In July 2009, Larry Gellerstedt was named President and Chief Executive Officer. He previously served as President and Chief Development Officer, overseeing all of Cousins’ operations and leading Cousins’ development teams from pre-development activities to the delivery of stabilized projects. Larry joined Cousins Properties Incorporated following the acquisition of his firm, The Gellerstedt Group, in June 2005. Larry founded The Gellerstedt Group in 2003.

 

Larry began his career at Beers Construction Company in 1978 as an estimator and project manager, working on the High Museum and the AT&T Long Lines Building. At age 26, he founded and became president of BCB Company, a Beers subsidiary focused on the health care industry. BCB grew to over $100 million in revenues in just four years, at which time Larry was named chairman and chief executive officer of the entire Beers organization. From 1986 to 1998 Beers grew annual revenues in excess of 1.2 billion dollars.

 

In 1998, after the sale of Beers to Skanska USA, Larry was elected chairman and chief executive officer of American Business Products, a NYSE-listed manufacturer of packaging and printed office products. Emphasizing customer service, growth and shareholder value, he led a complete overhaul of every aspect of the business. In March of 2000, ABP was sold for a handsome premium for shareholders.

 

In 2000, Larry became president and chief operating officer of The Integral Group, which is nationally known for visionary urban mixed-use development, construction management, property management and asset management.

 

Larry was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young in 1992, CEO of the Year by Atlanta Business League in 1993, and one of Georgia's 100 Most Influential People by Georgia Trend magazine. He serves on the boards of Alltel and Rock-Tenn Company, as well as on the advisory board of SunTrust Bank.

 

Education: University of North Carolina.

 

Memberships and Civic Involvement: Larry chaired the Livable Communities Coalition, which leads a metro-wide commitment to retain and improve quality of life as the Atlanta region continues to grow. He co-chairs a $200 million capital campaign for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and he is the chair of the Piedmont Park Campaign. He is a director or trustee of Agnes Scott College, Central Atlanta Progress, Jesse Parker Williams Foundation, Midtown Alliance and The Commerce Club. As chairman of the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Gellerstedt led that organization from the verge of bankruptcy to sustained viability and status as the most-attended museum in Georgia. As chairman of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, he oversaw the complex and successful merger of two major children's healthcare systems. He also chaired the Metropolitan Atlanta YMCA, providing direction for 16 locations throughout the area.