BENNETT W. BAKER, CTP NAMED DIRECTOR AT LEE & ASSOCIATES

ATLANTA – April 4, 2011 - Lee & Associates, one of the largest commercial real estate firms in the country, has named Bennett W. Baker, CTP as the newest Director of the Atlanta office.
Baker diligently counsels and advises investors, owners, and users in maximizing the value of their commercial real estate assets and mitigating commercial real estate exposure. His extensive financial services experience provides strong financial and analytical skills that both institutional and private clients expect from a competent real estate advisor. Additionally, Bennett’s financial services background provides unique perspective, understanding, and relationship resources to aide clients in navigating the current turbulent market conditions. 
  
Bennett has participated in the listing, marketing and closing of over $42 million in commercial real estate transactions and has experience in all property types including single tenant net lease, retail, multi-family, mixed-use, medical office, and office and industrial properties.
“Bennett’s strong financial background is particularly valuable in today’s financially turbulent real estate market. His expertise and persistent attention to detail will bring an extra measure of value to his colleagues and his clients.  We are indeed fortunate to have Bennett as a member of our firm”, said T. Richard Bryant, president of Lee & Associates’ Atlanta office.
Prior to joining Lee, Baker was Vice President – Corporate Industrial Services with Bull Realty following the founding of Southeast Industrial Group; Bennett was also an approved FDIC independent subcontractor engaged to assess distressed commercial real estate assets at failing financial institutions. As an Investment Sales Advisor and member of the National Office & Industrial Properties Group at Marcus & Millichap, Bennett exclusively represented private and institutional capital clients in the disposition and acquisition of commercial real estate assets nationwide.
Bennett’s career began at Bank of America Corporation in the Global Corporate & Investment Banking (GCIB) division, where he served for approximately six years in multiple positions and locations. As a Vice President Treasury Management Consultant in the $5 billion annual revenue Global Treasury Services business, Bennett provided working capital, liquidity management, and treasury management solutions to multi-national corporate, middle-market, small business, correspondent bank, and governmental clients.
Bennett holds a BS in Business Administration with concentrations in Operations Management, Marketing and International Business from the University of Colorado at Boulder. 
Bennett holds the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) designation from the Association for Financial Professionals, and is a Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) candidate.