John W. Eakin
Managing Director of Development & Investment, Eakin Partners
Nashville, TN 37203
John Eakin is the Managing Director and co-founder of Eakin Partners
Phone (615) 425-5921
John Eakin is the Managing Director and co-founder of Eakin Partners
Property Types
Land, Office
Markets
Nashville
Bio
John W. Eakin is co-founder and Chairman of Eakin Partners, and is also Chief Manager of several Eakin-managed real estate funds, which own about $300 million of properties and actively seek real estate investments and developments. Over the last 30 years, John has accumulated extensive hands-on experience in development, leasing and management, as well as a strong track record of realizing a company's vision and managing employees to that end.
John began his real estate career after graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1977. American General first employed John, where he oversaw retail, office and industrial developments. From 1980 to 1987, he was president and an owner of Carroll Properties. From 1980 to 1986, John successfully developed over 1 million SF of office space. In 1987, he formed his own firm, Eakin & Smith, Nashville's predominant office developer and leasing/management company at that time.
In April 1996, John merged Eakin & Smith with Highwoods Properties (HIW), a transaction valued in excess of $100 million. John was a Board Member, Senior Vice President and served on Highwoods Investment Committee.
During John's tenure with Highwoods, the company grew from $800 million to $4 billion. He oversaw company operations in several cities, including Nashville, which was one of the premier-performing regions for Highwoods.
In the fall of 1999 John formed Eakin Partners, which manages leases and develops commercial property. Eakin Partners developed Virginia Way Plaza and oversees the Real Estate Fund, which owns Burton Hills I and II, and is an owner of Roundabout Plaza and SunTrust Plaza, and other Eakin-developed buildings. The company is also very active in tenant representation and corporate real estate consulting
