Sunbelt Developers

What does it take to transform an entire district? In this episode of the Sunbelt Developers Podcast, Kevin Green of Midtown Alliance explains how Midtown Atlanta evolved from an area known for surface parking, tired retail, and safety concerns into a walkable, mixed-use urban district. We explore the planning and public investment behind Midtown’s transformation, including Blueprint Midtown, stre...

A $560 million, 43-acre mixed-use development is taking shape in the heart of Johns Creek, Georgia. Medley is bringing together retail, restaurants, residences, offices, and public spaces to create a new town center. Join me for an on-site walkthrough of Medley to see how the project is coming together and explore the vision behind one of Johns Creek’s major developments. We worked with both Hoar...

Brian Leary is the COO of Highwoods Properties. Brian cut his teeth working on Atlantic Station - which at the time was 100-year-old steel mill in the middle of Atlanta. In this episode Brian shares the story behind some of the most transformative development projects in the Southeast and his take on the future of Sunbelt office investments. We cover: The origin story of Atlantic Station Leading t...

Steve Nygren has spent decades influencing how people experience Atlanta and how communities can be built differently. From launching the Pleasant Peasant and growing a restaurant company across eight states to helping shape the early vision for Midtown and ultimately founding Serenbe, Nygren’s career has centered around creating places that bring people together. In this episode we cover: Buildin...

Kasim Reed helped shape a transformational period in Atlanta’s growth during his eight years as mayor. From Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Centennial Yards to the Atlanta Beltline and State Farm Arena, Reed shares the stories behind some of the projects and decisions that helped position Atlanta for its next era of growth. In this episode we cover: The behind-the-scenes story of Mercedes-Benz Stadium a...

What separates standard real estate transactions from legacy developments that stand the test of time? In this episode of the Sunbelt Developers Podcast, we sit down with Allen Morris, Chairman and CEO of The Allen Morris Company, to break down the core philosophy behind his firm's multi-billion-dollar portfolio—including the iconic $1.5 billion Star Metals district in West Midtown Atlanta. F...

Mike Plant has spent his career at the intersection of sports, business, and development. From competing as an Olympic speed skater to helping bring the 1996 Olympic Games to Atlanta, Plant eventually joined the Atlanta Braves and played a pivotal role in the team’s move to Cobb County and the creation of Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta. In this episode we cover: • Competing in the Olympics an...

Thank you for following along with our journey! It doesn't feel real that this project has made it this far. These interviews have been a passion project of mine that continues to gain attention, and as long as people enjoy what we put out, we'll keep going. This season we'll be doing multiple hardhat tours, experimenting with live events, and taking things to new levels. We've...

Why did an active freight rail corridor turn into Atlanta’s most sought-after urban district?  Long before Howell Mill Road became a bustling hub for dining and luxury retail, Chris Faussemagne, Partner at Westbridge, was pioneering West Midtown’s industrial transformation. From converting historic meatpacking plants like White Provision and Stockyards into landmark adaptive reuse projects, to eng...

What does it take to turn a cardboard prototype into a $2 billion business movement?  In this episode of the Sunbelt Developers Podcast, hosts Tim Wright and Zach Bean, Executive Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield, sit down with Jason McCann, Co-Founder and CEO of Vari.  Famous for creating the sit-stand VariDesk movement and growing into a full-scale workspace innovation leader serving...

Colin Connolly has spent 15 years at Cousins Properties — 8 of them as CEO — steering one of the premier office REITs in the country through a merger, a pandemic, and what may be the most consequential reset in office real estate history. As the Sunbelt office market tightens and new supply seems frozen until at least 2030, Cousins is gearing up for offense. Inside the episode: • Leading Cousins t...

Episode 21 is unlike anything we've done before. David Rubenstein — co-founder of The Carlyle Group, owner of the Baltimore Orioles, and one of the great interviewers of our time — joined us for a wide-ranging conversation about business, history, and a life spent asking better questions. The son of a Baltimore postal worker, David went from the Carter White House to founding Carlyle at 37 wi...

Chris Eachus has spent over two decades rising through the ranks at CP Group — from analyst to partner — and is now leading one of the most ambitious adaptive reuse projects in Atlanta's history: the transformation of CNN Center into The Center, a mixed-use destination anchored by an 11-concept food hall, the largest bar in Georgia, Michelin-starred chefs, World Cup activations, and a renewed...

David Marvin has played a major role in shaping downtown Atlanta through projects like the Embassy Suites at Centennial Olympic Park, the Glenn Hotel, Ventanas, and Restaurant Row.  Along the way, he transformed a career that started in engineering and construction into one of the most influential hospitality and mixed-use development careers in Atlanta. In this episode we cover: • Building nuclea...

Egbert Perry is the Chairman and CEO of Integral Group. He’s behind some of the most consequential urban developments in the Southeast — from Centennial Place to Assembly Atlanta to the redevelopment of Five Points and Atlanta Medical Center. He also pioneered the model for affordable housing. In this episode we cover: Growing up in Antigua Coming to America at 15 Becoming VP at HJ Russel & Co...

Kevin Duvall has spent over two decades shaping one of the most important campuses in the Southeast. As CEO of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, he oversees 200+ acres, 4.3 million square feet, and a pipeline of projects that are redefining downtown Atlanta. We cover: • Building the $550M Signia hotel from a state-owned parking plaza • The Georgia Dome demolition and Mercedes-Benz Stadi...

Pope & Land has been transformational in the Cumberland submarket of Atlanta. From office to mixed-use to transforming a dead coliseum into City Park, Mason shares the story behind some of the most consequential development projects in Georgia. We cover: • Partnering with the Atlanta Braves on the Battery • Converting the Charlotte Coliseum into a mixed-use community • Navigating the Great Rec...

Another episode is out now on the Sunbelt Developers Podcast with Matt Bronfman, CEO of Jamestown. From Ponce City Market to Chelsea Market, Matt shares the thinking behind some of the most iconic mixed-use developments in the country. We cover: -Negotiating with Google -The story behind Ironworks -Navigating zoning -The impact of AI on real estate -Matt’s journey to leading Jamestown Watch the fu...

Travis Garland is the Chief Development Officer of Portman Holdings. Portman is a legendary company and their real estate industry was founded by the visionary architect John Portman. Travis has been involved in pivotal projects like CODA, Amsterdam Walk and Spring Quarter. In this episode we cover Travis's journey from navigating a brutal brokerage market after the dot-com bust to leading ma...

In this episode, Herbert Ames, Managing Director at EDENS shares the story behind Lulah Hills, the major mixed-use redevelopment of the former North DeKalb Mall site on Atlanta’s east side. We discuss his background and the projects that shaped his career, including major retail developments on Atlanta’s west side. A big focus of the conversation is how Lulah Hills came together. Herbert explains...

Jerry Cooper is a living piece of Atlanta’s architectural history. In this episode, the founder of Cooper Carry reflects on nearly a century of life and design — from his early years at Georgia Tech and a formative Fulbright scholarship in Rome, to helping shape some of Atlanta’s most influential buildings and developments. We talk about Atlanta’s transformation in the late 1950s and ’60s, the ris...

FEATURING SPECIAL GUEST - RYAN WOODS FROM BECK GROUP ** Atlanta has hosted Super Bowls, Final Fours, and College Football Playoff Championships—but the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be on a completely different scale. In this episode, I sit down with Dan Corso, President of the Atlanta Sports Council, to break down how Atlanta is preparing to host the world. Also joining the conversation is Ryan Woods,...

In this episode, I sit down with Chris Ahrenkiel, a longtime leader in Atlanta’s commercial real estate scene. We talk about his time at Tishman Speyer, navigating the 2008 financial crisis, and developing major projects like Two and Three Alliance. Chris also shares how those experiences shaped his career and his perspective on delivering large-scale office projects in a changing market. Today, h...

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Toro to talk about his career in real estate development, from early projects like Camp Creek Marketplace and Atlantic Station to shaping Midtown Atlanta. We discuss how he approaches creating vibrant, inviting mixed-use spaces and why density, community, and activation are key to success. We also dive into the upcoming Medley in Johns Creek — a mixed-use deve...

In this episode, I sit down with William Pate, the longtime leader of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau and a major force behind Atlanta’s tourism boom. We get into how Atlanta became a top destination for conventions and major events, the impact of the Olympics and Super Bowls, and what the World Cup could mean for the city. We also talk about the future of downtown — more residential, r...