Meet Diamond Wallace-Brandon

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diamond Wallace-Brandon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diamond, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I come from a long line of hardworking entrepreneurs who taught me the value of legacy, service, and community. S&S Friendly Ranch has been in our family since 1980. My Paw Paw, Sim Wallace, and Great Aunt Sarah Buncom purchased the land together, and it has served as a beautiful space for our family to work hard, learn, build, and rest.

My father, Derek Wallace, stewarded the land after my grandfather got sick, using it for years as a space for mentorship for young men in our family. Three generations in, we have opened our doors to the community and expanded our reach. It took a lot of planning, strategic relationship-building, heart, and a solid “why.”

The first thing we had to do was build a team. My dad, cousin Frank Buncom III (Sarah’s son), and Frank Buncom IV (Sarah’s grandson) came together to launch a premier event venue that also serves the community through educational events, wellness retreats, and environmental preservation projects. Once we had the team, we created a mission, drafted our values, and designed unique opportunities to invite the broader community into our space.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been very fortunate to have always been in a position to work in my purpose. I started out in event production with a small local recording company out of high school. I then worked nearly a decade at an up and coming non-profit that served my community through leadership development, civic engagement, immigration reform, and policy advocacy. I then worked for a state government official who gave me so many opportunities to learn and rise in her office, navigating state policy and resources. I currently work for a statewide labor organization and have the opportunity to continue uplifting working class families. In every position I’ve held, I have been able to serve the community that raised me and empower people to use their voices and fight for change. I am most proud of the fact that I have been able to remain true to my values throughout my career and it has allowed me to be successful this far. All those positions prepared me for the process of navigating our family ranch and doing my part to take it to the next level.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh this is a good question, I am a proud Daygo native so I have to think!! Hmmm… the first place we are going is to Humbertos on 43rd to get rolled tacos and carne asada fries but we’re taking it to go. We are going to the closest beach to eat and chill. We have to go to the cliffs and watch the sunset, grab dinner Downtown or Normal Heights, find a something artsy like an open mic or random karaoke bar, and stay out until 3 am for no reason, do a 7 eleven run and go home to sleep lol.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to give a shout out to my Paw Paw, Sim Wallace aka Big Cap. We would not be in a position to be stewards of family owned land if it weren’t for him going for his dream of retiring on a ranch and living his best cowboy life. My grandfather was a pillar in our community, fondly called Mr. Wallace by young men he took under his wing and taught them valuable life skills. A man who provided for his family, who went above and beyond for his grandkids, he was larger than life. I remember learning how to feed horses, throw pig slop, balance a checkbook, lol write checks too, how to maintain accounting books from him when I was like 5. My pawpaw was the life of the party, would be stoic one moment, and then playing a joke on you the next. I never understood how much he gave me until he was gone. Now being in position where I can expand on his legacy, I feel like I can finally say thank you. Thank you for dreaming big, thank you for showing me what self-determination looks like, thank you for providing, thank you for being Black excellence before it could be defined.

Website: www.ssfriendlyranch.org

Instagram: @ssfriendlyranch

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ss-friendly-ranch

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ssfriendlyranch/ 

Image Credits
Eryn Wilson Nieves Frank Buncom IV Jyluh Pulley Diamond Brandon