About Eakin Partners

Eakin Partners was formed by John Eakin, Barry Smith, Tom Harwell and Chad Bottorff. Each of these principals brings a unique ability and experience level to the company:

  • Eakin Partners Chairman John W. Eakin has developed over 4 million SF of office product in the Nashville market. Over 35 years, with three different companies, John has developed signature properties in the Airport, Green Hills, Brentwood, West End and Downtown submarkets. 
  • John's career began with American General after graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1977. From 1980 to 1987, he was president of Carroll Properties and successfully developed over 1 million SF of Class A office space. In 1987, John formed Eakin & Smith, which became Nashville's dominant office development, leasing and management company. In April of 1996, he merged Eakin & Smith into Highwoods Properties (HIW). Since 2000 John has formed several real estate partnerships and funds that purchase and develop properties. These funds currently have a net worth above the debt of about $150 million. 
  • President Barry R. Smith is a graduate of Purdue University. He has dominated the office leasing market in Nashville over the past 10 years. In his 28-year career, he has negotiated approximately 4 million SF of office leases. While he was with Grubb & Ellis, he consistently ranked in the top 20 of more than 2,000 brokers nationwide. He was named NAIOP "Broker of the Year" in both 2001 and 2006, and was awarded the "Office Lease of the Year" in 2005. Smith currently leads the office leasing team, which is the most productive per-agent in the Nashville market. 
  • Tom Harwell leads the sales and marketing team of seven real estate agents. These highly experienced individuals rank highest, year after year, in top revenues generated per agent. 
  • D. Chad Bottorff is the Director of Construction and Asset Management for Eakin Partners. Chad works closely with John Eakin and Tom Harwell to analyze future projects, and to structure partnerships and financing.
John W. Eakin
Chairman
(615) 425-5921
john@eakinpartners.com
Barry R. Smith
President
(615) 425-5922
bsmith@eakinpartners.com
Thomas C. Harwell
Leasing & Development Manager
(615) 425-5923
tharwell@eakinpartners.com
Chad Bottorff
Construction & Asset Management
(615) 425-5924
cbottorff@eakinpartners.com

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