Ackerman & Co. is developing Braselton Logistics Center – a 1,000,315-square-foot bulk distribution center in Jackson County off of Broadway Avenue and BDC Parkway in Atlanta’s northeast industrial submarket, arguably the largest industrial tenant submarket in the Southeast.

The speculative bulk distribution center, slated to deliver in the first quarter of 2017, is well underway. Slab has been poured, walls are up and roofing has begun. The cross-dock building will feature 40-foot clear heights, ductilcrete floors, and heavy trailer and car parking.

Check out the live camera at: https://app.oxblue.com/open/ackerman/braselton

For more information, contact:

Brett Buckner | 770.913.3923  
bbuckner@ackermanco.net

Internships are opportunities to journey into the unknown. They allow you to gain experience in a real work environment aligned with your chosen field of study. The beautiful part – it’s not permanent. If you don’t like it, you can try something different. And hey, at least you learned valuable skills that can open the door for other possibilities.

This year, Ackerman welcomed three bright and ambitious interns – Jack Pelt, John Horton, II and Graham Officer. The young men were placed in departments most related to their professional goals.  By all accounts, the guys have adapted well and kudos are being offered all around. “I’m proud of our intern team,” said F. Keene Miller, President of the Brokerage. “These young men have shown an impressive work ethic and have been valuable members of our team this summer,” he added.

Jack, a native of Georgia, is a junior at the University of Alabama. He currently is working with the investment group learning how deals are structured and implemented.  The accounting major is thrilled to be learning about the investment aspect of commercial real estate. “I want to put myself out there and grow as much as possible during my time at Ackerman,” said Jack. “I believe this opportunity has given me more insight into my career path.”

Currently enrolled at North Dakota State University, John is an upcoming sophomore. He is assisting the marketing team, learning the day-to-day business operations. “I’m ecstatic for the opportunity to be a part of this summer internship. I believe this experience will help me develop both personally and professionally,” said John. The track athlete is no stranger to hard work having earned the Most Improved award for his high school track and field team two years in a row.

Graham is a senior at Jacksonville State University pursuing a degree in finance. He joined the internship team at Ackerman because he’s considering becoming a broker. A few weeks into his internship, Graham realized just how much he was up against. “I thought being a full-time student and baseball athlete was tough,” he said. “But brokerage can be pretty demanding,” he added. Graham is grateful for the opportunity to work with some of Atlanta’s top brokers. He especially enjoys the satisfaction of meeting client needs and closing deals.

As summer comes to a close, Ackerman would like to thank Jack, John and Graham for their dedication and eagerness to learn. We hope that this experience will have an everlasting impact on their lives and help steer them in the right career choice. We would welcome the opportunity to work with them again, this time as members of the Ackerman family.

With a bright and sunny second quarter underway, The ABC’s of Ackerman caught up with Building Engineer at Stone Mountain Industrial Park, Leonard Tate. He has some free time to discuss his work and life with us. Take some time to get to know another great member of our Ackerman & Co. team!

A. What brought you to Ackerman & Co. and how long have you been here?  

I wanted to expand my horizons. I felt like Ackerman & Co. was one of the places that I would challenge my knowledge and abilities. I have been here for nearly 11 years.

B. Can you tell us a little about what you do at Ackerman & Co.? 

As a building engineer, I do a bit of everything. Everything from lighting, plumbing, air conditioning and more.

C. What is the best part of working at Ackerman & Co. and what makes Ackerman such a great organization?

I enjoy meeting new tenants from a wide variety of companies and seeing their smiles. Every day brings a new challenge. Ackerman is a great organization because the whole team collaborates well. Everyone has a great knowledge and understanding of commercial real estate.

D. What advice do you have for someone trying to break into your field?  

You need to be committed to this field. It requires hard work and dedication.

E. What are your goals at Ackerman moving forward? 

I would like become chief engineer and manage my own buildings.

F. What lessons has your work life taught you?

Be able to do your job so well that no one else can do it better.

Let’s get away from work and get personal!

G. How would you describe yourself?

I’m an 80/20. 80% is great and the other 20% is a working process.

H. What about some of your hobbies? Do you have any cool hobbies?

I love playing basketball. I like playing horseshoes because this is the only thing that you can win by being close!

I. What’s something that surprises people about you? 

I originally set out to fly a plane and be a pilot. That is what I did while I was in the service. I flew planes and was a parachute jumper.

J. What’s your guilty pleasure? 

Sweet potato pie and butter pecan ice cream.

K.  What’s one thing on your bucket list that you can share with us?

One of the big ideas on my bucket list is to work to pay my church mortgage and help the church elders.

L. Who has been the most important person in your life? Can you tell me about him or her?

God, my wife, and my children they are the reason I get up every day and work hard.

M. If you could have lunch with a U.S. president or someone famous, who would it be and why?

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. or President Obama.

N. Same question, only a little different. If you could interview anyone from your life living or dead, but not a celebrity, who would it be and why?

My mother. She raised me and made me into the man I am today.

The biggest decision I made after college was investing in a home. As a millennial, it was important to purchase a home in a thriving community with active residents who support local products and businesses.

One of the most popular locally made products among millennials is craft alcohol. Craft breweries and distilleries are highly sought after and are often regarded as gathering halls to meet friends and sample the latest blend.

Recently, Georgia’s Department of Revenue issued new regulations which allow breweries to sell facility tours at different price points based on the quality and quantity customers receive as “free souvenirs.” Allowing consumers to purchase alcohol brings new potential for increased revenue and brand recognition, which is a major game changer for the industry.

In the last 20 years, Georgia’s craft alcohol market has grown by 800 percent according to the National Beer Wholesalers Association. And the growth continues with 20 new breweries and distilleries expected to open in 2016. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon to stay competitive. Established distilleries—such as Old Fourth Distillery, the first of its kind to open in Atlanta since Prohibition— are expanding to larger facilities, increasing the amount of liquor they can produce and sell.

All in all, it seems millennials won’t have any problem getting their hands on local craft alcohol; it might be just as easy as going to the farmer’s market.

The ABC’s of Ackerman takes flight with our first spotlight of the year. Ackerman & Co.’s 2015 Young Broker of the Year, Chandler Pope, recently sat down with us to discuss the growth of his commercial real estate career and shared some insight into his adventurous life.

A. First of all, congratulations on being named Ackerman’s Young Broker of the Year for 2015! Can you tell me about the goals you set at the beginning of 2015 and how you were able to achieve them?

It took a lot of hard work by staying disciplined, organized and focused on my business plan.  Some of my goals were networking, making a certain number of calls each week, staying up to date on commercial real estate news and researching and driving my market.

B. Let’s go back to the beginning. What brought you to Ackerman and how long have you been here?

I knew I wanted a career in the commercial real estate industry after I graduated from the University of Alabama in May of 2014.  I started networking with people in the industry and eventually met Douglas Biggs at Colliers International. He put me in contact with Ackerman’s President of Brokerage, Keene Miller.  I enjoyed meeting with Keene and the other brokers in the office. I accepted a position as an Associate in the Brokerage division in July of 2014.

C. You said that people were a big draw for you when you made the decision to join the brokerage What’s the best part of working at Ackerman?

The environment and definitely the people.  We have an outstanding work environment making it easy to accomplish tasks and stay focused on your business.  Everyone here is extremely supportive which makes for a great atmosphere.

D. Tell us a little bit about what you do you at Ackerman.

I provide brokerage services, specializing in tenant and landlord representation throughout Metro Atlanta.

E. What is the most exciting thing about commercial real estate?

Every day is different.  I enjoy meeting and interacting with a diverse range of people, scheduling and attending client tours and working on the entire transaction process from initial negotiations to move-in.

F. What advice do you have for someone trying to break into your field?

Choose a specialty and a market.  Become an expert in your market and make your presence known.  Develop a strategy, be disciplined, organized and stay focused.  Don’t let rejections slow you down.  Establish a professional relationship with everyone you meet.  Build credibility, relationships, and trust by treating everyone fairly and with respect.  Do what is in the best interest of your client and focus on their specific goals and needs by adding value.

Round two is the rapid fire round!

G. Tell us about some of your hobbies.

I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I play a lot of basketball and I love to ski. I also play the guitar in my free time.

H. What’s something that surprises people about you?

Between 1994 and 2000, I have visited over 30 countries and lived overseas. In those six years, I spent four years in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and two years in Santiago, Chile.

I. More than a lot of people do in their lifetime. For someone who’s done so much, what’s something that’s on your bucket list?

Sky diving was a big one that I’ve already check off, but I’d love to take it to the next level and base-jump one day.

J. Who has been the most important person in your life? Can you tell me about him or her?

My parents are the most important people in my life. They are very loving and supportive in everything I do.

On the first official day of Fall, our ever-so-busy, feisty and outspoken Senior Financial and Brokerage Accountant, Debbie Register, finally had some free time to sit down with us. We are proud to say that Debbie has been part of the Ackerman & Co. team for more than 11 years, and we look forward to many more.

Be sure to check out her story below and join us in congratulating her on her recent promotion!

A. What brought you to Ackerman & Co. and how long have you been here?

My former employer, where I was in charge of the property management bookkeeping for 16 years, decided to semi-retire. As he downsized, the property management clients were referred to Ackerman. I saw an opportunity to interview with Ackerman and was hired on the spot; I have been here for more than 11 years.

B. Can you tell us a little about what you do at Ackerman & Co.?

My responsibilities allow me to wear several hats. My time is divided between Brokerage Accounting and Financial Accounting for the properties we manage. I could elaborate but I wouldn’t want anyone to start falling asleep while reading this. Let’s just say I stay busy!

C. Was this always your career goal?

I never really planned on being in accounting. When I was 13, I started taking inventory at a hardware store. I worked there until I turned 21, during which time I was promoted several times and ultimately to the corporate accounting office.

D. What is the most rewarding part of your current job?

Having someone tell me that I helped them understand something just makes me feel good inside and out.

E. What keeps you motivated?

I love what I do and really enjoy doing it.

F. What is the most exciting thing about commercial real estate to you?

No two days are ever alike and I continuously get to meet some really amazing people.

G. What do you feel like makes Ackerman & Co. such a great organization?

The people that make up Ackerman – from the president to the administration – is what makes our organization great!

H. What advice do you have for someone trying to break into your field?

Really think hard about what you really want in life. Also know there are a lot of deadlines and hard work that must be done to continue to be the best.

And now we’re about to get personal!

I. What about some of your hobbies?

I love baking, reading, making jewelry, painting on glass and sewing. However, my newest and favorite thing to do is spend time with my 15-month-old granddaughter Skylar. She is the new love of my life and I try to spend time with her as much as humanly possible.

J. Do you have a favorite childhood memory?

Getting up early on Sundays and going to Cherokee Mountains for the day. We would enjoys picnics, family time and the beautiful outdoors.

K. What’s something that surprises people about you?

While in school I was very, very shy. So much that I would read books in between classes and while I walked to avoid speaking with anyone.

L. Any guilty pleasures you wanna share?

Shopping for a great deal…and knowing I have coupons to make the deal even better.

M. What’s on your desk right now?

A large glass of homemade sweet tea.

N. What’s one thing on your bucket list that you can share with us?

To travel outside of the U.S. I have always wanted to visit Australia, Spain, France and Italy.

Say you’ve been on the market for a while, looked at just about every space there is and finally – with the expert help of your broker – you’ve found the perfect space to lease, under the right terms and the landlord/leasing agent is ready to seal the deal. But wait…the deal can’t go through until certain details associated with a CMBS loan are resolved.

Why you might ask? In some cases, the property you are interested in leasing has a CMBS loan on it, requiring leases be approved by the Master Servicer and/or the Special Servicer of the CMBS loan before you (the tenant) can move in. Without the servicer’s consent, important things such as leasing commissions, tenant-improvement allowances, and/or landlord costs can’t be paid and the deal can get delayed.

So what exactly are CMBS loans and who are Master and Special Servicers?

CMBS stands for commercial mortgage backed securities.  These securities are bonds whose payments are derived from a loan or pool of loans on commercial real estate.  As such, these securitized loans are held in a trust that are then “serviced” by a lender.  It is the servicer’s utmost responsibility to protect the trust and thus its investors.  The primary method of protecting the trust is to review major leases within these portfolios of CMBS properties.

According to a Senior Credit Analyst on the lease team for Wells Fargo Bank, “Servicing CMBS loans are more complex than a non-securitized loan. We have more regulations to follow and more parties to get approval from. We can move things faster that are within our authority to approve as master servicer and the bigger the lease the longer it takes to get consent because many times we must send it to the special servicer and they usually have other parties they need approval from too; all of which takes longer.”

In the heat of lease negotiations, the last thing you think of is lender consent. Here are several things you can do to prevent any snags through the leasing process:

1. Think of the lender earlier in the process; at least a month before lease execution. You are not the only borrower who needs an SNDA (Subordination Non-Disturbance and Attornment Agreements) negotiated and/or a  lease reviewed.
2. The lease approval process can take up to 15 days; sometimes longer. Would it surprise you to know that Wells Fargo reviews around 5,000 leases a year and enters into about 700 SNDAs?
3. Lease consents from servicers can cost up to $500 or more.  These costs are often passed through to the landlord and sometimes the tenant.
4. The lease should not be fully executed (signed by tenant and landlord) without lender (servicer) consent.
5. The lender (servicer) is not a party to the lease.

In our last post, we discussed how to choose the best environment – office or retail – to meet your dental practice needs. This month, we’ll outline the pros and cons of your next major decision: whether to build new and renovate an existing building?

Before putting on your hard hat, it’s important to consider several key factors as you choose the right path for your practice’s current and future needs.

Click here to read more.

For the summer installment of the ABC’s of Ackerman, we chatted with Bryan Davis, Vice President of Brokerage, and learned, aside from an exciting new landlord assignment, that he is quite nostalgic.

A. What brought you to Ackerman & Co.? 

One of my colleagues, Andy Sutton, joined Ackerman when our former company dissolved. I had recently completed a tenant deal with Ackerman and really enjoyed the friendly atmosphere here so I met with Keene [Miller] about possible employment and here we are five years later.

B. Can you tell us a little about what you do at Ackerman & Co.?

I provide brokerage services, specifically representing all types of tenants and buyers. I also represent medical landlords.

C. Speaking of landlords, we’ve heard you’re exclusively representing Ackerman’s latest medical development Hillandale Physician Place.

Yes, I am. Hillandale Physician Place is an exciting new medical development across from Dekalb Hillandale Medical Center. It’s a terrific opportunity for doctors looking to expand or locate in this area. Market response has been great; the building is already 50% leased and is set to open this summer.

D. What is the best part of working at Ackerman & Co.?

The people. We have a great group and I love the support I get from everyone from every area. Every person in the company is very approachable.

E. What are some of your hobbies?

In my free time I like to fish, work out, read, and definitely spend time with my family.

F. Family being so important, can you remember a favorite childhood memory?

During the summers, I loved going to Kansas City and Wichita to attend Royals and Chiefs games with my father. I still keep up with both teams and have saved all my old autographed footballs and baseballs.

G. What’s your favorite vacation spot?

The Rosewood Mayakoba Resort in Playa del Carmen Mexico is unreal.

H. Is there a book you would recommend everyone on the team read?

Yes. The Power of Focus by Mark Victor Hansen.

I. What do you find most exciting about commercial real estate? 

Interacting with so many different people from so many walks of life, no two situations are exactly the same.

J. What advice do you have for someone trying to break into your field? 

Don’t do it for the money. Do what you’re passionate about, stay committed and consistent; it will pay off.

Poor experiences with previous brokers can leave potential buyers feeling hesitant about entering into a Buyer’s Brokerage Agreement with yet another commercial real estate firm. This apprehension leads to less business and opportunities for both buyers and sellers.

A written Buyer’s Representation agreement fixes this problem, by giving both the broker and the buyer incentive to work hard as it is mutually beneficial.

Benefits to the Buyers of Commercial Real Property

1. The Buyer is not bound or obligated to purchase anything.
2. The agreement is for a specified period time and often times covers only properties identified by the broker.
3. The Buyer can negotiate to have the firm seek compensation from the seller only and not from you as the buyer.
4. The buyer can also negotiate to have the firm not have any recourse against you for any unpaid commissions.
5. The Buyers Brokerage Agreement can be terminated at any time.
6. It establishes who will pay for any fees and/or commissions if a deal is consummated and can offer recourse to collect fees/commissions from the appropriate parties.
7. The Broker is incentivized to “work hard” on the clients’ behalf; a broker’s time is worth as much as any other type of consultant (i.e. attorneys, accountants, architects, etc.); it adds a layer of accountability.
8. The business relationship established by executing a Buyers Brokerage Agreement gives the Buyer/Client access to information she or he could not obtain on their own.
9. It reduces the likelihood of being misled and/or misinformed by the seller’s agent.
10. It can ultimately save the Buyer/Client valuable time and resources by having a Broker do the property search and market research for them.

The benefits of a written Buyer’s Representation allow Buyers to exercise their full potential while being assured their partners will do their part. Sellers have representation to protect their interests and Buyers should have the same.