John Hock - Building Opportunity, Leadership and Legacy

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Welcome to the Forge by Design Podcast.
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This is your host, Daniel Baligel.
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Thank you so much for all your support.
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You can always find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and of course our YouTube channel, Forge by Design.
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Thank you so much for your commentary.
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Don't forget, like, share, and subscribe.
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Today in our podcast, we have a great guest who has a wealth of knowledge in building acquisition from the Hawk Development Company who has been here for the last 40 years in the CSRA.
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So influential, so impactful to many of the organizations that have thrived to move products and services in their warehouses, in their businesses, and how they have grown.
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We have none the less than the president, Mr.
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John Hawk.
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How are you, sir?
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Well, how are you?
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I'm doing great.
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Always excited uh to have you here.
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Uh, we have seen, I have personally seen you various times in our organization, and the conversations that we have go from business to social to to hunting to to many other other things.
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Uh, but we are very aware of the impact that the Hawk Development Company has done in the CSRA and abroad, and it has been such a delight to have you here on The Forge by Design.
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That's a nice introduction.
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Thank you.
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Outstanding, outstanding.
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You know, we I always tell people that in the podcast, we always have a podcast before the podcast, and it gets so interesting, we have to pause each other because uh there's so much that we want to add to it.
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But one of the things that I definitely want to highlight today in this podcast is your amazing organization and what you have done.
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It's it's very evident in the uh uh the social professional circles that we uh uh meet in and gather and have some conversations with other community leaders, the the Hawk Development Group uh company always comes comes to mind, and uh to have you here with us to share this journey with with your audience and with our audience is uh such a delight.
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Oh, thank you.
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So I would like to start uh by asking you how did the Hawk Development Company come to fruition?
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Give us a little glimpse about the genesis of this company.
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Well, my dad actually um I think he was probably this was back in 1975, 76.
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He uh had had a variety of different jobs.
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He worked at a bank.
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Uh my grandfather um was a doctor, so he you know, was you know, after my grandfather died, he thought he was supposed to be led into becoming a doctor.
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Sure.
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And he learned quick that being a doctor he wasn't what was not what his career was meant to be.
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Correct, yes.
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And so uh he had gone to college uh in North Carolina at a uh at a small private college, and his roommate, uh John Burris, uh from Columbia, South Carolina, John's dad had a curr uh construction company in Columbia, and it was they built butler buildings, um, and they did mainly just commercial work.
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And so John had been asking him for years, um, hey, you know, come and you know, I can get you a job.
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And so, anyways, one thing led to another, and uh he called Johnny said, Hey, can I come and work with you?
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So John said, Absolutely.
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And um, so he ended up working, opening up a uh, you know, a branch for uh Burris construction in Augusta.
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He was right off Bel Air Road, and uh, and so he worked for Burris for four to five years and you know just excelled.
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You know, he was he was pushed in, he didn't know anything about construction, but you know, he had obviously had a team that was with Burris, um, and he had an in-house, you know, draftsman and a lot of people that were that you know that were able to help him, and they grew it and they did work from Texas, all the way to Texas to Georgia, did some stuff in Florida, and you know, he just developed you know a desire to you know to go ahead and sort of branch off.
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And he ended up uh you know starting uh Hawk construction.
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Okay, so it's a construction company.
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It started as a construction with 70 plus employees.
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Oh, that's not a small construction, that's a that's a very large construction.
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And so team, yes.
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So he he ended up having a construction company and he and he ran that until I think he ran that until like the eighties.
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Okay.
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Um the the early eighties, and then he started realizing because he was doing some stuff on the side.
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Um and you know, he was mainly building for others, but you know, and the same thing, you know, uh Bel Air Business Park.
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Uh it's it's right by where Bob's self-storage was, and the building right next to that was the uh was the uh I think it was the the the water department.
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Okay.
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And you have Augusta Marine right on the other side.
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Yes.
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And so, anyways, he started building some other you know buildings, and you know, once he leased them, he built another section, and then one thing led to another, and he just you know started developing some some properties that he owned, and he started noticing that it was a lot more attractive instead of building for others to build for yourself.
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Okay.
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And so he ended up getting out of the construction business.
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Um, you know, anyone that owns a company, you know, when you have tons of employees, your your overhead is absurd.
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You know, you're taking one job to be able, you know, you're using the money from one job to do another job.
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And it's just like you you have to have a lot of flow.
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And you know, when you're building for yourself, you know, you can limit a lot of that.
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And so, um, and you don't have you don't have the tons of responsibilities you have with having payroll and employees.
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Correct.
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And so, you know, you know, using subcontractors and having it to where you know they move at your pace, not the other way around.
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And um obviously with a when you have a tenant, if you're doing a build to suit, you know, you you're under pressure because you have an obligation, but you're also able to um, you know, when you have a construction company and you haven't you you're having you have a responsibility, you know, to your employees to keep them busy, to keep, you know, food on the table, paid constant, you know, consistent paychecks.
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So um that's sort of that's where everything went from hot construction to hot development.
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And um, so yeah.
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How is how is that transition?
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Because you know, it's uh it back in in the maybe 70s or 80s, uh Augusta's not what it is today, right?
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Uh when I came to Augusta, there was a lot of two-way lanes, very small, there was a lot of property uh or a lot of land uh available in very specific strategic areas that other companies would feel that attractive and appealing to that.
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So going from uh building companies, were they were these more like in the commercial side or they're industrial?
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Uh what were the the the niche of of these uh buildings that he was building?
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It was a mi it was a mix.
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It was a mixture.
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Um compared to what the size today, they were not the same type of properties, not same square footage.
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I mean, it was more on the standpoint probably the largest one that he built, you know, during that time was in was in nineteen must have been nineteen eighty-two.
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Okay.
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And he built um he built a two hundred thousand square foot building.
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Wow.
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And um, and he he actually he built it for uh for uh uh Dart, which was at that point they had three different name changes.
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It was Lily Tulip at the time.
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And and they needed a distribution warehouse um right next to the location on Wrightsburg Road, 1550.
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Correct.
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And so um a uh he ended up building the building and then leasing it uh to uh Lily Cup.
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And so and they and they were in the building, um, they were they they were there for a long time.
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Uh I think they moved out, they stopped leasing it.
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Um I think it must have been right before the two like 2009.
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And so they were a very stable tenant in the building.
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And so um, so yeah, that was probably the larger one.
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Um you know, we've done a bunch of like flex, sort of flex space.
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And you know, that's still very for those that don't know what's a flex space.
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So just you know, it has more of a multi-use, they can be broken up.
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Usually they have like two to three thousand square feet of warehouse space, and then you know, you know, they have like a little secretary, you know, office in the front with some, you know, storefront glass and then a bathroom and an office office or two.
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Um but you know, over the years, you know, there's been properties that you know that he's done for uh for icon.
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Um he did properties for um for Titan Wheel, uh, built a building in Pennsylvania with uh with Bill Litchville, who you yeah, you who you know, you know, um he was an owner at the at the airport building.
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Yes.
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And so um, so yeah, he you know it's he's done a a mixture of different uh different you know different size buildings.
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Um so from from from a construction to now building acquisitions here in the CR CSRA.
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And it's uh your website is hawkdevelopment.com.
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Is that correct?
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So hawkdevelopment.com, the about section, and uh the companies and the and the properties uh as I was navigating uh this week and last week, very impressed because uh you know you have facilities or buildings that uh you have acquired, refurbished, developed uh from 150,000 square foot to six hundred and eighty-three thousand square foot, eight eight total properties and a little bit more uh in between.
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And it's impressive to have that vision and and to see a a particular locale, a particular unit or a building that can serve many customers regardless of the industry.
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And I've always been curious when when you are looking at a property and and you're scoping for that next acquisition, uh what such a with such a history and having the vision that you have, you look at a building that you probably say, if I just add a dock to shipping docks, I have potential customers that have a lot of logistical needs.
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Maybe I need two to three docks, maybe I need to add an office here, office there.
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You're looking at infrastructure for water streams, uh waste streams.
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Do I have the right electrical grid?
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Uh, how is this gonna have uh work with trucks and transit?
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Uh the end, the inflow or the flow, the the trucks are gonna come one direction, exit another direction.
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From from your standpoint, and now that you are in the helm, as as the president looking at at properties, you you probably say, Well, this building has potential, but I'm looking more large scale.
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When you're looking at a building, from your mindset, what is the first thing that uh goes down your business list?
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Well, number one, the environmental.
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So you know, if the property has past uses that are going to create problems, um, you know, even on the standpoint of lending, you know, with on a lender's you know, perspective, you know, and if it has, you know, contaminants uh in the soil or even you know, they you know in the slab, you know.
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So um, you know, that's a big one you know that I'm very mindful of.
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Um I've gone away from deals just because of, hey, you know, yeah, you can do a brownfields act, but I mean the same thing.
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It's like you know, you know, are there gonna be some additional issues that are you know that are sort of what ifs?
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Correct.
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Um and because companies that are gonna do the cleanup, you know, they they can get close, but there's you know, you can still get you can still get yourself in big trouble on a large cost.
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Correct.
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Um and it's is that like Osho, the EPA, uh who's gonna be able to do that?
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I mean but Brownfields Act, it's you know essentially who does a survey basically when you say look at a property and you're looking for this information uh because you you need to know how much contaminants, what or not, who who who goes in and does the survey?
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CSRE testing you know can do it.
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But you know, that's one.
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Another is the roof, the condition.
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Um that's one of your most expensive, you know, parts of you know, of a building.
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So I mean if you can find a property, uh we've been very fortunate, you know, on the acquisitions to find properties that have you know you know good roof systems.
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Now some you know, some don't, but there's ways of of making repairs and knowing what you you know, looking at it the right way, um, you know, replacing decking.
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Uh you know, you know, they've come a long way with coatings.
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So, you know, especially roofs that are you know membrane roof, a TPO or PVC.
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Sure.
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You know, there's ways of uh you know of sort of you know you know not not going and saying, okay, well, you know, we got to rip the entire roof off and go down to the decking.
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You know, but I'm assuming that you at first glance that you see a potential property and you're in a high, like, whoa, this this can be a great investment as far as acquisition and refurbishment.
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And then when you start getting into the code and and the actual quality of of roofs and slabs and all that, uh it could be it could be scary.
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Well, you know, to me, really, it's the exact opposite.
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Really?
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Oh yeah.
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How so?
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I I don't really get phased that much.
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You know, I go and I can go into a building and say, okay, well, there's about five or six things that you know that would make a visual impact, number one, and then you know, the to the the feel of the building.
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Um if you're buying something existing and especially something that's been worn out and you've had a lot of you know a lot of different operations that have been in there, you know, peeling back the layers, you know, it's like a it's I I use this example all the time.
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It's just like, you know, when you when like Barrett Jackson, you know, if you have like a like a like a mint condition like Corvette and doesn't look like it's ever seen daylight, well if you take that exact same vehicle and then you go in and you find some jump like the same model, same year, it's been sitting in a barn, sure, there's pigeons all living in there, you get my girl.
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Yeah, yeah.
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And it's warm and the seats are all rats are in the seats.
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Well, if you show that to the same person that sees the one going across the showroom floor while they're selling it, there's no way that person would look at that and say that that car can be that car.
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And so it takes vision, it takes it takes a I mean, and that but that's in any career.
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I don't care what you know what job you are in, you know, if you know, when you have a comfort level, it's like breathing.
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You don't you don't think about breathing, you just do it.
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Absolutely, yeah.
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So that's sort of how it is with me.
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I you know, um, I love the fact of taking something that is just worn out, that would scare people to death and say, there's no way that I would or it just it's overwhelming to people.
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Correct.
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To me, it's not.
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I mean, but that's also I've seen I've been around and I've I've I've been involved with with leading projects where they've been big size.
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So it's just like you know, I'm used to that, and that's really what makes the difference.
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Outstanding.
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Well, that's that's great to have that kind of vision that you're not phased by the challenge and uh the the resilience and the leadership portion of it.
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It seems to be intuitive.
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Did you get that from your dad?
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Was he that way?
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No, I got I can you know who I got it from?
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I bought that from God.
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Oh, awesome.
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Oh, that's right.
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That's awesome.
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So yes, sir.
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Yes, sir.
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Um I'm very visual.
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Outstanding.
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Uh very much so.
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With the with the growth uh back in the 80s, uh, you know, 80s, 90s, as Augusta was uh was growing, uh now there are a lot of companies that are coming to the CSRA wanting to establish routes, right?
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We we've seen uh I've I've been here for quite some time, and I've seen some companies that started in a specific building, uh four or five years, six years, and and of course, for for whatever reason, whether it be tariffs, logistics, the volatility of the markets, uh supply chain issues, uh, even workforce sometimes have uh vacated the property and moved elsewhere, and now where I drive by and oh, this it's another company and so forth.
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These are not smaller buildings, these are larger buildings that have been acquired and so forth.
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Knowing the the challenges that c uh companies coming to the CSRA wanting to say, you know what, the CSRA is going to be my my 20, 30 year home.
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Um uh and what you knowing that and you're looking at a building, are there things that you would add to it more to make it more, for example, more docks, more office space, uh a better footprint, or even curb appeal for that matter.
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Um uh many perhaps uh vacant acres in the back for for storage or maybe potential sheds or whatnot that they may need.
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Has has your requirements changed?
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Where back in the day you didn't have all these logistical challenges because it was a smaller community, but now when you look at a building, it's like by default you have this construction kit in your mind that before I even present it to potential investors or customers, I need to do this first by default.
00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:03.279
Well, you know, it depends.
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Uh you know, there are aspects of things that you know you know, it's like selling a house.
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If you're trying to sell your house, you're gonna make sure that the door is painted, the front door is painted, that the garage is operational and works, um, that the grass is cut, and that you know, you know, that there's mulch in the beds and everything is manicured because you're trying to sell it.
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Correct.
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And so, you know, there's a rare population of people that can see something and you know say, oh, okay, well, yeah, we're you know, someone tells them, yeah, we'll we'll do this, this, this, and that.
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And it it's like, you know, they can't un they can't visualize what that is going to look like.
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So yes, there are aspects that, you know, that, you know, and that's one of my main things.
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You know, I'm you know, almost to a fault, you know, I strive for prote like perfection.
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Correct.
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Um that is, you know, when it when it comes down to the details, you know, you know, I I want the properties to always look at the point to where I have one opportunity for someone to come into the building and it needs to look that way all the time.
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And so if it's if it's like, for example, if you have someone that's you know interested in leasing, you know, say 50,000 square feet and it does not have loading docks.
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Now, if there's other areas of the building that already do, and that area could be you know combined to an area that already has loading docks, then I'm probably not going to build loading docks there.
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Now, if someone came along and said, you know, I love this, I love this footprint, it works, but I need loading docks.
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Okay, well, with a long-term lease, no issue.
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Um, we will build loading docks.
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Uh most of the properties um you know 20 2044 Fort Augusta, that was set up as a distribution warehouse.
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Correct.
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It was club car, right?
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Was it club car back then?
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Or was it?
00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:30.640
No, it was initially built for um uh I think Tinker, it was a Tinker Toy.
00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:31.759
Tinker Toy.
00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:33.119
I think that's the name of it.
00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:35.599
Um, and but that's why that building was built.
00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:36.559
It was built for that.
00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:50.720
So it's cross-dock, it has rail on one side, you know, it has the infrastructure set up with the parking, a nice parking lot, and then and then and then you know, parking lot for uh employees as well and for customers.
00:21:51.119 --> 00:22:06.480
So that building was already set up, but there's other properties that used to be manufacturing facilities, and that's that's where um and The building um that's quad graphics, you know, we bought it from quad graphics over on Evans Loch Road.
00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:08.160
Evans Lock Road Tech is.
00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:10.000
I think I worked there in my youth days.
00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:11.279
A lot of people did.
00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:14.160
I just uh dated myself with yes.
00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:16.400
I think I was in college and I was working there.
00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:19.440
Swing shifts, I think it was rotating shifts once a month.
00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.880
But yes, quad graphs.
00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:33.839
So that property, that really to me, I I'm not trying to back up, but you know, my earlier career when I started working, I didn't I was green.
00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:37.119
I did not know anything about construction.
00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:39.359
Um, I was sort of just pushed out.
00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:45.119
I didn't I did not just sit around in the office waiting to be asked what to do.
00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.960
I went out into the field.
00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:48.079
That's where I learned.
00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:51.039
I I I was taught by contractors.
00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:53.279
So you went into the trenches to see a first hand.
00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:56.480
When I first started, I wrote down everything.
00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:59.119
Like I asked questions, a lot of questions.
00:22:59.279 --> 00:22:59.599
Yes.
00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.799
Why did you do that?
00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.559
Why what step is that?
00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:19.039
You know, the process of you know putting up metal studs and you know, you know, installing putting all the conduit and electrical and doing all the mechanical and you know, the insulation, the sheetrock, the the painting, the floor coverings, sure, all of that.
00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:20.880
Did do you do that on the building?
00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:23.440
Do you do all the electrical or uh when you have a build?
00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:26.960
Do you just buy the building and do the two separate ones?
00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:35.759
That was off of uh uh Wrightsborough Road, and we did three buildings, um, and I believe that was started in like 2006, 2007.
00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:45.359
We built one for uh, and these were goods, you know, these were in between like 12,500 up to 14,000.
00:23:45.599 --> 00:24:00.720
But they had, you know, um we had uh cece Dixon, uh we had Snyder Lance, uh who does all the food, you know, pretzels, and then we had a uh a company, I forgot the name of the company.
00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:06.480
This dates back a little bit, but they uh they were in the uh uh uniform cleaning business.
00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:17.119
And so, but Snyder Lance was the first one that I really you know you know was and the slab had already been poured and the shell was there.
00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:30.960
But the there was a fair amount of office, you know, it was getting all of the um the the break room with all the cabinetries and doing the you know yeah pretty much doing the it was a shell, so building out all the office and bathrooms.
00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:31.920
Right, wow.
00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:49.119
And so after that project, you know, that's when we started to realize that you know we'd started buying a lot of properties, they were smaller, um, and and then just fixing them.
00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:49.680
Correct.
00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:55.440
And so how how small for for the audience, because I I've seen your portfolio, there's nothing small about Waze.
00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:59.119
We bought some properties in in in North Augusta.
00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:01.200
One was the old WBBQ building.
00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:01.920
Okay, yeah.
00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:11.440
And it was I was actually pretty proud of that property because it had mold, black mold all through the walls.
00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:16.000
Um and and and essentially the whole building was a maze.
00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:16.400
Wow.
00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.920
Um it was, it was.
00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:23.279
And so I ended up uh I had one guy, and it was it was him and myself.
00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:35.440
And we renovated the entire building, and I mean it just turned the building into something that was just you know unfunctional, disaster.
00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:50.559
There was a fire that was in the building, so there was all the decking above, yeah, yeah, was and it was wood framed above, was all charred and and so and the layout was was terrible, the bathrooms were very sparse.
00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:58.000
And so, anyways, I ended up completely renovating it, and right when I got finished, it was leased.
00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:58.480
Nice.
00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.759
A tenant moved in.
00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:14.240
So um, but those were those were the early days where pretty much starting at that building, there was a building called J and J and J Building Supply off of Jefferson Davis Highway.
00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:29.279
And that was another one, and there was and there was this you know, ones that went from um even in North Augusta, the one that was if was formerly like a YMCA sort of office um, you know, sort of branch.
00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:39.440
And so that one was on it was an old house, you know, a lot of those on North Augusta that have been transferred into more of an office, you know, commercial retail components.
00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:44.720
Um, some of those we purchased um and and renovated and sold.
00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:49.039
Um, you know, we were very fortunate to be able to sell and sort of barter up.
00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:49.440
Correct.
00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.000
Yes.
00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:54.160
And so uh we sold some of those properties to J.
00:26:55.359 --> 00:27:04.319
Um that ended up um we ended up doing 1031 exchanges uh from the J and J building supply off Jefferson Davis.
00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:09.519
Um and then we bought the old Mary Brick uh uh office on Ellis Street.
00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:10.000
Yes.
00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:14.240
And um, and then and then that one was a project uh fixing it up.
00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:18.000
We ended up leasing that to a uh group out of Texas.
00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:20.799
Uh when remember that pipeline that was coming here?
00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.079
Yeah, I remember that, yeah.
00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:24.960
So they were branched here because they were working on that.
00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:31.359
Uh then we ended up selling that to Sherman and Hem Street, uh, and then they had that as their main office.
00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:38.640
And at that point we sold that and then we bought land uh right behind Augusta Marine, right off Bel Air Frontage.
00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.039
Yes.
00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:57.839
And um, and Jay Willingham, uh who's uh who's uh he he represents me on several buildings as my agent, he uh he had a uh he had a he had a customer, a tenant, prospect that was uh interested in a building and so uh called F.
00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.079
L.
00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:00.559
Schmidt, and they were out of Copenhagen, Denmark.
00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.519
FL Schmidt.
00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:06.640
That's um uh air air liquid filtration, I believe.
00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:09.599
Uh yeah, air liquid filtration textile type of thing.
00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:12.559
They did like filters, filters, yeah, filter bags, yes.
00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:21.759
I mean it it was uh it was pretty yeah, you know, it was an interesting like you know way of how they operated because it it looked like a fire hose.
00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:22.079
Yeah.
00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:32.319
So the company called Southern Felt uh actually supplied FL Smith and Minority at the time, a company called Minority off of uh Edgefield, South Carolina.
00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:36.960
So yeah, I'm uh I think uh I did some quality projects with them back in the day, yes.
00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:41.839
So we ended up building uh we ended up building a 150,000 square foot building.
00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.400
Yes.
00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:45.519
And um and it was pre-cast, beautiful building.
00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:54.640
And uh and so uh Dean Anderson with uh Roebuck uh Builders, uh he ended up coming in as a partner, and so we we built that.
00:28:54.799 --> 00:29:00.720
So um that was really the last one that that's the last property that we built, you know.
00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:04.319
You know, mainly now it's just you know acquisition, refurbishing.
00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:11.200
And and buying, you know, we've been fortunate to uh, you know, at the right time, because everything's timing, sure.
00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:18.640
Um, to pick up some assets that um at this point, you know, it's hard to find a good deal on an existing building.
00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:54.160
You know, I mean, would you say that it there was a a time in timing in the Hawk Development Company where you said uh we ventured into this particular business segment and purchasing, uh, but now that we have revved up, moved up, it we we're no longer going to tackle small projects and maybe perhaps uh you know tackle bigger buildings, uh working on the logistical side uh as far as what what companies need logistically to enter and to exit this the uh the CSRA.
00:29:54.480 --> 00:30:03.359
Uh so I I've said well again, just basing on you know the portfolio that you have, uh with all that you said, how do you manage risk?
00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:24.559
Because all every project seems to have uh a bis a big risk factor regarding a property and uh you that you don't shy away from a challenge, you that are a visionary, uh many people will shy would see a property and say, you know, the risk the small risk and there's there's too much risk here.
00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:27.839
How do you walk away from risk or do you confront it head on?
00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:35.599
And uh if so, uh you know, what are the the outlets of the mitigation plan to to minimize the risk factor?
00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:37.440
Well, there there's always risk.
00:30:37.519 --> 00:31:01.359
I mean, any anytime you're in real estate, I mean, but there's there's calculated risk on you knowing you know, knowing what you're looking at and seeing, you know, sort of the fruits of your labors that you know you know, if you if if you're analyzing the property correctly, um and just also just having the experience and knowing what you're looking at.
00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:02.960
I mean, that's the main thing.
00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:05.359
And uh, but there is always risk.
00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:13.920
I mean, you know, you know, you have to be in a position um to have a property sit vacant, you know, for a long period of time.
00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:14.559
Correct.
00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:23.039
And that means that you're having to spend a lot of money on, I mean, especially if you have a mortgage, you know, uh mortgage, uh insurance.
00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:36.640
Um, you know, you can't show a building with no light, so you have to have the lighting, you know, you have to have power, um, you have to have the the water on so that people can use the restroom and like you know, you you you have to keep everything you know functioning.
00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:37.119
Sure.
00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:42.160
Uh so you know, there are definitely, you know, there's definitely a lot of risk.
00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:57.519
Um you know, we've been very fortunate uh to be in a position to where um the properties and the assets that we have acquired uh you know have you know they're they're they've all had their different nuances.
00:31:57.680 --> 00:32:02.480
You know, you know, they've had tenants that have not been the the most desirable.
00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:05.039
Um but you know it's and that's a risk.
00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:06.480
Oh it is a hundred percent.
00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:06.880
Sure.
00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:27.119
Um you know, but there's a lot of things that have like on the standpoint of like the risk and figuring things out, uh that comes with having problems where you learn from it and then you use that and you say, Okay, well, I'm definitely not gonna try that again.
00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:35.279
I'm gonna go, I'm gonna look at doing this, or you know, you know, this is what this is direction that we need to stay in.
00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:38.160
Um a lot of that happens with organization.
00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:42.880
Um, you know, sort of staying in your lane, uh, not over-leveraging.
00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:49.519
Uh so we've been very you know fortunate to you know to sort of have that you know that mindset.
00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:57.920
I I love the fact for all those that are listening, uh two two words that he said, but they're so profound and so powerful.
00:32:58.079 --> 00:33:11.839
Calculated risk, calculated risk, because if the building does stay vacant, uh you have to have a uh a financial mitigation plan, uh if keeping the lights on, insurance, water, uh, and and so forth.
00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:31.920
We see properties again that uh you know maybe the owner throws the towel and you see the they see the hedges growing and and the plants and and you can't see the the marsh and and the it just goes a complete uh uh array because uh the the upkeep of the property uh of those risks.
00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:44.559
But if you're going to open a property, if you're going to open a business, anything, dream, aspiration, podcast, there's always a risk, but there has to be a calculated risk, which means that you have to project plan.
00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:47.119
There's a project planning phase out of it.
00:33:47.440 --> 00:34:15.679
And uh in in that note, in this growth process, uh specifically personally for you, what have you learned from your customers as as they're leasing these buildings or they've shown an interest, but they've dropped some wealth uh wealth of knowledge on you from your customer standpoint, and what have you learned from your contractors or the people that you work with that uh help you refurbish and get the building up to par?
00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:26.000
Well, you know, number one, you know, I put my attendants at the highest priority for me.
00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:33.440
You know, I I want them to be completely happy with with zero issues.
00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:43.679
There's always going to be issues, but it's how it's being handled, and there's you know, and all that is mitigated um and just just goes away if there's communication.
00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:49.920
So if there's communication, there's there's a respect factor, um, you know, every tenant's different.
00:34:50.159 --> 00:35:02.079
Uh, you know, you're dealing with different emotions, you're dealing with different operations, people are under different stress levels, you know, and you know, because they have to run their business.
00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:02.480
Right.
00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:21.840
And so you know, a lot of the times too, you know, even with the lease, you know, if it's a triple net lease, I mean, other than the roof and the exterior walls, I mean, majority of the time it that's on the tenant to fix, but you know, a lot of tenants don't know who to call.
00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:36.480
So, you know, I've you know been very fortunate and blessed, you know, and that and it has not happened overnight, but to find very good contractors, uh contractors who I have a very good relationship with.
00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:39.360
And when I have a problem, I call them, they're there.
00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:40.239
Outstanding.
00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:42.079
And that's invaluable to me.
00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:48.559
Uh, you know, and it's you know, but you know, that does not just happen at all.
00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:57.760
Um you know, early on, you know, when I was working with, you know, I had I had guys where I was having to go to Lowe's.
00:35:58.079 --> 00:35:58.880
This is early.
00:35:59.199 --> 00:35:59.679
Early, yeah.
00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:05.360
And get the paint and get the paint brushes, correct, and and to get tools.
00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:07.360
Oh, that's that's really in the trenches.
00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:25.920
And I was there with them, you know, pressure washing, you know, through the gro you know, the uh the expansion joints and the and the concrete slabs getting filth out and and you know, pressure washing the walls and pulling weeds and you know, stripping vines off chain length fence.
00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:34.079
So, you know, I have a very, you know, I I respect what each of the different tradesmen do.
00:36:34.239 --> 00:36:43.360
Because, you know, I've been I I've I've experienced it, sure, you know, not as long as they have, but I know what it what it takes, and I have a high respect about that.
00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:51.440
And so but you know, that's one thing that I would never take back doing, and I did that probably for about ten years.
00:36:51.760 --> 00:37:02.719
Oh wow, that's that's and I started with like I'd get a D a D like a D plus price point that would give me like a C plus, and then I just worked it up.
00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:06.480
C plus price, I'd get it maybe like a B minus.
00:37:06.719 --> 00:37:12.400
And and now, you know I have the level of understanding of what I want.
00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:16.800
And my and the contractors and the companies that I that I use know that.
00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:18.239
They know what I expect.
00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:27.119
And but that did not just happen overnight, it happened over a long period of time of being able to um to know what needed to be done.
00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:30.400
And and I do a lot of you know, that's my main thing.
00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:35.440
I I meet with the contractors, I tell them, hey, we need to do this, this, this, and that.
00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:38.000
When there's a problem with the tenant, I'm calling them.
00:37:38.159 --> 00:37:42.960
Hey, you need to call the tenant, give them their number if they don't even if they don't already have it.
00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:45.199
Uh we need to go handle this right now.
00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:45.599
Boom.
00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:46.480
Outstanding.
00:37:46.639 --> 00:38:07.679
And so, you know So you have to have business acumen, you have to obviously these as as you said, you you asked a lot of questions, you kept a notebook, uh, you see you worked with these contractors not only to learn but also to find out what is it that they do and how they do it, and how much time does it take to uh to complete a task.
00:38:07.840 --> 00:38:13.440
There's i mean it it's a big difference between painting a wall and laying a concrete slab that's six inches deep.
00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:15.760
I don't know how the does it how deep does it go two feet deep?
00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:16.480
It depends.
00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:18.800
It depends on what the weight they're gonna be.
00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:19.599
What kind of weight?
00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:20.800
Exactly.
00:38:20.960 --> 00:38:22.079
So that's great.
00:38:22.239 --> 00:38:24.719
You mentioned communication, have a good communication.
00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:25.599
And that's huge.
00:38:25.679 --> 00:38:26.880
And that's big with anything.
00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:29.920
I mean, just any relationship that's you gotta have communication.
00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:43.280
And also the I love the fact that you mentioned that, and and uh I think I mentioned this in previous podcasts, that there's there's something so resonating about people in in leadership, and it's two two qualities.
00:38:43.440 --> 00:39:08.400
One is humility, you know, when you don't know something, you were humble enough, even though you were in a in a position of of leadership and uh of authority, uh, of calling uh the shots, so to speak, and the strategy and and looking at business, the business cycle, the project cycle of of any activity, but you you were uh uh humble you and you were willing to learn.
00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:17.760
And and those are great qualities for any leader to have because if somebody's gonna role model you and say, you know, I just did not learn this overnight.
00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:21.119
I was actually in the trenches, I did not know it all.
00:39:21.280 --> 00:39:40.400
I actually had to ask a lot of questions and I had to do it myself, and I had to buy the paint and get some paint under my nails and do the pressure washing and probably had some cuts and bruises and everything in between that comes along with all the contracting work because uh uh little side story.
00:39:40.559 --> 00:39:43.679
I was taking some uh some classes with Impact Safety.
00:39:43.840 --> 00:39:55.519
They're the they did they teach safety for all the contractors and they go into sites that are doing major construction, well, small constructions or major overhauls for the commercial and industrial applications.
00:39:55.840 --> 00:40:03.119
And uh, you know, the the cuts, the bruises, they see it all from these contractors, and then the level of quality of these contractors.
00:40:03.280 --> 00:40:23.199
I'm glad that you said that you finally found contractors that not were not only uh at a phone call away, but they were reliable, good quality work, discipline, ethics, respect, and like like you said, that brought all this into uh a weld oil machine for the Hawk development company.
00:40:23.440 --> 00:40:28.400
And it's tough because you know, and I've gone back and forth.
00:40:28.559 --> 00:40:36.800
Um, you know, I've used contr I've used commercial, you know, sort of construction companies to come in and sort of do a turnkey.
00:40:37.039 --> 00:40:55.360
Now in in some aspects it's you know it it it can make it can make more sense for you to do that in certain applications, but you lose you sort of lose a little bit of the edge when you're when you're not able to call the shots and then stay on schedule.
00:40:55.440 --> 00:41:05.440
You're sort of you're depending on on that company um to to to make you know to make the calls and to to stay on timeline.
00:41:05.599 --> 00:41:05.920
Sure.
00:41:06.159 --> 00:41:10.480
Uh so um in certain applications that's great to have.
00:41:10.559 --> 00:41:20.079
Uh I I think it it it definitely cuts down your edge um when when you're having someone else do a project, especially if you can handle it yourself.
00:41:20.159 --> 00:41:30.239
Uh and it's also you know, like I said, in certain applications, it'll save you money, and others, you're paying uh you're paying a service for someone else to do a job.
00:41:30.880 --> 00:41:32.079
So you're gonna pay for it.
00:41:32.480 --> 00:41:55.519
And so, you know, the main thing for me, though, on that standpoint is it's it's difficult to find very reliable like contractors and companies if it's if it's plumbers, if it's uh HVAC, um, you know, sheetrockers, painters, uh, you know, you know, you know, floor finishers, concrete.
00:41:56.719 --> 00:42:16.239
But in the same in the same breath, when you you know some of the some of the some of the situations where I've had to fire people midway through a project and I found people that took their space, you know, and now they're you know, and they're still with me today.
00:42:16.480 --> 00:42:28.159
And so, you know, that's why I always look at now when you're in the trenches and you have to fire someone and you're you know, and it's a domino effect because you're slowing down the next person.
00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:28.639
Correct.
00:42:28.719 --> 00:42:30.639
Yeah, it's not enjoyable.
00:42:30.960 --> 00:42:33.920
But it's also that's what happens in construction.
00:42:34.159 --> 00:42:37.760
It's not going to, you mean you gotta you gotta deal with people.
00:42:38.079 --> 00:42:48.159
There, you know, you have to deal with, you know, they're bringing in problems that they're you know from home, um and you know, they might be having a bad day, bad week, bad year.
00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:52.880
Um you're dealing with weather um, you know, that you can't control.
00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:59.360
And so there's a lot of different variables that you have to, you know, deal with.
00:42:59.519 --> 00:43:02.719
And so that's you know, it's but that's part of the business.
00:43:03.039 --> 00:43:08.639
Well, I love I love that the these comments because this this leads me to this the segue of resilience.
00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:22.639
You know, you're gonna have some uh every business owner has uh f uh faces setbacks, difficult decisions, seasons of uncertainty, whether can you share a challenge that tested you as a leader and what that experience taught you?
00:43:22.800 --> 00:43:34.000
You know, when you're dealing with contractors and and subcontractors, and then the subcontractor contracts it out, and and sometimes the project is so huge that you need various different companies.
00:43:34.159 --> 00:43:42.159
They're all electricians, but these five are from this company, three from here, two from there, and then you have you always have that one apprentice, right?
00:43:42.719 --> 00:43:59.599
Whether it be plumber, electrical, H V A C, whatever it is that uh is going through his internship and and maybe uh the bottleneck of like, hey, I've got three weeks to finish this, you know, and the comp uh, the the owners are gonna be turning in.
00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:05.119
uh you know, wanting to establish their business, bring in their machinery into the company.
00:44:05.360 --> 00:44:23.360
Uh from all this wealth of knowledge, is there a a particular moment in time or per a particular experience that uh has taught you the most about uh who you are today as far as your resilience that really, you know, we we all have that that uh that pivot point.
00:44:23.519 --> 00:44:32.400
I was so and so in my 20s, but these experiences, these these uncertain times of uncertainty has made me into this.
00:44:32.639 --> 00:44:41.840
Has there been one particular moment in time where you can say this project, this building, this one really almost broke me, but I came out triumphant.
00:44:42.559 --> 00:45:38.320
Well, you know, I've I've had different projects dealing with tenants that were issues um and you know dealing with you know say it was uh you know a timeline that was not met and you know a lot of that was based off of you know the you know the construction phase like I said weather was a big problem especially if it's outside if it's you know if it has anything maybe if you're building loading docks and you're having a you know having to you know bring in dirt into the site if it's an existing structure yes uh and and having to you know do a parking court and just dealing with you know dealing with problems um dealing with manufacturers that are delay on bringing you know if it's the metal sheeting if it's the steel whatever it's you know yes I'm you I deal with problems you know all the time there's never it's I'm the problem solver.
00:45:38.559 --> 00:46:30.159
Sure sure you know when there's a problem you know you don't have to look for it when you're in when you're in construction there's gonna be a problem sure it's expected it's expected probably though to me other than projects really the really to me personally uh the biggest step was uh when my dad uh had had his strokes and that was right after COVID and he you know he was like I said he was the chief he you know in the office and you know when I started working in 2011 he was he was there and you know and he dealt with uh you know with our insurance company uh with the bankers you know he you know he was the guy he still is the guy I'm not saying that hey dad I'm sorry dad I'm here to testify and witness that Mr.
00:46:30.239 --> 00:49:33.599
John D said that you are still the guy but that was the biggest test to me um on the standpoint of you know and it was right with COVID and everything was sort of weird yeah the economy was weird and people were sort of odd you know you know but on the standpoint of that on that that was sort of like the you know that was sort of the moment of okay I went from you know being the property manager project manager and you know I mean I had a role you know that I was dealing I was I was I was starting to do a lot with you know more so than the management side uh you know with dealing with um with the CPAs and um and real estate attorneys um and insurance yes um but when he it was like that he was he he he was in the office and then he he he was gone he's he and and you know and I it was just me it was just me in the office and you know and and I don't have an accounting background at all and so I was having to juggle you know doing the reconciliations you know you know doing handling the quick blow the broker you you were in and then dealing with all the insurance the CPA um and dealing with the let alone that but also what I was sort of my comfort zone was uh was handling the company on the management and projects and so what I learned very quickly was you hire people just like you hire the contractors you hire people that can do a do a do a part of a of running a company that know what they're doing and it pays to pay for the right people and so hiring an accountant um I have an accountant that's been with me for five years and I mean she is good as gold and she was a 40 you know has done uh you know bookkeeping accountant for almost 50 years outstanding and so um you know we we're a great team and so she's been with me and it's just having having the right people in your corner um you know and then that allows you know everyone to focus on what their skill set is and and if you do that then you're gonna be able to have you know you're you're able to focus on what what what is the best for the company and so you know it's almost like when you have like a there's a lot of things where like okay well you know we definitely need to do that but if you don't know how to do that especially when it comes down to like bookkeeping accounting yeah you if you then you're not gonna be able to do it and so you have to source it out yeah and so almost like a like like I'm sort of like the force master not force master whatever like just like drill sergeant.
00:49:33.760 --> 00:49:34.000
Sure.
00:49:34.159 --> 00:49:48.480
Like I know what needs to happen when it comes down to um you know the organization being consistent you know you know you know we pay we pay our contractors like on clockwork that's very important.
00:49:49.519 --> 00:50:11.440
You know on our tenant side you know my tenants like I said are my top priority and and then you know having everything you know uh systematically to the point to where it's very precise and you have you know where every cent is for the business and when you have that you you can't not have success.
00:50:11.679 --> 00:50:11.840
Sure.
00:50:12.000 --> 00:50:14.559
And but it just not it does not just happen.
00:50:15.039 --> 00:50:21.679
You know it takes a lot of thought it takes a lot of accountability and consistency and that is the main thing.
00:50:21.840 --> 00:50:34.320
And that's what is so it there is such a separation in the workforce today with people that do not they're they they do the bare minimum.
00:50:35.119 --> 00:50:46.320
And and it's not easy doing you know you know setting a high bar all those roles yes when you have a set a high bar you have to live up to that bar and but when you do it shows.
00:50:46.559 --> 00:50:50.639
Absolutely um and there's it it separates you from the pack.
00:50:50.880 --> 00:50:55.360
Absolutely I I think that's wow that's that's I can see the passion.
00:50:55.519 --> 00:54:26.719
I can I can sorry for the no no that's that no no that's but that's that's where everything's that's exactly that's where the resilience came those are moments of transformation that that uh you had uh and and it shows that you always strive for transparency excellence responsibility accountability for your not only contractors but also holding yourself accountable I always love the fact again this goes back to being uh humble in the sense that uh what you don't know you don't know he said I'm not I'm not an accountant by trade or CPA but I know what needs to get done so I need an accountant I need a broker I need a a working with the banks I need a lawyer and so forth you have that periphery to to know and to manage and coordinate all those activities because you know the expected outcome and I guess when you know the expected outcome all it is is now is all about strategy and and uh the strategic personnel that you need that you can trust in order to bring this project to fruition you know you've had a front seat uh in the growth of the Augusta and CSRA you know we're both from the CSRA from Augusta and we can talk about how small it was and how big it was uh what opportunities do you feel or believe exist today for entrepreneurs and businesses in this region you know I I was talking to somebody the other day and property is becoming a little bit more scarce um uh businesses and and um development is is is growing uh with the data center with the cybersecurity center uh the growth in Fort Gordon uh we drive around and we see housing development in every almost every corner of the CSRA moving toward the Applin area moving toward uh the uh deering and Thompson and all those where there are hundreds of acres I mean somebody's got a a mark on it uh uh as far as the division to build something and the the Hawk group the Hawk development uh company they don't they don't focus on small you know 5000 square feet we're looking for the massive uh uh 150 000 or above to make an impact uh when you're looking at the the region of the CSRA and someone's an entrepreneur and say you know I would love to to start where you started maybe 10 15 years ago uh what is something that you would advise them for them to be successful in their beginning stages of their businesses well you know Augusta and the CSRA it's you know we're a secondary market so we're not this region is not competing with Atlanta when you mean secondary market well for those that know a first tier market you got Atlanta you got Jacksonville um you got Mobile Alabama areas near ports okay um areas that have more so uh you know the uh higher levels of uh you know of interstates um larger clusters of uh of people that live there for job growth Augusta Waynesburg you know Columbia County even Appling I mean yet there's class A structures being built over in Appling right now I mean there's still some that are you know that are nice buildings in in in Grovetown uh in the same in Richmond County um you know they're building Amazon's building the fulfillment center off of uh you know right off of Gordon Highway.
00:54:26.960 --> 00:54:57.760
Correct so you know and there's properties uh you know that you know RBW uh Frank Anderson has has built you know near the airport as well so you know there's you know it's just a different it's a it's a different uh demographic um also you know a lot of things that sort of you know really got sort of screwed up were um you know right after COVID especially when interest rates were really really low.
00:54:58.079 --> 00:55:21.760
Low correct um there was a huge influx in um in the markets of you know Charlotte uh you know on the the interstates going to like you know Charleston Savannah I 95 I mean you could go down and you would just see them building they're still building yeah the Hyundai Planet is one of those great mega facilities down in Jacksonville.
00:55:21.840 --> 00:55:58.559
I mean they're still building a lot I mean everywhere but um there was a higher rate of class A structures that were built a lot of them were speculative so that really sort of affected you know our market and the other markets that were you know that secondary markets uh because it pretty much just stagnated the you know the industry and there was a lot of opportunity so obviously if you have a lot of opportunity in those sections of the industry you know they're gonna be those are going to be the focus first.
00:55:58.880 --> 00:56:43.679
Opportunity for acquisition and opportunity for building well no acquisition to lease acquisition to lease okay to lease so those companies were leasing there and so things have been trickling you know back into here now people that were locked in and had long you know leases that's one thing but people that are coming into the market now especially three PLs a lot of the three PLs that are coming to the Augusta area um are short term you know they're shot they're signing short term leases um and really it's to sort of you know you know give them protection um because you know their clients are at their clients are asking for shorter term leases and they're not going to sign more so than what their lease is going you know what they've what their agreement is with their contract.
00:56:45.119 --> 00:56:50.159
But you know the market here is uh it's a it's a it's a stable market.
00:56:50.480 --> 00:57:42.239
Um you know um there's good industries that are here uh so you know and we have infrastructure so there's there's a lot of positives I I one thing to uh and I and I saw a a podcast that you had uh with a gentleman his name was Billy um Billy Bennett yes Billy Bennett and y'all talked about the AI yes and you know one aspect of the AI is I think that's gonna help a lot of the secondary markets uh because yes there's still going to be you know uh a need for employees but as things go to more robotic it's not going to uh require you know being located in a very large area they can be smaller loc you know smaller you know populations that the buildings can be utilized.
00:57:42.559 --> 00:59:40.000
Oh that's an outstanding perspective yes so you know and sort of going back to your point that you made earlier you know earlier you know a lot of those properties that you know you know yes the the uh you know sort of the you know first tier markets you know the Atlanta area you know Atlanta market and and Savannah uh in Jacksonville you know if you're building a brand new building you're you're building something that has height you know you're building something you know that has good clear height because you're focused on the cube and you're also focused on having them you know laid out to where you know you have plenty of loading docks um even if you don't put them in you have knockouts so you have knockouts to where you could go in later and knock it out and then put a dock in and or and you can have the ability to demise it and you know take one building say it's 200,000 square feet you could you could do it in two or three sections and have three tenants sure like the 2044 uh exactly yeah and so and you know that definitely limits a lot of your risk because if you have one tenant and they leave then you have a building that's vacant instead of having two to three tenants um there's you know pluses and minuses it depends on the user I mean sure you know but um but with the AI component I think that's going to help this market and you know we have always been able to you know to have you know good gr job growth um even just being smaller you know it's it's been it's a great market I and I like it and um and you know I've obviously as y'all being a tenant yeah yeah I mean yeah yeah um you know you know the real the relationships you know are obviously what to me are some some of the most important for me.
00:59:40.320 --> 01:02:06.000
I'll stand I mean you you you've there you said it clearly it's all about relationships and understanding the the the the process the the customer's needs but also the prospect customer that that comes in that sometimes you know you have uh not necessarily load bearing walls but you can take the infrastructure in the inside and move a wall and to accommodate depending on the need of the customer if the space is is is available uh to lease and so forth the AI movement it's it's unavoidable I mean it's coming it's here um I worked with a company that we had almost 52 robotic stations it was all about robots I mean very tight uh space uh maybe I would say 4000 maybe 50,000 square feet if that but very high-end robotics everywhere I mean it was uh motorman robots and and and just just a lot of uh AI infrastructure and whatnot and uh that's that's impressive that you as a Hawk development companies is looking into that you know after decades in business your definition of success may be different from when you started you know uh especially as a young man and this is a young man this is a young president with a wealth of knowledge like if he was 80 years old but just don't have any hair that's that's that's irrelevant but uh lost all of it because the contractors are the stress how do you do yeah the the uh the producer says the the challenges are the problems uh how do you define success today well as as a young man when you started in the trenches learning from contractors your dad the business acumen working with CPAs banks leasing acquisition refurbishing and the the the all all the challenges that uh come about when you are dealing with a massive building how do you define success today and how has that definition changed uh over the years um you know being a man of your word you know really on having having a uh a business reputation that people can trust and that uh can look at you and say you know that's you know that's someone that I want to do business with uh you know being humble uh the way I look at everything down to you know the shoes um on my feet they all belong to God.
01:02:06.320 --> 01:05:55.440
Um I'm a steward of of you know of you know the portfolio and um and I take it very seriously um it's it's my you know you know like I said earlier you know my priority is my tenant but you know that's that's wrapped around the same thing it's it's it's all one and so uh to me success yeah that's pretty much what it is I you know I'm not perfect I'm always learning uh you know there's always things that you know that I areas that I strive to be better at and um and that's but that's life you know success you know I I don't know what success was when I was younger and I'm still young but I mean yeah um you know the the younger generation for perhaps is social media uh movies whatnot they look at success as just monetary acquisitions the cars this and that because that's what they're being fed through social media and the movies and uh that's just that's um pat a passing by that's uh materialism erodes the things you know things go out of fashion and this and that I think uh what you have done is is very exemplary because I don't want to use the word metamorphosis but there's there's been decades of change and transformation where it has made you wiser it has made you more reserved uh more analytical more as a strategist not to jump the gun about this building as you said that there's some investments that you you intelligently uh based on your experience would walk away from and and that takes wisdom that takes reflection that takes poise uh that takes having vision for the future you don't want to be engaged or wrapped around a contract or lease or a tenant that will not bring a benefit to not only the company but also to your personal life as you are a stewarded uh as stewardess uh of your portfolio I love the fact that also that you are grounded in faith and you know where your strength comes from and uh yes we don't know it all we're growing and as Kevin will tell you we we are definitely uh growing in in in in all areas right in the in this podcast and and media and so forth and so forth but uh resources are there you know vision before provision and uh and and and and I see that exemplary in your life uh that we are growing in the sense that uh success to us is to serve success success to us is not only to to have a stable home or stable lifestyle or a blessed lifestyle because I also I also think about blessed connections who we associate with outside of work or inside of work when we can go to the community and we see people in prominent positions whether it be on the attorney side or lawyer side CPA side project management no matter what industry or what uh chapter they're in uh business commerce they're in they're people grounded in faith and and and and to be around those people that feed into you knowledge strategy hey I don't know but if you call this person he has the the attorney information this person had the CPA information and to be around that network of uh of of professionals uh people that like minded and grounded in faith is also such a uh an asset uh into what we do because we because in the moments of trials and tribulations uh setbacks risks potential loss hopefully the minimal uh you know and you you have to go through those seasons uh but only faith and and the support of a good network of a good professional community say you know what um uh Mr.
01:05:55.840 --> 01:06:07.679
Hawk I went through that three years ago this is what I did you need to call so and so To fix that uh that aquifer or whatever it is, electrical issue, I uh IR issue, whatever, um, and they can help you out.
01:06:07.760 --> 01:06:18.159
And to be in that position, it it's it's it's good where you know exactly um how to approach it uh uh humbly and and knowing that uh there are better days tomorrow.
01:06:18.320 --> 01:06:19.519
That's that's amazing.
01:06:19.760 --> 01:06:33.519
So uh if you could speak to the young entrepreneur that's looking at you through this podcast, uh the young entrepreneur listening to this uh podcast today who has a dream but doesn't know where to begin.
01:06:34.719 --> 01:06:42.960
What would you counsel that person and tell them about having the courage to pursue their vision and build something meaningful?
01:06:43.280 --> 01:06:47.519
Because uh obviously you said uh your father was not a doctor.
01:06:47.679 --> 01:07:06.639
He he knew that he was not gonna be a doctor, and perhaps you had something in mind that maybe I'm I'm supposed to do this or I'm supposed to do that, maybe not envisioned yourself in the family business per se, and had to step up with your father father's frailties and step up a little higher and to make decisions.
01:07:06.800 --> 01:07:15.679
Uh what would you tell the uh entrepreneur about how to build their vision and stay constant and resilient until it comes to fruition?
01:07:16.800 --> 01:07:22.639
I mean, I you know the main thing is is you know go go for what you know drives you.
01:07:22.800 --> 01:07:24.320
You know, don't be afraid.
01:07:24.559 --> 01:07:31.599
You know, you're not going to you're not going to be perfect, you're gonna make mistakes, and mistakes are good.
01:07:31.760 --> 01:07:33.760
You know, that's where the learning is.
01:07:34.159 --> 01:07:58.079
You know, you know, look at Thomas Edison, you know, the amount of times it took for him to make a light bulb that worked, you know, and that's with a lot of different, you know, entrepreneurs, uh, people that were engineers, um, and anyone that has a job, they unless they're just wanting to do just the bare minimum and sort of slide underneath and get the paycheck and and roll out.
01:07:58.239 --> 01:08:03.360
I mean, when you you it's it's helpful to make mistakes, not to be afraid.
01:08:03.679 --> 01:08:12.880
Also, you know, there's always going to be uh someone that is gonna be a you know that's going to try to devalue.
01:08:13.519 --> 01:08:15.519
Don't worry about the people that are devaluing.
01:08:15.679 --> 01:08:25.600
Most of the time when people are very dismissive, um, if they have uh, you know, they're not your biggest booster, those are people that look at you as a threat.
01:08:26.319 --> 01:08:29.680
Because they see something in you that they do not have.
01:08:30.239 --> 01:08:33.199
And that is one of the biggest things that's tough.
01:08:33.279 --> 01:08:34.399
It's very tough in the moment.
01:08:34.479 --> 01:08:35.279
I've dealt with this.
01:08:35.520 --> 01:08:35.680
Sure.
01:08:35.840 --> 01:08:38.800
And and it and it, you know, and it gives drive.
01:08:38.960 --> 01:08:43.600
You know, you know, there's a lot of things in life that you know that it's it takes time.
01:08:43.760 --> 01:08:45.520
It's not gonna happen overnight.
01:08:45.680 --> 01:09:02.479
And um, but you know, staying consistent, you know, working each and every day to be better at what you do and to focus on the aspects and the things that you do wrong and work on those on improving them.
01:09:02.720 --> 01:09:03.760
Well, outstanding.
01:09:03.920 --> 01:09:05.279
I mean, loved it.
01:09:05.359 --> 01:09:09.920
Don't let anybody belittle you, don't let anybody devalue you.
01:09:10.319 --> 01:09:14.720
Know your worth, be consistent, stay in the grind, believe in your potential.
01:09:14.880 --> 01:09:15.439
That's amazing.
01:09:15.520 --> 01:09:17.439
I see McKevin just raising his hands.
01:09:17.600 --> 01:09:19.920
He's about to have a uh a praise break.
01:09:20.079 --> 01:09:25.520
Uh, I want to take a uh a few minutes of this podcast to talk about uh just your your future.
01:09:25.680 --> 01:09:29.439
What's what's next for uh for the Hawk development company?
01:09:29.600 --> 01:09:33.760
I know you have some plans in Panama, maybe some consultancy, whatnot.
01:09:33.920 --> 01:09:40.640
Now that you have this uh this uh knowledge, what's what's in the future for the Hawk development company?
01:09:41.600 --> 01:09:44.640
Well, you know, that's to be determined.
01:09:45.039 --> 01:09:49.520
You know and so I I know someone that can give me clearance though, Kevin.
01:09:49.600 --> 01:09:50.560
He said top secret.
01:09:51.039 --> 01:10:12.880
I know somebody called Charles McKee that he can on the standpoint of with with the company um here is um you know there's you know there's a layer of you know of of expanding that you know right across the street from um from 2044 for Augusta.
01:10:13.119 --> 01:10:23.359
There's 18 acres uh that I own that you know could possibly be a uh you know a 200 to 250,000 square foot facility.
01:10:23.760 --> 01:10:28.640
And so, you know, that but really just sort of you know I like where we are.
01:10:29.119 --> 01:10:48.960
Um you know we're in a very good position, you know, on the standpoint, you know, could it be better, of course, but um we're in a very stable um you know spot um which I like and you know we're not over leveraging ourselves on just trying to just build, build, build, build.
01:10:49.119 --> 01:10:57.520
Um, you know, it's nice to sort of to sort of take a s a back seat and just you know, especially with interest rates.
01:10:57.680 --> 01:11:03.840
I mean with how things are, I mean, with stuff in Iran, um, you know, the you know, things globally.
01:11:04.159 --> 01:11:04.880
Sure, sure.
01:11:05.039 --> 01:11:15.359
Um, and then you know, with the rates and you know, the Federal Reserve is not helping at the moment or would be something that would make financial sense.
01:11:15.840 --> 01:11:18.800
Um so right now I I feel good where we are.
01:11:18.880 --> 01:11:28.159
And um and you know, just taking the assets that we have and making sure that they are are being run as efficiently as possible.
01:11:28.479 --> 01:11:29.039
Outstanding.
01:11:29.199 --> 01:11:33.039
And uh, but on the standpoint of like future, you know, that's time will tell.
01:11:33.119 --> 01:11:35.119
Um, you know, I am going down to Panama.
01:11:35.279 --> 01:11:59.039
Um I met a uh a really solid group of individuals uh that are um very um very very you know big in uh on in well in that area, Panama City, uh, but also in uh Cologne, uh which is where the other side of the port from the Caribbean comes in, uh, and then in Costa Rica and other parts of Central America.
01:11:59.279 --> 01:12:03.920
So um, you know, my main focus is you know, I'm going down to the network.
01:12:04.079 --> 01:12:10.000
Uh, you know, these individuals, some of them uh, you know, are you know are very high up with callers.
01:12:10.159 --> 01:12:17.359
Um they also uh own uh private banks um and uh real estate companies in uh in Panama City.
01:12:17.520 --> 01:12:19.920
And uh they're phenomenal individuals.
01:12:20.079 --> 01:12:22.720
Uh all of them were educated in the states.
01:12:22.880 --> 01:12:24.720
Uh so it's like having a conversation.
01:12:25.039 --> 01:12:28.000
Nice, you know, because I I looked at a lot of different areas.
01:12:28.079 --> 01:12:30.560
I I toured uh Southeast Asia.
01:12:30.640 --> 01:12:40.399
Uh I was in Nairobi and Kenya, uh, and then spent time in Buenos Aires, um in Mendoza, and then uh spent time in uh New Zealand.
01:12:40.720 --> 01:12:44.479
And so, you know, after looking at the long next time.
01:12:44.640 --> 01:12:45.279
Yeah.
01:12:45.840 --> 01:12:50.960
And so out of those areas, Panama to me was sort of like the check mark.
01:12:51.039 --> 01:12:53.920
It's only an hour behind, so I can work remote.
01:12:54.079 --> 01:12:57.199
I have an office uh that I'm that I'm rented for six months.
01:12:57.279 --> 01:12:59.119
I'm gonna be gone for six months.
01:12:59.520 --> 01:13:23.199
And so my main what what I would love to occur is um is during this networking period is to uh to get uh you know very seriously considering if things line up as as I'm you know looking at planning it to uh to occur is to uh is to get involved in in the uh in Panama.
01:13:23.279 --> 01:13:25.199
Um similar to what I'm doing here.
01:13:25.359 --> 01:13:26.960
Um buying assets.
01:13:27.279 --> 01:13:30.479
Um I went down for two and a half weeks, I saw a lot of property.
01:13:30.640 --> 01:13:54.800
There's areas where I can use my skill set to um to add value to assets, do consulting as well, yes, um uh in the process of meeting a lot of in of individuals, investors, and doing some doing some um uh you know, owning some assets in Panama, and then possibly even bringing um you know individuals and investors uh into North America.
01:13:55.039 --> 01:14:01.680
And so and getting them, you know, sort of in my neck of the woods where I'm you know, you know, you know, that's there.
01:14:01.840 --> 01:14:04.079
They know how to deal with how the system works.
01:14:04.239 --> 01:14:05.520
I know how it works here, sure.
01:14:05.680 --> 01:14:08.000
And sort of just sort of play those two together.
01:14:08.159 --> 01:14:09.359
So we'll see what happens.
01:14:09.520 --> 01:14:10.960
You know, the Lord's in control.
01:14:11.039 --> 01:14:17.920
I'm just going down there and just sort of I'm gonna take I'm gonna I'm gonna get my feet wet and sort of just you know wait in the water and see what happens.
01:14:18.159 --> 01:14:21.359
Oh man, that's the that's uh that first of all, that's exciting.
01:14:21.439 --> 01:14:22.560
Yes, that's definitely exciting.
01:14:22.640 --> 01:14:25.039
So I wish you great success, many blessings.
01:14:25.279 --> 01:14:35.520
May those dreams and aspirations and business dealings and all the know-how uh come to fruition, and God will bless you exceedingly more than you can uh imagine or think of.
01:14:35.680 --> 01:14:36.560
So awesome.
01:14:36.720 --> 01:14:39.920
And who knows, maybe we'll do this podcast in Spanish next time.
01:14:40.239 --> 01:14:44.319
He said Buenos Aires, he said Panama, so we're gonna test him out next time.
01:14:44.399 --> 01:14:45.680
He said Mendoza.
01:14:45.760 --> 01:14:48.079
I mean, well, we're gonna test him out.
01:14:48.479 --> 01:14:50.720
Hawkdevelopment.com.
01:14:50.880 --> 01:15:02.239
You have to visit the website because there's so much specificity about the business, uh, everything that they have uh accomplished and through hawkdevelopment.com.
01:15:02.399 --> 01:15:08.000
Go to the about section, look at the amazing properties that they are managing right now.
01:15:08.239 --> 01:15:10.079
This young man with all this knowledge.
01:15:10.159 --> 01:15:13.439
And if you want any information, there's a contact section there.
01:15:13.680 --> 01:15:23.199
If you need anything about a space that you're looking into, maybe somebody's looking at us remotely from another state, from another nation, and needs to get in contact with John Hawk.
01:15:23.520 --> 01:15:28.399
He is available through that website, and I'm pretty sure he'll give you all the information that you need.
01:15:28.560 --> 01:15:32.479
We thank you so much for all your support, and of course, thank you, John.
01:15:32.640 --> 01:15:33.199
Appreciate it.
01:15:33.279 --> 01:15:34.399
Oh, I can't stretch that much.
01:15:34.560 --> 01:15:35.920
There you go, there you go.
01:15:36.399 --> 01:15:37.199
Outstanding.
01:15:37.359 --> 01:15:39.520
And after this, we're gonna talk about his hobbies.
01:15:39.600 --> 01:15:44.079
But uh, thank you so much for listening, and I will see you on that next episode.