Heritage Stratgies International

For twenty- five years I've had a consulting practice which is now known as PlaceEconomics. The firm provides consulting services to public and non-profit clients dealing with issues of downtown and neighborhood business district revitalization, and the reuse of historic buildings. But with only a few exception, the vast majority of the work was in the United States.

In 2004 I made a commitment to myself to undertake a three year experiment to see if an essentially one-person operation could grow to have an international rather then a domestic client base. That's when Heritage Strategies International (HSI) was formed.

Maidens' Tower, Baku, Azerbaijan

And what did I learn in that three year experiment? Lots! But even more importantly I've had the opportunity to visit incredibly interesting places, work with brilliant and committed people, and learn. Learn! What a wonderful opportunity I'm having to be paid to visit some interesting part of the world and get to learn from my clients and my co-workers.

So what I envision for the HSI blog is threefold: 1) to act a sort of a journal of lessons I'm learning while on some international assignment; 2) to provide a link for readers to people and places you might want to encounter; and 3) to broaden the connections among individuals and institutions who are committed to saving and using the world's built heritage.

So thanks for reading and please don't hesitate to let me know what's useful, what's not, when I've gotten something wrong, or a lead to a person or place that I ought to know about.

Thanks.

d rypkema