Stephen Ahnrud earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics from Wofford College. Before entering commercial real estate, he dedicated three years to Metro Atlanta Project, a non-profit organization based in Atlanta that re-roofed homes for families who could not afford necessary repairs. Working out of Northside Methodist Church, Ahnrud and his team raised funds, sourced building materials and completed roofing work on approximately 15 houses each year. The hands-on volunteer experience taught him the meaning of hard work, the importance of paying it forward and to “think like a raindrop.”

As Partner & Broker In Charge at SVN Palmetto, Ahnrud navigates current industry challenges including the recent government shutdown that has paused Small Business Administration loans. He focuses on developing creative solutions for clients who cannot wait for federal operations to resume.

Ahnrud applies the principles of humility, unity, initiative and respect to his daily work in commercial real estate. He defines success as “mastering my craft, growing my influence, and leaving things better than I found them.”

Lee Allen opened JLL’s Charleston office in 2014 and has since built it into a cornerstone of the firm’s South Carolina operations. Leading a team of 24 professionals, Allen oversees brokerage, property management and project management services for clients across the region.

A Sewanee – The University of the South graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Allen learned early lessons in resilience from his first job selling books door to door during college. The experience taught him to embrace rejection and stay focused on the next opportunity, principles that continue to guide his approach to business.

Allen defines success by the positive impact he leaves on deals, teams and communities. “At the end of the day, the relationships you build and the integrity you bring to the work are what really matter,” he said.

Beyond his professional work, Allen serves as a trustee at Chesapeake Academy and supports organizations including the Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center. He and his wife Bess have four children.

Chandler Ayers has established himself as a leading figure in commercial real estate across the Carolinas, specializing in acquisitions and dispositions. A Clemson University graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree, Ayers began his career in 2017 and has since brokered more than $144 million in real estate transactions.

As a real estate broker at Reedy Property Group since December 2022, Ayers continues building on his impressive track record. He previously served as a real estate broker with NAI Earle Furman in Greenville from October 2017 to December 2022.

Recognized as a top-producing broker in his office for 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024, Ayers has built a reputation for excellence in investment property transactions. His expertise focuses on flex, industrial and multi-tenant retail assets. Throughout his career, he has successfully brokered more than 340 real estate transactions involving over 1,000 investment properties, demonstrating his dedication and deep expertise in the commercial real estate sector.

Randall Bentley has specialized in commercial real estate industrial properties in the Upstate South Carolina market for more than 35 years. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina.

Bentley has completed more than 3,500 assignments spanning development projects, acquisitions, dispositions and leasing assignments. His client roster includes Illinois Tool Works, Iron Mountain, Verizon, Hubbell Lighting, S-L Distribution, Rockwell Medical, Berliner Sielfabrick and Lennox International, among others.

He earned his Certified Commercial Investment Member designation in 1994 and his Society of Industrial & Office Realtors designation in 1995. Bentley served as past president of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties South Carolina Chapter and former chairman of the Greenville County Planning Commission.

In 2024, GSA Publications named him one of Greenville’s 50 Most Influential People. He has supported Homes of Hope, Habitat for Humanity and United Way, and chaired the building committee at Advent United Methodist Church from 2016 to 2020.

Carlyle Blakeney brings more than 35 years of commercial real estate expertise to his role, specializing in the leasing and brokerage of land parcels, medical facilities, industrial properties, retail locations, office spaces and 1031 tax-deferred exchanges. As co-founder and owner of Medical Development Associates, he has extensive experience developing medical facilities across the Southeast region, including the Hollings Cancer Center in Mount Pleasant and numerous other Charleston-area developments.

Blakeney previously co-founded and served as principal in a commercial real estate brokerage firm for 20 years. His approach emphasizes actively listening to clients’ needs and identifying the challenges facing their business, allowing him to provide advocacy for their best interests and success.

For his contributions to South Carolina, Blakeney received the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian recognition, and was named a South Carolina Ambassador for Economic Development. He serves on the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation board and received the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Presidential award for his service.

Greg Bonifield leads Woodfield Development, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025. Since completing its first project in Raleigh, North Carolina, the firm has delivered 76 communities totaling more than 21,000 apartment homes across major markets including Raleigh, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Charleston, Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Austin, Dallas and Nashville.

Bonifield earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Before founding Woodfield, he served as Mid-Atlantic Vice President at Summit Properties from 1998 to 2005, working alongside his future founding partners. Earlier in his career, Bonifield was president of a private multi-family management company in Texas.

Under his leadership, Woodfield recently expanded into Arizona and Nevada and ranked number 21 on the National Multifamily Housing Council’s 2025 list of the Top 25 Developers in the U.S.

Bonifield serves on the executive committee of the Harbour Club and previously chaired the Board of Directors for SEALKIDS, Inc.

Mario Brown leads Affordable Upstate, a four-person real estate firm focused on preserving affordable housing across South Carolina. Brown earned degrees in English and Political Science from Gardner-Webb University before entering the commercial real estate sector.

As CEO, Brown confronts Greenville’s acute housing shortage, where an estimated 20,000 additional low-cost units are needed to meet demand. Rising construction costs, financing challenges and the conversion of naturally occurring affordable properties to luxury developments threaten workforce housing availability. Brown’s approach emphasizes mission-driven preservation strategies and public-private collaboration to maintain housing that supports inclusive economic growth.

Brown’s father shaped his leadership philosophy early on. “He told me, ‘Never get so focused on success that you forget about significance,’” Brown said. That principle guides his definition of success, which centers on stabilizing lives rather than accumulating properties.

Brown’s work ethic traces back to his first job at McDonald’s, where he learned the importance of consistency and treating people with respect. In his limited spare time, Brown enjoys gardening.

J. Edward Buxton spent 12 years at General Engineering Laboratories Inc., focusing on coastal zone property development complexities in South Carolina. In 2003, Buxton joined Palmetto Commercial Properties, specializing in sales and leasing of office, retail, industrial, multifamily, land and investment properties.

Buxton earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member designation in 2009 and received CoStar Powerbroker recognition in 2011, 2012 and 2014. In 2015, he and two business partners purchased Palmetto Commercial Properties, where he now serves as managing member and broker-in-charge, overseeing 17 agents.

The Charleston native earned an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of South Carolina. His recent industry recognitions include Charleston Trident Association of Realtors Commercial Realtor of the Year for 2018 and the National Association of Realtors Omega Tau Rho recognition in 2019.

Beyond real estate, Buxton coached high school football for 15 years, achieving five state championships. He and his wife are active in their church and have three children.

Brent Case, CCIM, CRE earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and International Affairs from Xavier University’s Williams College of Business in 1992. He began his career as a Relationship Manager with Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, where he served as a liaison between Brand Management and consumers, processing consumer reactions to product initiatives.

Case transitioned to commercial real estate and earned his CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation in January 1996. He served as South Carolina Chapter CCIM President in 2002 and has since received numerous industry recognitions, including Commercial Realtor of the Year in 2002, Number One Sales Professional by State for Coldwell Banker Commercial multiple times and the CoStar PowerBroker designation in 2016. Most recently, he was inducted as a member of The Counselors of Real Estate in March 2025.

As President and Broker in Charge of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic, Case leads a team of 29 employees. “The best advice I’ve ever received is simple but powerful: treat people the way you want to be treated, and always do the right thing, even when no one is watching,” Case said.

John Orr leads Carolina Retail Experts as president, guiding the 10-employee firm through $48.3 million in 2024 transaction volume while addressing South Carolina’s challenge of adapting infrastructure and municipal frameworks to meet rapid population growth and evolving retail tenant needs.

A Georgia College and State University graduate, Orr serves as chair of CCIM Institute’s Governance Committee and completed two three-year terms on its board of directors. He served as South Carolina Chapter president in 2019.

“Leave the Ladder Down,” he says, advising next-generation business leaders to lead with grit, invest in people and culture, and lift others along the way.

His first job as a dairy farm hand taught him accountability and consistency, learning that hard work cannot be faked through early mornings and late nights.

Orr serves on the Coastal Carolina University Grant Center for Real Estate and Economics Advisory Board and holds memberships in International Council of Shopping Centers, Urban Land Institute and Commercial Real Estate Women.

As a teenager, he competed in rodeo as a heel roper, trusting his partner while roping steers’ back legs.

He defines success through consistent, unglamorous work — the calls, site walks and tough conversations handled with integrity when no one’s watching.

Alex Chalmers leads Material Capital Partners, a build-to-rent development company addressing the nation’s housing shortage of 7 million homes. Chalmers earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.

Before founding Material Capital Partners in Charleston, Chalmers spent nine years as co-founder of an institutional real estate platform in Colombia, South America, developing 23 projects across residential, retail and office sectors. The company and portfolio were later sold to a global asset manager in London.

Since September 2024, Material Capital Partners has secured financing for multiple build-to-rent communities, including a $78 million project in Kansas City and developments in Greer, Bluffton and Brunswick. The company employs 12 people.

Chalmers serves on the National Wild Turkey Foundation board and participates in the Urban Land Institute Build-To-Rent Product Council and National Rental Housing Council as a chief executive officer member. “One individual that believes in themselves can change the world,” Chalmers said.

Kevin Coats leads real estate advisory and transaction services for institutional owners and corporate users in JLL’s Charleston office, specializing in site selection, lease negotiations, expansions, relocations, acquisitions and dispositions focused on industrial transactions.

Coats joined JLL in 2014 as the second hire in the Charleston office. He has been instrumental in growing the office to 20 professionals with more than $800 million in office and industrial transactions. He serves on JLL’s Supply Chain and Logistics Services team nationally and collaborates with the firm’s Industrial Capital Markets team.

A graduate of Hampden Sydney College with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Commerce with a concentration in Finance, Coats is a licensed real estate broker in South Carolina and holds the Certified Commercial Investment Member designation, earned by less than 6% of commercial real estate professionals. He graduated from Leadership Charleston’s Class of 2018 and received the CoStar Power Broker award from 2017-2025.

Racquel Collier’s path to real estate began with an unexpected foundation: as a DJ where she learned to read a room, curate experiences and shift energy without losing the crowd. Those instincts now drive her work as president and CEO of Caliber Real Estate, where she focuses on creating spaces that foster human connection.

Collier earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, Writing and Publication Studies from Clemson University, followed by a Master of Real Estate Development from the same institution. Her first job at 17, working at KFC, taught her early lessons in hospitality that continue to inform her approach to development and leadership.

“Make it feel like someone thought about them,” Collier said, describing the advice that shapes her work. “That’s what people remember — what turns space into hospitality and strategy into care.”

Beyond her role at Caliber, Collier serves on the boards of Ten At The Top and The Fine Arts Center of Greenville. She formerly chaired the Greenville Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. Her leadership has been recognized through multiple honors, including Greenville Business Magazine’s SC Best Minority Owned Business in 2024 and GSA Business Report’s Woman of Influence in 2024.

Jack Davis leads investment sales in the hospitality sector at Marcus & Millichap, where he has distinguished himself as a top performer in commercial real estate. A graduate of North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Davis began his career selling suits at Jos. A. Bank during college, where he learned the foundations of customer service and relationship building.

His entry into hotel brokerage came through an unconventional path — working the front desk at a boutique hotel in downtown Charleston. This hands-on experience in hospitality operations has proven invaluable throughout his brokerage career.

Davis serves as a member of Marcus & Millichap’s National Hospitality Division and received Connect CRE’s 2024 Top Broker recognition. He has also earned the firm’s National Achievement honor for four consecutive years and Sales Recognition for eight straight years.

Regarding his career philosophy, Davis said, “Never put off ‘til tomorrow what you can do today.” He defines success as achieving personal and professional goals while enjoying the process along the way.

Matt Foster earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the College of Charleston and a Master of Business Administration from Clemson University. As CEO of NOAH Property Management, Foster leads a 70-person team focused on providing workforce and affordable housing solutions across South Carolina.

Since October 2025, Foster has guided the company through significant expansion, adding nine new apartment communities across the Upstate and strengthening operational capabilities through enhanced technology integrations and expanded maintenance teams. Under his leadership, NOAH has developed innovative resident-centered solutions including flex pay options and deposit alternatives. Through partnership with the Southeast Affordable Housing Administration, the company has secured property tax abatements to maintain affordability without compromising service standards.

“I define success as building something that creates lasting impact for the people you serve and the people you work alongside,” Foster said.

Foster serves as vice-chair of the South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and as a board member for both the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce and Reedy Reels Film Festival. Half Hispanic with a Colombian mother, Foster brings cultural perspective to his community-focused leadership approach.

Chris Fraser leads Avison Young’s South Region operations with an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts and diverse experiences including service in the Navy and time as a ballet dancer, DJ, chef, scuba diver and licensed boat captain.

Fraser has demonstrated extensive civic leadership throughout South Carolina. He served as Chairman of the SC State Housing and Finance Authority from 2007 to 2008 and Chairman of the Charleston County School District Board of Trustees from 2010 to 2012. In 2014, Fraser chaired The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and served on the Board and Executive Committee of Gaillard Management Corporation from 2014 to 2021. He formerly presided over the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors and chaired the Trident Technical College Foundation.

Fraser currently serves with the Palmetto Beacon Venture Fellowship and is Immediate Past Chair of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance. He holds membership on the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Charleston Industry Round-table. His recognitions include Charleston Business Magazine’s 50 Most Influential in 2021 and 2022 with Hall of Fame induction, the 2021 CREW Charleston Distinguished Leader Award and inclusion on the 2021 SC Biz Real Estate Power List.

“Always do the right thing and put the interests of your clients before your own,” Fraser said.

Jonathan Good leads NAI Earle Furman as chief executive officer and shareholder, guiding the 165-employee commercial real estate firm through a 10% property management portfolio increase over the past year while viewing market challenges as solution opportunities.

A 1997 Furman University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in arts, Good holds the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors designation and has served in Young Presidents’ Organization since 2012. He completed the Aspen Institute’s Liberty Fellowship in 2020.

“Surround yourself with people that are smarter than you,” he says.

His first job working as a janitor for four summers taught him to continuously seek improvement opportunities.

Good serves as secretary and Investment Committee member of the Community Foundation of Greenville. He previously chaired both Greenville Housing Authority and Loaves & Fishes, a food rescue program delivering more than 1.1 million pounds of food annually.

Greenville Business Magazine recognized him among the 50 Most Influential People in 2019, 2020 and 2023, inducting him into its Hall of Fame. He earned Costar Power Broker recognition from 2007 to 2012.

Sean Hartness leads Hartness Communities and Hartness Development as chief executive officer, overseeing 150 employees while developing the 482-acre master-planned Greenville community combining residential living and hospitality destinations.

A University of South Carolina graduate with a bachelor’s degree in history, Hartness guided Hotel Hartness to recognition from Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure, establishing the property within the original Hartness family home alongside Patterson Kitchen + Bar and Spa H.

“The success of any company isn’t about buildings or structures,” he says. “It’s about the people you surround yourself with.”

His first job repairing small engines for neighbors taught business fundamentals and customer service, followed by work as regional sales manager for Hartness International shaping his relationship and leadership approach.

Hartness serves on Furman University’s Board of Trustees and Real Estate Board and Triple Tree Aerodrome Board, continuing his family’s tradition of community leadership and stewardship.

A licensed pilot for nearly 40 years, Hartness defines success through helping people live fulfilled lives through community connection and belonging.

Phillip Hughes leads Hughes Investments, INC as president, bringing extensive expertise in commercial real estate development across South Carolina. A Greenville native, Hughes attended Duke University, where he graduated in three years with dual degrees in political science and economics. He later earned both a Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina and completed The Presidents’ Program in Leadership at Harvard University through the Young Presidents’ Organization.

Hughes has taught development strategies at Clemson University’s Master of Real Estate Development program for nearly two decades. He currently chairs the South Carolina Palmetto Promise Institute.

His civic contributions include spearheading Heritage Green’s renewal and expansion through strategic land donations, leading the purchase and conversion of McAllister Square Mall into an educational center for Greenville Technical College and organizing efforts that secured full funding for the Southern Connector highway. Hughes currently oversees the design and expansion of BridgeWay Station, a new town center in Mauldin featuring a multi-use stadium for the Greenville Triumph and Liberty soccer teams.

Thomas E. Lucy III “Trey” has established himself as a leading commercial real estate professional in the Charleston area since relocating to South Carolina in 2007. Lucy co-founded Belk Lucy in 2013, where he serves as principal. His career in the region began with Grubb & Ellis | WRS, followed by a position at Lincoln Harris before launching his own firm.

Throughout his career, Lucy has participated in hundreds of sales and leasing transactions and consistently ranks among the top commercial brokers in the Charleston region. He earned Realtor of Distinction Commercial Circle recognition from 2011 through 2016 and was named to the Charleston Regional Business Journal’s Forty Under 40.

Lucy serves his community through multiple organizations, including the Charleston County Board of Assessment Appeals and the Rotary Club of Charleston board of directors. He completed Leadership Charleston in 2011 and has held leadership positions with the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors and South Carolina Association of Realtors.

A native of Atlanta, Lucy earned his degree in banking and finance from the University of Georgia. He resides in Mount Pleasant with his wife and three daughters.

Geordy Johnson has led The Johnson Group as CEO since November 2022, overseeing three operating companies that create lasting value across multiple sectors. Johnson previously served as president of Johnson Management from June 2014 to November 2022.

Johnson also serves as CEO of Johnson Development Associates, a position he has held since March 2015. JDA is a national real estate developer specializing in industrial, multifamily, self-storage and commercial properties. The company pairs entrepreneurial nimbleness with institutional-grade capital while maintaining family ownership.

Before returning to the family business, Johnson worked as manager of investment services at AvalonBay Communities and as a summer associate in securitized asset investments at BlackRock. He began his career as an investment banking analyst in the defense and aerospace corporate finance group at Wachovia Capital Markets.

Johnson earned his Master of Business Administration with concentrations in real estate and entrepreneurship from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School in 2013. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Washington and Lee University.

John B. Wright Jr. leads McCoy Wright as the fourth-generation owner, a position he assumed in January 2020. Wright earned his bachelor’s degree in financial management from Clemson University in 2010, where he was a scholarship football player who lettered in 2009 and 2010. He joined the family business in 2012 and earned his CCIM Designation in 2015, the highest certification in commercial real estate.

Wright’s expertise spans major retail engagements, redevelopment projects, build-to-suits, and investment property transactions throughout the Western Upstate market. His community involvement includes service on Anderson County Council, where he was elected in 2020 and reelected in 2022. He previously served on the Anderson School District Five board and became the youngest board chair in Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce history at age 28.

Wright currently serves on multiple boards including IPTAY, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, and Anderson University Board of Visitors. He and his wife, Courtland, have three sons and reside in Anderson.

Daniel Klausner leads Verdae Development with a background bridging engineering and real estate. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, followed by a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Manhattan University and an MBA in Real Estate and Finance from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Klausner began his real estate career nearly 10 years after undergraduate graduation, initially focusing on medical real estate development. His work has since expanded to master planned communities and projects across more than 10 states.

In April, Verdae announced the Bolden Street District, a 90-acre mixed-use redevelopment along Laurens Road in Greenville designed to serve the community for generations.

“Be self-aware and honest with yourself: know where you are and know where you are going,” Klausner said, recalling his father’s advice about creating one-, three- and 10-year plans.

Klausner measures success through the memories created for families and communities in the spaces Verdae develops.

Ned Miller is the head of development for Navy Yard Charleston, the ambitious revitalization of the former Charleston Naval Base into a 79-acre mixed-use neighborhood. In this role, he leads all development and construction initiatives, setting the vision for adaptive reuse, housing, retail, and green space.

With more than two decades of real estate experience, Miller has overseen projects ranging from urban multifamily to historic renovation. He was previously a development manager at The Beach Company, and he also held roles at Bristol Development in Nashville and Standard Pacific Homes in Los Angeles.

Under his leadership, Navy Yard Charleston has added creative businesses like Second State Coffee and a yoga studio, and recently broke ground on 55 townhomes with DRB Homes — a critical step in building out the neighborhood’s residential dimension.