to provide our population with our most basic necessities.

SOMETHING SURPRISING
“I like to listen to metal music, and I like to study quantum physics and cosmology.”