About

Steve Nygren is the Founder and Managing Partner of Serenbe, a wellness community created as a model to demonstrate that preserving green space interlaced with agriculture, housing and retail is not only economically viable, but the future of community wellbeing.

Last year, Nygren released his first book, Start in Your Own Backyard, which explores how small, intentional changes at home and within our communities can create a profound impact on our holistic wellbeing.

Nygren is also a Partner at Nygren Placemaking consulting and a serial hospitality entrepreneur. He led the effort to create the Chattahoochee Hill Country Alliance bringing together landowners, developers, and conservationists for a mutually agreed upon solution for balanced growth across 40,000 acres. This effort resulted in a historic Georgia land use plan adopted to preserve 70% of the acreage on the edge of Atlanta while providing 20% more housing than traditional yield of suburban sprawl.

Nygren’s work has earned him the 2025 MLK Jr. Beloved Community

Environmental Justice Award for his commitment to sustainability, equity, and environmental stewardship, reflecting Dr. King’s vision, in addition to the Global Wellness Institute’s Leader in Innovation Award and Southface’s Argon Award as well as recognition from the Urban Land Institute and the Atlanta Regional Commission. He was also named Georgia Trend’s Most Respected Business Leader for 2019. Steve currently serves on multiple local and national boards dealing with children, agriculture and environmental issues including The Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Children & Nature Network, Chattahoochee Now and The Biophilic Institute.

Steve’s Book, Start In Your Own Backyard https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Start-in-Your-Own-Backyard/Steve-Nygren/9781637747438