BRIAN PHILPOT
PRINCIPAL OWNER & CEO, AGAMERICA LENDING, LAKELAND
Philpot began his career as an attorney but quickly discovered it wasn’t a fit. He transitioned to be an active real estate investor and eventually to a full-time investment portfolio manager. He founded AgAmerica Lending, which has become one of the largest agricultural mortgage REITs in the United States, more than 10 years ago. The company focuses solely on agricultural real estate financing. “We create lending solutions to support the long-term goals of the American farmer and provide cutting-edge products in a fragmented and volatile industry,” Philpot says. “Our team understands that the land isn’t just an investment; it’s a way of life. For many farmers, there is an emotional tie to the land that has been in their family for generations.”
| EDUCATION | Florida State University (BS), University of Florida (JD) |
| SOMETHING SURPRISING | I generally have heavy metal playing in the car and sing show tunes with my teenage daughter, Presley. |
| FLORIDA ISSUE | Our incredible population growth is a blessing that brings increased strategic responsibility to our growth planning and resource conservation. Disjointed urban growth threatens to degrade our water, create inefficient transportation problems and permanently convert farmland and native land to urban uses. These changes are hard to reverse once made. |