John Williams Builds New Real Estate Empire

ATLANTA-John A. Williams, the former chairman of Post Properties Inc., is back in the development business. He is orchestrating an alliance of five companies, run by former Post executives and staffed by a total workforce of 750 in separate offices at One Overton Park, brokers in a position to know tell GlobeSt.com. He is not running the companies himself but just guiding them, brokers say.

Williams’ business partner in the venture is Kessell Stelling. Both own 50% of Riverside Bank. Williams’ stake in the five companies ranges from 15% to 50%, brokers who have worked with Williams previously and are following his new career, tell GlobeSt.com.

RAM Partners Inc., a third-party management firm that was previously a part of Post Properties’ portfolio, is the largest of the five companies. Brokers tell GlobeSt.com RAM manages 25,000 apartment units in 107 developments in 14 states.