Steven Barton

I learned a valuable lesson early in my career: trust was the main reason clients selected me as their broker. After over 30 years of representing tenants, providing commercial real estate solutions has become more complex. Gaining trust is just the foundation. Business practices have changed, but my principles have remained consistent. The reason that I have a 96% client retention rate is the satisfaction delivered from finding well-designed solutions that create value for everyone in the process.

I can sum it up in three words: knowledge, wisdom and insight.

1. Knowledge is simply understanding the commercial real estate market. Continually growing skills by mentoring, participating or chairing educational seminars and bringing in associates who have a particular skill or knowledge needed exemplifies knowledge.

2. Wisdom is knowing what to do with knowledge. This not only comes from experience but an understanding of what is about to occur in order to ensure a smooth process.

3. Insight is knowing how and when to use knowledge and being able to relate to people. Exemplifying insight is understanding that the repercussions of what you do today will have a ripple effect in the future, being sensitive to the needs of clients and having the acumen to structure the entire transaction. Clients need someone who has the answers to questions not yet asked, and how to effectively negotiate with people.

A believer in trying to make the world a better place, I am involved with numerous nonprofit organizations throughout Atlanta. I founded a program which enables CBRE employees to deliver birthday cakes to children in shelters (185 cakes per year and growing). I also serve as a board member of Mary Hall Freedom Village, one of the largest programs in the nation to help homeless women and children with housing, job placement and life skills needed to break the cycle of homelessness. In conjunction with my wife we started Ride4Research, an annual event, to raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer research. I am also passionate about cycling and serve as co-captain of the BVC cycling team.

I am married and given a dose of humility every day from our three teenage girls.