Invent Penn State

Former NFL player and alumnus Garry Gilliam on new episode of 'Dare to Disrupt'

Gilliam shares his story leading up to founding a company focused on solving problems facing underserved communities

In the latest episode of Invent Penn State’s “Dare to Disrupt” podcast, host Ryan Newman interviews Garry Gilliam, former Nittany Lion football standout, NFL player, and founder and CEO of The Bridge Eco-Village. Credit: Submitted by Garry GilliamAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In the latest episode of Invent Penn State’s “Dare to Disrupt” podcast, host Ryan Newman interviews Garry Gilliam, former Nittany Lion football standout, NFL player, and founder and CEO of The Bridge Eco-Village. Gilliam graduated from Penn State in 2013 with degrees in business development, psychology, and advertising. 

The Bridge is a “for-purpose” company in Harrisburg that acquires old properties and turns them into “eco-villages” that are focused on solving problems facing underserved communities: housing, retail, co-working spaces, education opportunities, entrepreneurship incubators, urban agriculture, sports and entertainment.   

In this episode, Gilliam talks about how his adverse childhood growing up in Harrisburg inspired him to eventually start The Bridge. He talks about his unique experience attending the Milton Hershey School, a tuition-free private boarding school in Hershey, as well as how the town of Hershey would eventually act as a blueprint for the Bridge Eco-Village model.  

“When we talk about people, planet, profit, philanthropy, perpetuity, this true legacy — Milton Hershey and his wife laid the blueprint over 100 years ago in 1909,” Gilliam said. “So why aren't these other corporations investing intentionally in the infrastructure of their communities?” 

Gilliam shares how, after facing a life-threatening injury while playing football at Penn State, he persevered to eventually join the Seattle Seahawks as an offensive tackle. He joined the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 and retired after five total seasons in 2019.  

“How do we get athletes to bring things back to their communities beyond athletics? Well, first, you start to do it,” said Gilliam. “So, what The Bridge does is acquire properties like schools, malls, warehouses, shopping centers, or just land and convert them into these 15-minute cities, a mixed-use eco-village. Our eco-villages have spaces to work, eat, live, learn and play — a mini version of Milton Hershey and Hershey, Pennsylvania.” 

Listen to this interview to learn more about Gilliam’s journey. 

At the end of the episode, Carlton Jarmon, a fourth-year student in the five-year bachelor’s and master’s accounting program, joins the conversation. He was the co-founder of Schizophren-AI, a software to decrease the frequency of misdiagnoses of severe mental health concerns. Carlton, a fellow Milton Hershey School alumnus, talks to Gilliam about his experience transitioning from the Milton Hershey School to college, as well as about how his identity has shifted over the years. 

Students can apply or be nominated to be on the show here

About Dare to Disrupt 

Dare to Disrupt” is a podcast from Invent Penn State about Penn State alumni who are innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders, and the stories behind their success. The podcast is hosted by alumnus Ryan Newman, a graduate of the Smeal College of Business and a Schreyer Scholar alumnus who is now a managing director at Goldman Sachs. 

Past episodes of ”Dare to Disrupt” include interviews with Matt Brezina, David Rusenko and Jess Weiner. 

New episodes of ”Dare to Disrupt” release monthly. Learn more at invent.psu.edu/dare-to-disrupt and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play

Invent Penn State is a commonwealth-wide initiative to spur economic development, job creation and student career success. 

Last Updated March 10, 2023