Top Retail Developer EDENS to Expand Atlanta Strategy with Key Hire and Transfer

ATLANTA, May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading retail real estate owner and developer EDENS announces two strategic appointments to expand the company's presence in the Atlanta market: Herbert Ames will relocate from Columbia, SC; and Carol Joyner, an industry leader, joins the company this week, just in time to attend ICSC's RECon in Las Vegas. Ames and Joyner will co-lead EDENS' Atlanta office.

"Atlanta is a dynamic market and it demands local knowledge, vision and tenacity," says EDENS President and Chief Investment Officer Jodie McLean. "This move reinforces our commitment to this market. And I can think of no better team in our industry than Carol and Herbert to build on what we've already started, expand our footprint and take us in new directions."

Joyner comes to EDENS from executive positions in real estate and construction at Teavana and Gap Inc. She brings a proven track record in all types of lease negotiation, strategic guidance of national expansion plans, and portfolio management. Joyner comes on board as VP – Southeast.

"Carol is a strategic thinker," says McLean. "She understands the rhythms of the Atlanta market better than anyone I know but she also knows how to close deals, which is why she has been such a force in the region. We're ecstatic about having her on our team."

With more than a decade of experience in real estate development, Ames has been involved in the redevelopment of properties throughout the Southeast totaling over 900,000 square feet. He has worked with such retailers as Whole Foods Market, Publix and Target, has served as Statewide Treasurer for ULI South Carolina, and as co-chair of the South Carolina Midlands Reality Check. Ames has been named VP – Southeast.

"Herbert has always been a pillar in the Columbia area," adds McLean. "And his focus has been in creating developments that bring lasting, sustainable benefit to the communities they serve. His move to Atlanta not only gives him an opportunity to progress his career but it expands EDENS' core mission of enriching communities."

Carol Spann Joyner CRX, SCLS is a real estate veteran with more than 20 years of experience in retail leasing, development and management. Previously the vice president of real estate and construction for the Teavana Corporation, a Starbucks subsidiary, and 13 years with Gap, she brings EDENS deep expertise in all aspects of the retail development cycle. She is an ICSC Senior Certified Leasing Specialist, received her MBA from the University of Georgia and has a BS in business from Wake Forest University.

Herbert Ames joined EDENS in March 2004. While he has been based in Columbia, S.C., he has established a solid foundation in the Atlanta market, including involvement in the redevelopment of Merchant's Walk in Marietta. He is a graduate of the Leadership Columbia Class of 2008 and a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and Urban Land Institute. He received his BS Degree from the University of South Carolina.

EDENS currently owns eight retail properties in the Atlanta area, including Merchants Walk in Marietta and Lenox Marketplace in Buckhead.

About EDENS

EDENS develops, owns and operates community building centers in primary markets throughout the East Coast. Focusing on innovative development and redevelopment together with key acquisitions in urban areas, the company has built an institutional-quality portfolio of 111 retail centers. EDENS has regional headquarters in Boston, New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, Miami and Columbia, SC. For additional information about the company and its retail real estate portfolio, please visit www.edens.com.

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SOURCE EDENS