Ryan Short

Ryan Short is the co-founder of Civic Brand, a place branding consultancy that helps cities, towns, and regions become more vibrant, equitable, and loveable places. Since 2008, he has led Civic Brand’s work across the United States, guiding communities through engagement-driven strategies that connect place branding, placemaking, and destination development.

Ryan is the author of The Civic Brand: The Power & Responsibility of Place, with a foreword by Strong Towns founder Chuck Marohn. In the book, he argues that place branding is not simply marketing, but a strategic framework that helps communities align identity, investment, and decision-making around the places people call home.

Passionate about the profound role place plays in shaping our health, happiness, and prosperity, Ryan advocates for a people-first approach to branding and placemaking that strengthens both local economies and community identity.