Kirby Davis

by Chris Smith, Shelters to Shutters

Kirby Davis, a leader at GNAA and the Nashville Multifamily Housing Industry, recently retired from Freeman Webb after a 37-year career in the industry. He was honored with a retirement party at Freeman Webb on May 23.

Kirby attended high school in Nashville and both undergraduate and law school at UT-Knoxville. He joined his father’s management firm in the late 80’s after serving a two-year clerkship with a federal judge. He continues to enjoy discussing strategy and use of capital with his 91-year-old father, whom he calls a great mentor.

Kirby has been a key player in the development and growth of GNAA and served as President of GNAA in 2002. He was given the lifetime achievement award in 2018. Kirby believes in the value of GNAA and thinks it is a great way to meet other professionals in the industry, collaborate, and even recruit future employees. His hope is GNAA will continue to cultivate the health of the multi-family housing industry and advocate for its best interests.

When asked what the biggest change in the apartment industry has been, Kirby’s quick answer is “technology.” “For years we kept up with rental payments in pencil on a ledger card. If the rent was not paid on time, we just changed the locks.” (Those days are long gone.) The second change is the expectation of the customer and even the power the customer now has through online reviews and comments.

Kirby acknowledges that he has been fortunate to be in the right industry at the right time with the right people. Nashville was coming out of a real estate slump in the early 90’s and multi-family housing was significantly underbuilt. With the growth of Nashville, the increasing demand, and the expansion of building, Kirby modestly says of his business success, “It was hard not to mess it up.”

In addition to his work in the industry, Kirby is also known for his interest in the issue of homelessness. First Management Company and later Freeman Webb have provided housing for the homeless, and Kirby has been involved in non-profits like Shelters to Shutters and other organizations that assist this segment of the population.

This desire to help those in need is a product of Kirby’s Christian faith. “We are put on this earth to help others. We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus.” In explaining his commitment, Kirby also references the story of Ruth in the Old Testament. In that account we are told everything was not harvested, but some was to be left in the field for those in need. Kirby’s summary of that story for today is, “We don’t pick up every nickel.”