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RALPH KNAUSS
DIRECTOR OF
DEVELOPMENT & CONSTRUCTION
Ralph brings more than three decades of experience in development and construction experience to his role as Director of Development and Construction at SouthStar. He is responsible for directing, managing, and overseeing all delivery aspects of our real estate development process, from oversight and execution of project entitlement to design, land development and building construction. Ralph stays involved in each job from its beginnings as a paper sketch idea to the day the tenant gets the keys.
Ralph has served in leadership roles at several mid-state development and construction companies over the course of his career, including COO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville, Director of Entitlement and Construction for SouthStar LLC, Senior Vice President for Mitchell Development Group, Director of Construction for Mixed Use Development / Senior Project Manager for AIG Baker Shopping Center Properties, President of Haygood Contracting, Interim President JDN Development Company, Vice President of Design and Construction JDN Development Company, Project Manager JDN Development Company, Project Manager for Morgan Corporation, and Independent Consultant for Forcon International.
"TO ME, SUCCESS
MEANS DELIVERING ON WHAT IS PROMISED, NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO ALWAYS DELIVER IT WITH INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER. I FEEL VERY BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN A VITAL PART OF SO MANY SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENTS AND AM HUMBLED AT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE PROVIDED FOR ME TO DO SO"
Ralph is a licensed Tennessee General Contractor, Residential/Commercial/Industrial (BC) and is a Certified General Contractor in the State of Florida. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University and went on to complete 36 Credit Hours toward a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering. Ralph is dedicated to serving his community and remains actively involved with many area nonprofits, including St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Nashville Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville, Rocketown and Second Harvest Food Bank. He is the founding Member and President of Belief, Inc., a non-profit whose purpose is to serve children and families stricken by childhood cancer and other serious childhood diseases and ailments.
Ralph lives in Franklin, TN with his soulmate of nearly 40 years, and enjoys spending time with his three children, five grandchildren and one great grandchild.