CarterBlog

Carter Enjoys Final Day at CoreNet Global's Fall Summit in Atlanta

ATLANTA (Nov. 8, 2011) – Carter enjoyed yet another successful day at CoreNet Global’s Fall Summit in Atlanta. Vice President of Marketing Malloy Peterson and Business Development Manager Sarah Peddar spoke to attendees about Carter’s strategic focus and business groups moving forward. In September, Cassidy Turley acquired the company’s brokerage and property management businesses.

“There is a bit of confusion within the industry as to what we are planning to be going forward, “ said Peddar. “This has been a great forum to really sell the fact we are the third-largest developer in the country, and we also have really strong project management groups, strategic consulting and investments and asset management.”

 

 

Carter Executives Participate in Cassidy Turley's Leadership Conference

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 22, 2011) - Cassidy Turley kicked off its National Leadership Conference here late Wednesday, and the conference's first full day today blew away Carter Chairman Bob Peterson.

"It's unbelievable," Bob said about the conference, themed "Flying in Formation." In the photo, Bob, right, speaks with a member of Cassidy Turley's New York office.

On Sept. 1, Cassidy Turley completed its acquisition of Carter's brokerage and property management groups. Peterson and Carter President Scott Taylor are serving dual roles as leaders of Carter and Cassidy Turley's Atlanta and Tampa offices while Cassidy Turley searches for a permanent executive to be Cassidy Turley's leader in Atlanta.

Peterson particularly enjoyed the motivational speech from former Blue Angel pilot John Foley, who outlined the path to "The High Performance Zone" that will enable Cassidy Turley to differentiate itself from its top competitors. Foley peppered his speech with footage from his days flying F-18 jets for the Blue Angels, leaving Cassidy Turley's Gary Lee "on the egde of my seat for 90 minutes."

In keeping with the Flying in Formation/Top Gun theme, Cassidy Turley CEO Mark Burkhart emerged from a plane to make his opening speech. Other top Cassidy Turley execs also dressed as pilots and pumped up the attendees. 

Cassidy Turley has plenty to celebrate at the Miami meeting. In the past year, it's added hundreds of employees and expanded into Texas and Boston - in addition to Atlanta. "That Cassidy Turley could complete deals in Dallas, Atlanta and Boston before this meeting is impressive," Peterson said.

Carter Wins Watson Cup in Real Estate Softball Championship Game

By Bruce Propst, senior vice president, Carter

ATLANTA (August 24, 2011) – Carter wins back-to-back championships in the Atlanta Commercial Real Estate Softball League and retains possession of the coveted Watson Cup for another year. Winning successive titles in the highly competitive league is a rare feat not often accomplished over almost 30 years of the league’s existence. I think the team was inspired this year to go out on top as this was the last year that a Carter team will be in the league. The pending acquisition of Carter’s brokerage and management businesses by Cassidy Turley means that the CT team will have to pick up where the Carter team left off.

Carter has been in the league from the very start and played an integral part in the league’s founding.  In the early 1980’s, a Carter broker and former Georgia Tech baseball player named Larry Entrekin came up with the idea that Atlanta’s commercial real estate firms ought to form a softball league. I was the youngest broker at Carter at the time so I was given the task of calling all of the major brokerage firms at the time to see if they would be interested. The response was very positive and soon thereafter the formative league meeting was held in Carter’s offices then located at 1100 Spring Street. For many years the league enjoyed playing at the old Hellenic Center on Cheshire Bridge Road (thanks to Pete and Andy Alexander and John Micha) until the property was purchased and redeveloped as apartments, which somehow seems appropriate for a commercial real estate league. The league now plays games at Pace Academy’s Warren Road Field. Dave Watson, now with Grubb & Ellis, was the first real League Commissioner and served in the position for many, many years until the current commissioner, Doug Smith of Seefried Properties, took over.  

I asked Ward Entrekin, Larry’s son, who is a former college baseball player himself (Gator) and Carter’s shortstop, for his perspective on why the league had remained so successful over the years. 

“When you provide a competitive and social outlet for brokers that compete against each other every day for business and you throw in free beer and good food provided by generous landlords, you have a winning combination,” said Ward.

The 2011 Championship Carter team included John Akin, Jack Arnold, Watson Bryant, Ward Entrekin, Tim Farley, Eli Green, Ryan Meehan, Preston Menning, Bo Moore, Spence Searcy, Beau Terrell and David Zanaty.

Thanks to the Carter team, Doug Smith, Pace Academy, the generous landlords/food and drink sponsors, and all the teams participating this year for another great year of real estate softball. Watch out for that Cassidy Turley team, I hear they are pretty tough to beat.

 

Carter Completes Headquarters Deal in Vinings for Medtech

ATLANTA (August 15, 2011) - Carter is pleased to announce it recently completed a headquarters deal for Medtech at Overlook II in Vinings.

Medtech, a technical school  focused in business, healthcare and technology, signed an 11,000-square-foot lease for more than 10 years. Dale Lewis of Carter, along with Cassidy Turley, represented Medtech. Dean Giordano with PM Realty Group along with Chris Breeden and Bill Hollett of Parkway Properties represented the landlord.

Medtech was founded in Indianapolis in 2004 and now has 10 locations in the Midwest and South, including three locations in metro Atlanta. This lease will move the school’s headquarters, currently based on Medtech’s Marietta campus at 4501 Circle 75 Parkway, to a separate headquarter location.

“Medtech is enjoying significant growth and we are excited to have a standalone headquarters,” said Mark Chesney, vice president of strategy and development for Medtech. “Our new home has great amenities and is within walking distance of a number of shops, hotels and restaurants.”

Cassidy Turley tapped Dale Lewis for his knowledge of the Atlanta market. This lease also served as a foundation for the new relationship between Cassidy Turley and Carter. Next month, Cassidy Turley will acquire the brokerage and property management businesses of Carter allowing Cassidy Turley to offer a full spectrum of services in Atlanta and Central Florida. The acquisition allows reciprocal sharing of best practices between the two firms.

“This transaction was great for a number of reasons,” said Lewis. “Not only did we find an excellent property and landlord for the client, this deal jumpstarted Carter and Cassidy Turley’s pending partnership. Both firms have a similar culture and working with the Cassidy Turley team felt like a natural extension of Carter.”

 

Cassidy Turley Announces Commitment to Acquire Carter’s Brokerage and Property Management Group

Cassidy Turley to Gain Position in Atlanta—Key Market for Growth Strategy

ST. LOUIS (May 27, 2011) – Cassidy Turley, a leading commercial real estate services provider in the U.S., announced today its commitment to acquire the brokerage and property management businesses of Carter, a national leader in project development, commercial real estate services and investments.  Based in Atlanta, Carter maintains full-service offices in Atlanta and Tampa and various offices throughout the U.S.

“Cassidy Turley is delighted to announce our commitment to acquire the brokerage and property management businesses from Carter,” said Mark Burkhart, Cassidy Turley CEO.  “Carter’s thoughtful and client-driven approach is consistent with ours and will provide our clients across the country access to the best advice from an industry leading team in this region.  The addition of Carter will allow us to offer our full spectrum of services in two significant markets—Atlanta and Central Florida.”

An industry leader for over 50 years, Carter was founded in 1958 in Atlanta as a brokerage and property management firm and evolved into a full service real estate company – offering corporate services, property management, investment sales and project management for clients across the nation. Once the acquisition is completed, Carter’s Brokerage Services and Property and Facility Management groups will operate as Cassidy Turley. Carter has completed transactions valued at $4.6 billion in Atlanta and Tampa alone in the past five years and manages 25 million square feet in 11 states on behalf of private, institutional and corporate clients as well as for its real estate funds.

Going forward, Carter will focus on continuing to grow its remaining and successful Development, Project Management, Investments, Asset Management and Strategic Consulting groups. Continuing to operate these business units as “Carter,” the company will be focused on delivering value as an investor, developer, project manager, consultant, and asset manager for its clients. Carter’s Asset Management division manages more than $2.5 billion of third-party and Carter-owned assets, while its Program Development Services division currently oversees projects across the country and is consistently ranked as one of the top 5 commercial real estate development firms in the nation.

“We are excited about moving forward in the process to join Cassidy Turley.  This move will allow us to grow and strengthen our service business by leveraging Cassidy Turley’s leading capital markets, leasing, property management and corporate services platforms,” said Bob Peterson, Chairman and CEO of Carter.  “With Cassidy Turley’s national platform and service approach, we can better serve our clients with multi-market needs.  In addition, Cassidy Turley’s scale and reputation for workplace satisfaction will enable us to offer our professionals additional growth opportunities and a culture that complements Carter’s.”

“This acquisition will allow reciprocal sharing of best practices between the two firms. We welcome Carter’s key leaders, including Bob Peterson, Chairman and CEO, Scott Taylor, President, Holly Hughes, Executive Vice President and Mike Shelly, Executive Vice President, to our team. We see joining forces as a win-win for Carter, Cassidy Turley, and most importantly, our clients,” added Mr. Burkhart.