Randall Bentley: 4 decades of local expertise.

Randall Bentley, President, Lee & Associates

Quietly, over a career that spans more than 40 years and shows no sign of sign of slowing down, Randall Bentley is part of a generation that has left an indelible mark on the Upstate. President of the commercial real estate firm Lee & Associates / Greenville-Spartanburg, Bentley's signature seems to be everywhere just drive south down I-385 and you'll see his company's logo flying proudly on massive banners announcing another major new industrial building.

Not a bad legacy for a fellow who grew up in Fountain Inn. There, in the rolling hills of southern Greenville County, Bentley developed an appreciation for the land, along with a natural gift for meeting people and building lasting friendships. After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Bentley returned to the Upstate and began learning the dynamics of commercial real estate from the best in the business. In 2011, he saw the opportunity to join with Orange County, CA-based Lee & Associates and opened the Greenville office.

The firm specializes in the acquisition, disposition, and leasing of industrial, office, retail, flex, land and investment properties. But for Bentley, his love and expertise has always been in working with large scale manufacturers and distributors to find the ideal building to meet their needs.

"At the heart of Greenville and Spartanburg is a simple love of going to work," he says. "From the textile mills of the past to today's modern manufacturing plants, we like to make things and we do it well. I suppose my true passion is helping people and companies find the perfect place to do their best work."

Today, in a world that thrives on depersonalized digital technologies, Bentley is a welcome throwback to firm handshakes and simpler times. Obviously, his offices are "plugged in" digitally, but Bentley has guided his team at Lee & Associates to take a holistic approach to every client's situation. As he notes, it's important to see beyond the transaction.

"Sometimes it's a transactional business and part of our mission is helping companies locate precisely the right space to meet their needs," he says. For example, Bentley helped Trane establish...