When You Can't Get Hired...
Try Real Estate.
BFK, A Memoir
Part 1: Early Adventures
Today Ben F. Kushner Co. is the overseer of over 2,000,000 square feet of commercial real estate with a market value of $100 million. Much gratitude goes to those who have shown confidence and offered support by investing their time and equity in our investment opportunities. Nor could we operate without the determination, commitment, focus and loyalty of a small but highly efficient staff of men and women who maintain the multitude of moving parts that comprise this company.
Part 2: Entering the Business
In April, 1971, I accepted my new responsibilities of listing and selling land in Cherokee County with a combination of feelings. Excitement and fear of the unknown were among those nerve stimuli. Mostly, I felt both a driving desire to succeed and hatred of failure.
Part 3: Land Rush
The next two years listing and selling land in Cherokee County were fun and profitable. I managed to close over half the properties I listed. Naturally the more success I had, the more confident (aka “cocky”) I became. Now when I sat down in someone’s living room, I felt like it was another performance of a long running Broadway play. But I was the anti-Willie Loman, the depressed subject of “Death of a Salesman”. I had found something I liked but it was not making money. Although I sure enjoyed going from tuna fish to Tuna. But the thrill of closing the deal was invigorating and intoxicating. It was a successful seduction, a home run, the winning basket.
Part 4: Moving To Midtown
Atlanta, 1974
What do you mean the economy is bad? I forgot who it was but one day somebody told me no one was buying land anymore. Similar to 2008, the Arabs realized in 1974 they had us by the gonads because our country depended of their oil for our transportation needs.
About Ben F Kushner Company.
Ben F. Kushner company is built on the dedication and professionalism of their staff members.
Ben F. Kushner - President
Ben-Fox Kushner, a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, has been in commercial real estate continually since 1971. He started Ben F. Kushner Co. in 1979. His personal history, a work in progress, is included on a separate page of this website. In addition to being President and CEO of Ben F. Kushner Co. , he is Managing Partner of over 24 LLC's that own retail and office properties.
Ben Kushner is also an Adjunct Professor of Business, Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University.
Click here to read more about the 'Commercial Real Estate Ventures' course at Kenneshaw State University.
He and Connie Kushner hope to one day live in the style to which their two children have become accustomed. Daughter Jennie is a graduating senior in Journalism at the University of Alabama and Henry is business major at the University of Alabama. They both work with the Company assisting in the management of the 7 properties in the Alabama portfolio.
In addition to real estate and teaching Ben-Fox enjoys sports, flying his plane, fitness, riding horses and golf. He loves to read and write, and continues to take courses in a myriad of subjects not related to business.
Calvin Stephenson - General Manager
I studied real estate and economics at the University of Georgia where I worked my way through college renovating some of Athens oldest properties.
Background work experience in real estate sales, and residential and commercial construction. I have spent the last six years on the beautiful St. Simons Island off the Georgia coast building and selling residential property.
Eligible bachelor who enjoys contact sports and Italian food.
Vanessa Wallace - Executive Assistant Leasing Administrator
I started working for Ben F. Kushner Co. November 5, 2003. When I was hired in 2003 I helped with receivables, collections and accounts payable. My current responsibilities are administrative assistant to Mr. Kushner and leasing administrator. Prior to my employment with BFK Co. I worked approximately twenty years in the corporate world for Arby’s, Inc. located in Buckhead and MCI located in the Perimeter Mall area. I have been married 17 years and have a 16 year old son.
Pam Patterson - Accounts Receivable
I have worked for Ben F. Kushner Co. for 7 years. I began my career with Ben F. Kushner Co. in January 1995 and remained here until February 2000. I returned in October 2006. My husband and I live in Ball Ground, Georgia and have two children, Laura and Timothy. Laura is in her second year of college at Kennesaw State University and Timothy is a junior at Creekview High School.
I am currently responsible for Accounts Receivable and Collections. In my tenure here at Ben F. Kushner Co., I have worked as Ben and Connie’s assistant as well as being responsible for Accounts Payable.
Sarah Harris - Administrative Asst.
Sarah joined the Ben F. Kushner Co. in February of 2008, as administrative assistant. She comes to BFKCO with an extensive administrative background. On a daily basis, she utilizes her administrative skills by managing tenant issues at Lavista Office Park and other BFKCO properties in the Atlanta Metro area, along with maintaining the leasing office and assisting the immediate staff. In her first six months with BFKCO, she displayed herself as a great customer service person and developed a great rapport with the tenants for being very helpful and doing a great job with a smile.
Sarah is married to a master plumber and a grandmother of eight. On weekends, she spends her time at Stone Mountain Park as an attraction attendant and safety trainer meeting and greeting thousands of guest from all over the world.
Connie Kushner
Wife of the President, Need I say more …
Grigoriy Portman
Grigoriy joined Lavista Office Park in December of 2006. His responsibilities include all maintenance issues for approximately 130 tenants. He is skilled in electrical and plumbing, and has great mechanical abilities. Grigoriy is very responsive and well liked by all. He is originally from the Ukraine, but now resides in Atlanta with his wife, son and daughter.
Jose Isle-Marquez
Jose is the Chief Maintenance Engineer for all BFK Co. properties with the exception of LaVista Office Park. Jose has provided loyal and devoted service to the company since 2000. He is married to Antonia and they have two beautiful sons, Jonathan and Giovanni.
Nancy Greene
I have worked for Ben F. Kushner Co. for just over a year. I began my career with Ben F. Kushner Co. in September, 2010. I am currently responsible for Accounts Payable.
My husband, Steve and I live in Cumming, Georgia and have two children, Matthew and David. Matthew is in his first year at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, GA and David is a junior at Forsyth Central High School.
Jeff Kushner
Jeff Kushner has been in real estate for over 20 years. He began his career with Coldwell Banker on the residential side and quickly gravitated to the commercial side where he worked in acquisitions and land development, leasing, and tenant relations.
After leaving commercial real estate, Jeff entered the private sector where he applied his business acumen as a successful restaurant franchisee, and he and his wife Tami ran a successful consulting business.
Jeff returned to commercial real estate where he was a Develop Manager for several national chains including, BusyBody Fitness, Einstein Brother's Bagels, Bruegger's Bagels, and TMX Finance.
Jeff is a native of Atlanta.
