Leadership Team
S. J. Collins Enterprises
Delivering Results to Growing Retailers
The executive team at S.J. Collins has a wealth of retail, commercial, and construction industry expertise with a proven track record of success. Their dedication and professionalism is unmatched. By seeking long-term relationships with high-growth retailers, S.J. Collins delivers faster results, innovative design and ideal locations for various mixed-use centers throughout the country.
Steve Collins - Principal
Steve Collins is chair of the board and founder at S.J. Collins Enterprises. He established the company in 2007.
Steve’s wealth of knowledge includes more than 40 years of experience in the construction industry and over 25 years of experience in the development industry. A successful businessman and entrepreneur, Steve started his first business, a mechanical contracting business, at age 28.
Today, Steve has helped the privately owned S.J. Collins develop hundreds of projects, with a portfolio that has tallied over several millions of square feet built. For Steve, it’s all about relationships with clients, employees and contractors, and S.J. Collins is built on a company culture of commitment to quality, integrity and dedication to customer satisfaction.
Steve is involved in various aspects of the Passion City Church and is a community advocate and philanthropist, supporting various nonprofits such as Christian Families Today, Seed Company, Jericho House, Joey’s Toy Box and The Joseph Sam’s School. He resides south of Atlanta with his wife Ann. The couple has a daughter and son-in-law, Brittany and Will, and a son, Drew. Steve and Ann also have two granddaughters, Naomi and Ayla.
Steve’s wealth of knowledge includes more than 40 years of experience in the construction industry and over 25 years of experience in the development industry. A successful businessman and entrepreneur, Steve started his first business, a mechanical contracting business, at age 28.
Today, Steve has helped the privately owned S.J. Collins develop hundreds of projects, with a portfolio that has tallied over several millions of square feet built. For Steve, it’s all about relationships with clients, employees and contractors, and S.J. Collins is built on a company culture of commitment to quality, integrity and dedication to customer satisfaction.
Steve is involved in various aspects of the Passion City Church and is a community advocate and philanthropist, supporting various nonprofits such as Christian Families Today, Seed Company, Jericho House, Joey’s Toy Box and The Joseph Sam’s School. He resides south of Atlanta with his wife Ann. The couple has a daughter and son-in-law, Brittany and Will, and a son, Drew. Steve and Ann also have two granddaughters, Naomi and Ayla.
Jeff Garrison - Partner / Development
Jeff Garrison’s passion is to create dynamic, community-changing retail centers that encompass connection, walkability and activation. He believes development should drive neighborhood engagement and bring people together for experiential shopping and dining. His key strengths lie in shaping the future of a community layout and thoughtfully converting urban infill into thriving neighborhoods that benefit residents in meaningful ways. Jeff is a partner at S.J. Collins Enterprises and has been with the company since its 2007 inception. He handles the intricate mechanics that bring a vibrant development property together – from locating new sites, building tenant relationships and communicating with neighborhood groups to hiring contractors and shepherding the project to its final phases.
His first career in finance – trading derivative options in Chicago and London –bolsters his financial acumen and complements his development experience. Prior to making the transition to development, he was also a real estate investor and brings a wealth of retail development experience to his role at S.J. Collins Enterprises. Over the past decade, he has developed more than 5 million square feet of retail and mixed-use space across the country. Current projects include The Interlock, an award-winning $450 million mixed-use center rising in Atlanta’s West Midtown neighborhood, and Southern Post, a multi-use property soon to transform a much-needed section of Roswell, Georgia.
Jeff graduated magna cum laude with degrees in real estate and speculative finance from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a Georgia real estate license and is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers. He currently serves on the board Mount Vernon Presbyterian School, where his children attend school.
Jeff lives in Atlanta with his wife Jennie. The two have three children.
His first career in finance – trading derivative options in Chicago and London –bolsters his financial acumen and complements his development experience. Prior to making the transition to development, he was also a real estate investor and brings a wealth of retail development experience to his role at S.J. Collins Enterprises. Over the past decade, he has developed more than 5 million square feet of retail and mixed-use space across the country. Current projects include The Interlock, an award-winning $450 million mixed-use center rising in Atlanta’s West Midtown neighborhood, and Southern Post, a multi-use property soon to transform a much-needed section of Roswell, Georgia.
Jeff graduated magna cum laude with degrees in real estate and speculative finance from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a Georgia real estate license and is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers. He currently serves on the board Mount Vernon Presbyterian School, where his children attend school.
Jeff lives in Atlanta with his wife Jennie. The two have three children.
Jeff DeHart - Partner / Development
Jeff DeHart is a partner at S.J. Collins Enterprises and has been with the company since 2009. He handles the day-to-day operational management and project financing for the firm’s robust development portfolio.
Jeff has been in the commercial real estate and leasing industries since 1986. Since that time, he has developed almost 60 retail center sites in eight states. Jeff’s strengths include detailed financial analysis and capital relationships.
He received his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Georgia. Jeff currently serves on the Ben Franklin Academy board of overseers. Previously, he has taught as a Sunday school teacher at the Peachtree United Methodist Church and served as a scout master for Atlanta’s Troop 232.
Originally from North Carolina, Jeff resides in Atlanta with his wife Jessica. The couple has three adult sons.
Jeff has been in the commercial real estate and leasing industries since 1986. Since that time, he has developed almost 60 retail center sites in eight states. Jeff’s strengths include detailed financial analysis and capital relationships.
He received his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Georgia. Jeff currently serves on the Ben Franklin Academy board of overseers. Previously, he has taught as a Sunday school teacher at the Peachtree United Methodist Church and served as a scout master for Atlanta’s Troop 232.
Originally from North Carolina, Jeff resides in Atlanta with his wife Jessica. The couple has three adult sons.
Fain Hicks - Partner
Fain Hicks, partner at S.J. Collins Enterprises, has more than 22 years of commercial real estate experience. His expertise lies with deal and capital structuring and is focused on sourcing new development opportunities and expanding the firm’s capital relationships. Prior to joining S.J. Collins Enterprises, Hicks was the managing director of Cushman & Wakefield. He also spent 10 years in the commercial real estate finance arena in New York City and Atlanta with JP Morgan and Wachovia Securities. He has been directly involved with more than $4 billion of investment property transactions and traditional and structured financings.
Hicks is a Georgia native and received his bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate from the University of Georgia. He is a licensed real estate broker in Georgia and Alabama and is a member of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors, International Council of Shopping Centers, ACBR Million Dollar Club and a Certified Commercial Investment Member.
Fain has a long-term perspective and a people and relationship’s first philosophy. He is involved with several nonprofit organizations and is a member of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church where he has served in numerous roles including Board of Trustees Chair. He lives in Buckhead with his wife, Kereth, and two daughters.
Hicks is a Georgia native and received his bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate from the University of Georgia. He is a licensed real estate broker in Georgia and Alabama and is a member of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors, International Council of Shopping Centers, ACBR Million Dollar Club and a Certified Commercial Investment Member.
Fain has a long-term perspective and a people and relationship’s first philosophy. He is involved with several nonprofit organizations and is a member of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church where he has served in numerous roles including Board of Trustees Chair. He lives in Buckhead with his wife, Kereth, and two daughters.