Stephen J. Goodson - Principal Broker
Steve brings both financial and development experience to commercial clients specializing in representing retailers, investors, and employers with site acquisition needs, working with Public/Private development initiatives, retirement community development, and industrial acquisition and land sales.
Prior to this, Steve spent 26 years in the financial services field as a financial consultant and later as Sr Vice President of Trust and Investments for SunTrust Bank. Steve was also the catalyst in the formation of a new Johnson City-based advanced visualization company known as “Ntara, Inc”. As a founding partner, Steve served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-President of Business Development.
During this time his community based work included Chairman of the Johnson City Regional Planning Commission, serving on the Industrial Bond Board, Founder and Chairman of the Johnson City Development Authority, and Founder and Chairman of the Public Building Authority. His responsibilities required in-depth involvement with commercial development in the Tri Cities area spanning several decades.
Planning Commission initiatives included revising the sign code ordinances, parking lot regulations, and annexation consensus with surrounding private and governmental leaders.
As chair of the Public Building Authority (PBA), Steve spearheaded a public/private partnership charged with the planning and implementing a 61,000 square foot, $21 million Advance Learning and Conference Center in Johnson City as the Southern anchor of the city’s Medical Technology Corridor. Primary responsibility was focused on consensus building between city and county elected officials, a 12,000-student university, a medical center, and Veterans Administration Hospital, State, Federal and community leaders. The Public Building Authority was also charged with the acquisition and development of a 23-acre tract adjacent to the university, medical center and Veterans Administration Hospital. The oversight of on-site remediation, government and private financing, architectural and contractor selection and orchestrating community consensus were key tasks. Further site development included the location of a $13 million luxury hotel on the tract, a $1.5 million casual dining chain restaurant and a university-sponsored Advanced Visualization Laboratory.
Steve holds a BBA in Finance and Economics from East Tennessee State University, a Chartered Life Underwriter Designation (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant Designation (ChFC), and Securities Registrations 6,7, and 22, is insurance licensed and is a Licensed Real Estate Affiliate Broker. He is a board member of The ETSU College of Business Board of Advisors, The Blue Ridge Medical Management Board, the MSHA Financial Committee, the Chamber Business Council, and the Econ Development Infrastructure Task Force Committee.
Steve is married to Rhonda Brent Goodson, a Business Technologist for Eastman Chemical Company. They have four children and live in Johnson City, TN.
