Partners Development is a multi-generational real estate development company headquartered in Knoxville. Randy Jenkins, Chief Financial Officer and Financial Strategist, has been with the company for 28 years. Three Roots Capital is appreciative to have cultivated a lasting partnership with Partners Development and Jenkins over the years and looks forward to continuing to work with them on place-making real estate projects in the future.

Founded nearly 50 years ago, Partners Development has completed more than 100 projects across North America and Europe, focusing on four major market areas: multi-family residential, commercial, industrial warehousing and higher education.

“Partners Development is a first-class organization, from top to bottom and throughout the company. They have a stellar reputation in this region and market, as well as broadly outside of this region and market,” said Grady Vanderhoofven, President and CEO. “Partners Development is active, creative, innovative, and smart. They are the type of organization with which Three Roots seeks to build long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.”

At Partners Development, Jenkins manages the financial risk of Partners and its affiliates and handles financial planning and reporting, among other responsibilities. In addition to his role at Partners Development, Jenkins is the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Knoxville Chamber, serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Tennessee College of Nursing and is on the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians.

Three Roots met Jenkins and the Partners Development team several years ago and slowly developed a relationship with them over the next couple of years, waiting to find the right opportunity to work together.

“Making deals in this industry involves a lot of relationship building,” said Vanderhoofven. “You have to trust someone, and they have to trust you.”

As they were establishing a relationship, Three Roots first worked with Partners Development on financing for the Innovation North project at the University of Tennessee Research Park (UTRP). Most recently, Three Roots worked with Partners Development to finance the new Elo Touch Solutions facility at the Hardin Business Park, which will bring more than 80 high-quality jobs to the community. Looking ahead, Three Roots is working with the real estate developer on two other prospective projects at UTRP, and the collaborators have explored other prospects together throughout East Tennessee.

From working on these projects with the Three Roots team, Jenkins has enjoyed the ease with which he can communicate what his financing needs may be for certain projects and knowing that Vanderhoofven and the rest of the team instantly understand what he needs and where he might want to go with a financing package. He equates working with Three Roots to pressing the “easy button.”

“I know the communication is going to be open and transparent. They want a business or project to succeed just as much as we do as the developer,” said Jenkins. “It truly is a partnership in seeking to find that solution that works for everyone.”