Nick O’Brien

Nick O’Brien is a community/economic development creative with a passion for building and activating people-centered communities. Following the first several years of his professional life as a TV sports reporter and anchor (which relocated him to the state of Wisconsin), Nick serendipitously collided with the realm of community and economic development when he was asked to manage a young professionals group in the central Wisconsin community where his journalism career had landed him. It didn’t take long for Nick to realize his passion for the work that it takes to drive place-based talent engagement and community-enhancing projects. Since 2015, Nick has built a professional career from his personal purpose in life — to connect people to people, people to place, and people to purpose. His work benefits cities and organizations through the use of grassroots community engagement and creative economic development projects, which has led him to serve on dozens of local, regional, and statewide committees and boards throughout Wisconsin. In addition, Nick has been fortunate to gain recognition as both a 20 Under 40 recipient and a Person of the Year in cities where he’s lived and worked.

Nick is the co-founder and principal of You Are Here, LLC, an engagement and experience design firm that enables him to share his energy and purpose with businesses, non-profits, and municipalities. You Are Here’s people-centered strategies and projects result in valuable outcomes such as higher levels of community engagement, creative activation of underused property, better-connected entrepreneur and talent ecosystems, and a culture of creativity and collaboration. Since 2017, You Are Here has created and led various initiatives in Wausau, Eau Claire, Milwaukee, and Sheboygan.