DavidsonNews.net: John Bradford, owner of Park Avenue Properties, LLC in Cornelius, received the 2011 Robert T. Cashion Business Person of the Year. The award was presented by 2011 Chamber Chairman of the Board Robert Reed and Bobby Cashion, representing his father Robert, for whom the prestigious award is named.

Mr. Bradford started Park Avenue Properties as a side business while working full time as a sales executive with IBM. The firm continued to grow, and Bradford eventually left IBM to continue working toward his dream of owning a successful Property Management and Real Estate firm. The agency has grown from 60 properties managed in 2007 to over 1,000 properties managed by the end of 2011. Park Avenue increased its property management and real estate business by 50% in 2011 and expanded their property management business into three additional regions: Raleigh, Myrtle Beach, and Memphis. In 2012, the firm’s expansion plans include Charleston, Columbia and Greenville, SC.

In addition, Park Avenue Properties was ranked No. 7 in both 2009 and 2010 by the Charlotte Business Journal among Real Estate Firms for the total number of transactions closed. A community minded firm, Park Avenue Properties held its second annual Haunted House in conjunction with Latta Equestrian Center to benefit local charities. Attendance nearly doubled from its inaugural year with approximately 4,000 people in attendance. All the event’s profits were donated back to the community in various ways such as Habitat for Humanity and Pi Kappa Phi’s Scholarship Foundation.

Bradford is a Cub Scout Den Leader, served as a PARC Commissioner and was elected in November 2011 as a Cornelius Town Commissioner. He serves on the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is highly involved in his industry serving as the Southeast Regional Vice President for the National Association of Property Managers in his second term. Bradford has served as Vice President and President of the local Chapter.

Addressing the business, community, and elected leadership present at the meeting, Bradford stated, “Receiving the Robert T. Cashion Business Person of the Year Award is a wonderful surprise and honor. It serves as evidence that our firm’s hard work over the last five years has earned us the right to be in the company of other successful local business owners and past recipients of this coveted award. Jennifer Stoops, Regional Sales Manager, has played a pivotal role in our firm’s success as well as the continued support from my staff and family. The Town of Cornelius has been very kind to our firm and we are delighted to give thanks by ensuring that Cornelius is the home of our regional headquarters for many years to come.”

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