[Movin’ South] A Social Place for Business

Photography by D. Paul Graham 

When Bradley Gayton stands in his doorway overlooking Monterey Square and the famed Mercer House, greeting guests with a warm smile and a welcome in, far more than he realizes, he sets a Savannah tone.  

Beyond his reputation at the top of the litigation food chain as former Senior VP and General Counsel of Coca-Cola and Ford Motor Company, everything about Gayton is a local fit, from art collection to architecture, and hospitality to fashion, his woven linen sport coat matching the hue of the historic brick façade and the dusty rose crepe myrtles drifting past the windowpanes.

“I found this place to be so calming. It’s peaceful and the people are gracious, genuine, and unnecessarily modest.” – Bradley Gayton

It’s classic Savannahian in a snapshot, and you’re still on the porch.  

Gayton bleeds a Host City “hometown-ness” he hasn’t had time to grow. He’s that rare transplant you could mistake for a historied local, emanating Southern charm. He’s not entirely new to the local scene. Incrementally moving South from Harbor Springs Michigan to Atlanta and Decatur, Gayton began visiting Savannah for extended periods, staying at the Perry Lane Hotel, drawn by the character, conversations, community, and commerce. The city auditioned well and before long, begged the question, “why not make it permanent?” 

When Gayton reminisces about what brought him here he says, “I found this place to be so calming. It’s peaceful and the people are gracious, genuine, and unnecessarily modest. I go to social networking events and I notice, here, it’s all about the people – even when we’re trying to accomplish clear objectives, I get to know the person behind the conversation and have human discussions.” 

“It’s a very social place to do business. I’m intrigued by what’s happening here with technology, the playground that exists in Savannah through its ports, and talking to people focused on how to drive tech and innovation. Those have been fun conversations to start to become part of and I get excited about potentially working with folks who have already been long at it and exploring how to contribute within that space.”  

Gayton draws attention to driving forces like Executive Director of the Savannah Logistics Innovation Center Executive Director Bart Gobeil bringing the Plug and Play Tech Center to Savannah, with networks that enabled Gayton to connect as mentor and investor with startups that focus on law and tech.  

“When you think about what drives innovation, all the ingredients are here,” he says. “Well integrated universities, big businesses and phenomenal business leaders, and our port which is at least number three in our country on any given day in terms of how busy it is. Why couldn’t this be known as a leading innovation and tech hub, that maybe starts with supply chain and logistics, but once you are fundamentally growing, it could become anything.” 

This drives Gayton not only as an innovator, but as a father, inspired by his three daughters to become personally invested in technology and law behind fighting human trafficking. It’s clear family (human connections and valued relationships) have always been his “why,” crediting family and other early influences with his success.  

“My parents had incredible work ethic and were intentional about everything. My grandfather would work the farm all day then put on a suit and go into town to do business. These were the people at my Thanksgiving table, who I got the privilege of learning from, and they influenced how I approach showing up.”  

This is the character and capacity that Gayton now contributes regionally in a city he describes as “a kind of magical gateway to everything – history, food, art, and beyond town to the beaches, marshes, and islands.” 

Asked if this is a place he could call home, Gayton says, “I think it is and will be. There is plenty of exploring I want to do around the world – I like traveling, reading about places, trying new languages – but it’s hard to not see a role Savannah will play in my life for the duration.” 

“Unnecessarily modest” himself (as he refers to others who drive Savannah forward), Gayton says of his own tale of moving South, “I think it’s just a unique opportunity to tell Savannah’s story through the lens of a newcomer.” 

New perhaps, but clearly, with an old soul for Savannah. 

“My parents had incredible work ethic and were intentional about everything. My grandfather would work the farm all day then put on a suit and go into town to do business. These were the people at my Thanksgiving table, who I got the privilege of learning from.” – Bradley Gayton

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