Brian Platt is Partner and Director of Public Policy for UMusic Hotels Development (UMHD), a real estate development company working with Universal Music Group. The company focuses on creating music and entertainment hubs in cities across North America, bringing together culture, economic development, and collaboration between public and private sectors. These hubs include performance venues, recording studios, a music school, and Universal Music Group-branded luxury hotels and residences. The developments are designed to support creativity, encourage music tourism, and provide opportunities for emerging artists and the next generation of talent in the music industry. Before joining the organization, he spent 12 years working in city government, most notably serving as City Manager in Kansas City, Missouri, and Jersey City, New Jersey. While serving in Kansas City, he helped lead more than $5 billion in redevelopment projects in less than 5 years, marking a significant period of development across the city. He also advanced sustainability efforts, including planting 10,000 trees within three years and supporting the development of one of the largest solar arrays in the United States, as part of a long-term focus on environmental resilience. In Jersey City, Brian first worked as Chief Innovation Officer and later served as Business Administrator and City Manager. During that time, he helped the city reach record levels of housing construction, comparable to those in Manhattan, New York City. In both cities, he worked to improve essential public services, including achieving record levels of street resurfacing and strengthening snow removal operations. He also supported efforts to provide additional resources for low-income families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Earlier in his career, Brian worked in management consulting at McKinsey & Company and served as a kindergarten teacher through Teach For America. He also volunteered as an Emergency Medical Responder with United Rescue in Jersey City and served as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of Mountain Lakes, NJ, for 10 years. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Emory University in Georgia and later completed a Master’s in Public Administration at Columbia University in New York. Through his work in public service and development, Brian Platt has been recognized for leadership and commitment to community impact.