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About Us
Meet the Whitney Team
The roots of our firm date back over 43 years to 1965 when Austin and Emma Whitney founded Whitney Realty on the island of Clearwater Beach, Florida. Today it is based in Asheville, North Carolina and is operated by their son, Richard Whitney, CCIM, SIOR, CPM, GC who entered the real estate profession in 1974 at the age of 19.
We consist of three divisions:
Sperry Van Ness | Commercial Real Estate Advisors
- Home to the largest assemblege of CCIM 's in Western North Carolina
- A member of the Society of Industiral Realtors (SIOR)
- Licensed in NC, TN and SC
- Sales approaching $100,000,000 per year
Sperry Van Ness | Property Management Services
- Western North Carolina's on Accredited Management Organization (AMO)
- Managed by a Certified Property Manager (CPM)
Whitney Construction & Development, Inc.
- Licensed as "Unlimited" by the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors
We are committed to honesty, excellence and developing long-term relationship, and we are proud of our record of repeat clients and referrals.
We offer the diversified services of brokerage, property management and general contracting. By seamlessly integrating these services we are able to meet nearly all of the needs of commercial property investors.
Richard Whitney, CCIM, SIOR, CPM, GC
Owner
Direct Line: 828.665.9085
Cell: 828.712.8888
Fax: 828.665.9084
Richard Whitney, CCIM, SIOR, CPM, GC, is the managing director of Sperry Van Ness Whitney Commercial Real Estate which sells, leases, and manages user and investment properties in Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee and the Greenville-Spartanburg region of South Carolina.
Mr. Whitney is a second generation Realtor with 35 years in the sales, leasing and construction of real estate. He has been involved in approximately $500,000,000 worth of transactions.
His credentials include:
- CCIM - Certified Commercial Investment Member of the National Association of Realtors
- SIOR - Society of Office and Industrial Realtors
- CPM - Certified Property Manager
- GC - North Carolina Licensed General Contractor
Achievements of the firm:
* The first and only property management company in Western North Carolina to have earned the Accredited Management Organization (AMO) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)
* The largest assemblage of CCIM’s in Western North Carolina
* Sister company Whitney Construction and Development is licensed as “Unlimited” by the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors
From 1993 to 2001, Richard served as a commercial Realtor and property manager for the largest real estate firm in Western North Carolina, where he closed the largest sale in the 25 year history of the 250 agent firm, then broke his own record and later set a one-year sales volume record that stands today.
From 1987 to 2001, he worked with Lee Arnold & Associates in Clearwater, FL where he was a Beach Commercial Specialist selling and leasing properties along the barrier islands between Clearwater Beach and St. Petersburg Beach.
From 1974 to 1993, Whitney worked as a second-generation Realtor at his family’s real estate firms - Whitney Realty, on Clearwater Beach, FL and Whitney Homes & Real Estate, in Woodland Park, Colorado.
Mr. Whitney currently lives in Asheville with Cheri, his wife of 25 years. Their oldest child is a graduate of Covenant college and a Christian Pregnancy Counselor in Chattanooga, TN. Their son is a graduate of Georgia Tech and a computer scientist for CareerBuilders.com. Their youngest daughter is a senior studying nursing at UNC Chapel Hill.
Timothy Harrison, MBA, CCIM
Office, Industrial and Land
Direct Line: 828.418.1271
Cell: 828.712.8363
Fax: 828.665.9084
Tim Harrison, MBA, CCIM, serves as a senior advisor for Sperry Van Ness - Whitney Commercial Real Estate, specializing in the sale and leasing of office and industrial properties, as well as the sale of land in Western North Carolina. With nine years of commercial real estate experience, Tim has secured more than 175 transactions and a career sales volume in excess of $67 million.
Previously, Tim served as president of Harrison Publishing, a printing company in Asheville, North Carolina. He also established Cornerstone Properties, a real estate partnership, where he participates in analysis, purchase, and management of commercial and investment properties. In addition, he founded a direct marketing consulting agency and a printing brokerage firm.
Tim is a licensed North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee real estate broker and a recipient of the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation. He earned his Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Transaction highlights include: Sale of Laurel View Farms, a 90 acre development site with a closing price of $3.4 million; Aston Park Center - a 24,000 SF office building with a closing price of $2.6 million; the Chattanooga Surgery Center, a medical sale-leaseback transaction fo $2.55 million; sale of the historic S&W Building with a closing price of $2.45 million; sale of a 4.1 acre tract in Regional Medical Park for $1.7 million; and sale of the Asheville Christian Academy for $1.6 million.
Tim is a sixth generation Western North Carolina resident. He and his wife have a son and two daughters who attend Covenant College on Lookout Mtn., GA. Leisure interests include fly-fishing, skiing, boating and hiking.
Austin Walker, CCIM
Senior Advisor
Direct Line: 828.418.1278
Cell: 828.713.0777
Fax: 828.665.9084
Austin Walker serves as a senior advisor for Sperry Van Ness - Whitney Commercial Real Estate, specializing in leasing and buyer/tenant representation in Western North Carolina. With six years of commercial real estate experience, Austin has secured over 120 transactions resulting in a career sales volume in excess of $15 million.
Prior to joining Sperry Van Ness, Austin served with Tessier Associates, Inc., focusing on leasing, property management, and the disposition of investment properties. Previously, Austin was a project manager of Talon Development Group, Inc. in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, focusing on due diligence, financial analysis, and asset management of several commercial and mixed use projects.
Austin is a licensed North Carolina real estate broker and the current chair of the Commercial Investment Division standing committee of the Asheville Board of Realtors. Previously, he served as president of the Asheville Commercial Industrial Realtors Association. Austin earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ohio University.
Transaction highlights include: Helpmate, Inc. Shelter - a 9,000 SF specialty use building with a closing price of $950,000; 53 Asheland Avenue - a 6,500 SF office condo with a closing price of $1.2 million; and 1078 Tunnel Road - a 14,000 SF shopping center with a closing price of $1.4 million.
Originally from Birmingham, Michigan, Austin currently resides in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and their two children. Leisure interests include competitive cycling, swimming, and hockey.
Jeff Soto
Senior Advisor
Direct Line: 828.418.1287
Cell: 828.691.1550
Fax: 828.665.9084
Jeff Soto serves as a senior advisor for Sperry Van Ness - Whitney Commercial Real Estate serving Western North Carolina. As a licensed real estate broker with over 13 years of experience, Jeff has applied his expertise in all aspects of client services including investment sales, 1031 tax deffered exchanges, sale leasebacks, tenant representation and asset management. His career sales volume is in excess of $60 million.
Prior to joining Sperry Van Ness, Soto served as a broker for Coldwell Banker Commercial where in 2004 & 2007, he earned the prestigious Circle of Distinction award for commercial excellence. His commitment to excellence, along with his education and depth of knowledge has created positive results for hundreds of client. Jeff prides himself on his ability to build relationships with clients and follows a business philosophy that coincides with the Sperry Van Ness core covenants and values that focus on business planning and client dedication.
Transaction highlights include: Rathfarham Road Apartments - a 36 unit apartment complex with a closing price of $2.9 million; St. Johns Marketplace retail center with a closing price of $3.175 million; Mountain Village Chalets resort in Lake Lure with a closing price of $2.45 million; 7.5 acres of Interstate interchange commercial land for a closing price of $1.5 million; 18,500 square feet - Pro-Source plumbing retail and industrial distribution center for a closing price of $1.1 million.
Jeff has a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences and worked over twenty years in the medical profession prior to starting his career in commercial real estate. Jeff resides in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife. Leisure interets include hiking, skiing, travel and cooking.
Bruce Gibbs
Advisor
Direct Line: 828.418.1284
Cell: 828.691.0434
Fax: 828.665.9084
Bruce Gibbs is a native of Asheville, NC. For 12 years he operated Consolidated Planning Inc. and served as a financial planner and estate planner. Previously he was an estate planner and executive benefits planner for the firm Business-Estate Underwriters Inc. During this time he had significant exposure to the commercial real estate industry while serving his clients.
Prior to joining Sperry Van Ness | Whitney Commercial Real Estate, Bruce was a commercial broker for a local real estate firm in Asheville, NC where he became well versed and experienced in commercial real estate transactions and commercial investment analysis. He is knowledgeable in the areas of office, retail, medical, warehouse and land.
Bruce currently resides in Mars Hill, NC with his wife Janice, who is a residential real estate agent. Bruce is an active member of Rotary International as well as an avid outdoorsman and golfer.
Jason Burk
Advisor
Direct Line: 828.418.1281
Cell: 828.674.2120
Fax: 828.665.9084
Jason Burk entered the commercial real estate profession shortly after graduating from Appalachian State University in 1998, where he was a varsity football player and obtained a degree in Real Estate and Finance. Since 1999 Jason has focused on land entitlement, development and financing. He began his career at Landex, Inc., the developer of the interchange on I-85 in Concord, NC where Concord Mills is now located. At Landex he led a massive successful rezoning effort of a 300 plus acre tract south of Concord Mills Mall in Mecklenburg County. He also performed financial analysis and worked closely with banks on due diligence.
Prior to joining Sperry Van Ness, Jason served as a Development Consultant for Alliance Development Group in Charlotte, NC where he managed built-to-suit projects for restaurant and retail clients such as Texas Roadhouse and Quaker Steak & Lube. He assisted in site selection and development nationally for Damon's Grill. He has also had many interactions with planners and commissioners in order to zone, entitle and permit significant development projects.
Jason relocated to Asheville from Iron Station, NC. He and his wife Hope have two children Laila, 6, and Jack Wesley, 2. His leisure interests include weightlifing/exercise, backpacking/hiking, community service and yard work.
April Wise
Director of Finance and Human Resource
Direct Line: 828.418.1275
Fax: 828.665.9084
April Wise serves as the director of finance and human resources for Sperry Van Ness - Whitney Commercial Real Estate. With over 15 years of administrative and management experience, she is responsible for accounting and finance, human resources, and the day-to-day management of the firm. She has been a key player and a positive factor in the growth of the firm.
Prior to affiliating with Sperry Van Ness, April served as the operations budget analyst for J. Crew retail distribution center. Over the course of her 11 years with J. Crew, she gained finance, human resource, and management experience.
April earned an associate degree in Business Administration with certificates in accounting and health unit coordination. She has also earned a Microsoft Office Specialist certification.
Originally from Columbus, Ohio, April resides in Candler, North Carolina with her husband and their son. Leisure interests include camping, calligraphy, scrapbooking, and spending time with her family.
Ann Bradley
Director of Property Management and Construction
Direct Line: 828.418.1276
Fax: 828.665.9084
Ann Bradley serves as director of property management and construction for Sperry Van Ness - Whitney Commercial Real Estate. Her duties include managing tenant maintenance requests, acting as liaison for property owners and tenants, and construction coordination for tenant upfits.
Prior to affiliating with Sperry Van Ness, Bradley worked at Advanced Business Equipment and IBM as a project coordinator. Ann joined the firm bringing nine years of customer service experience, a love for public relations, and experience in accounting, project, and maintenance coordination.
Ann attended Trident Technical College in South Carolina where she studied business administration and psychology.
Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Ann lives in Arden, North Carolina with her husband and two children. Leisure interests include fitness, skin care, cooking, scrapbooking, and stamping.
Rachel Miller
Marketing Director
Direct Line: 828.418.1274
Fax: 828.665.9084
Rachel Miller serves as Marketing Director for Sperry Van Ness – Whitney Commercial Real Estate. She is responsible for all collateral presented to the public and also oversees the production of all marketing projects including acting as a liaison with the media, coordinating and designing all advertising collateral, and assisting the brokers with marketing materials.
Prior to joining Sperry Van Ness, Rachel served as Communications Manager for Mountain BizWorks, a non-profit dedicated to supporting small business in Western North Carolina. Earlier in her career, she worked as Activities/Marketing Director for Koinonia, Inc. and as Public Relations Manager for Montreat Conference Center.
Rachel has a Bachelor of Science in Communications with a concentration in public relations and a minor in marketing from Western Carolina University. She is active in the community and has served on the board for both Eblen Charities and Hominy Child Care. Additionally, she has been an alumnae advisor for Zeta Tau Alpha.
Josh Asher
Property Management
Direct Line: 828.418.1286
Cell: 828.333.8742
Fax: 828.665.9084
Prior to joining Sperry Van Ness, Josh owned and operated Asher Landscaping in Watkinsville, Georgia. There he learned the importance of quality work, client relationships, and curb appeal. He has also developed mechanical skills by maintaining his machinery throughout the seasons.
During the winters, Josh would also work for Bath Construction and Development. There he helped manage new construction sites as well as finished homes for sale on the market. Josh also aided in handling shipments and equipment organization.
Josh received a Bachelors of Family and Consumer Science in Housing and Consumer Economics with a Residential Property Management emphasis from the University of Georgia.
Originally from Bishop, Georgia, Josh lives in Leicester, North Carolina. Leisure interests include golf, snowboarding, working on his truck and socializing
