This feature is in our weekly Monday Morning Report newsletter, which showcases our highest-level members. Leaders You Should Know highlights community leaders who are making a notable impact in the Nashville region.
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Meet John Eakin, Co-founder and Chairman of Eakin Partners
Tell us about yourself?
I am a Nashville native and I love Nashville.
I am married and have 3 sons that all live in Nashville.
I have been in the real estate business in Nashville for over 45 years.
I love Nashville and the wonderful friends that we are so fortunate to have. Nashville has been a great place for my business career and to raise a family.
Tell us about your business/industry?
OUR TEAM
Founded in 2000, Eakin Partners is built on a reputation for excellence in the industry reaching back over 40 years.
Our team has developed over 4.5 million square feet of Class A commercial office space in the Nashville market including Peabody Plaza in South Bank, 1201 Demonbreun in the Gulch, AmSurg Headquarters in Burton Hills, Tractor Supply Company in Maryland Farms, Truist Plaza next door to the Historic Ryman Auditorium, Roundabout Plaza in Music Row, and Virginia Way Plaza in Maryland Farms.
We manage and lease approximately 1.7 million square feet of commercial office space. We are focused on high quality office projects which demand exceptional service and professionalism.
Eakin Partners is fortunate to lease some of the most recognizable and desirable buildings in the Nashville market. Our listings command the top end of market rates, and house tenants with high expectations for service. This type of high profile and high service assignment is what we pursue and where we excel.
OUR PHILOSPHY
Our success starts with our team of commercial real estate professionals who exhibit professional integrity, technical expertise, and community involvement. We focus on building a diversified commercial real estate firm providing best in class management, leasing and brokerage services to owners and users of commercial real estate. Eakin supports a collaborative environment, insists our professionals add value at all stages of transaction, engage in business development activities company-wide and pursues clients and partners with whom we can cultivate deep and loyal relationships.
Our firm and its principals enjoy a long and successful track record in Nashville, and a name associated with performance and integrity. We work each day to extend that legacy.
What should we know about you?
I enjoy what I do and feel blessed to live in a wonderful city where I have been fortunate to make so many friends over the years.
How did you get to your current position?
I began my real estate career after graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1977. American General first employed me, where I oversaw retail, office and industrial developments. From 1980 to 1987, I was president and an owner of Carroll Properties. From 1980 to 1986, I successfully developed over 1 million SF of office space. In 1987, I formed his own firm, Eakin & Smith, Nashville’s predominant office developer and leasing/management company at that time. In April 1996, we merged Eakin & Smith with Highwoods Properties (HIW). I was a Board Member, Senior Vice President. In the fall of 1999, then formed Eakin Partners, my current company.
What value do you see in Chamber involvement?
I feel that the Chamber gives business leaders to opportunity to net work and meet new people but also to work together to help solve certain issues that our growing city faces. By sharing ideas and working together, I feel that Chamber Members are able to have an important voice concerning issues facing our city.
What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?
Find a business that you enjoy–then work hard and have fun and things will work out to provide you with a most enjoyable career.
What makes you proud to live and work in the Nashville area?
I am proud of the friendly attitude that Nashvillian have to each other. I feel that the friendships that people have both personally and professionally make Nashville special. I feel this is one reason why so many people continue to move to Nashville.
What are key trends in your industry?
Our business is office space.
Trends have always been for each company to be in the best location for their business and that is still true today.
The newest trends are for office buildings to be in locations that offer walkable amenities. The buildings need to offer convenient parking and to offer amenities like-fitness areas, shared conference rooms, outdoor amenity terraces, coffee shops, and other amenities to help companies encourage employees to come back to the office. Employees need to collaborate and to train the younger employees.
What do you like to do in your spare time outside of work? Where will we find you on the weekends?
I love to exercise and be outside. Biking, walking, and skiing.