Today, Impact Development Management launches with a new brand and new office space that reflect the company’s evolution, growth and ethos to bring companies and people together and have a positive impact on communities through its work managing real estate development projects across the country.
Formerly Darden & Company, the new company is now named Impact Development Management. After making several strategic hires, the firm’s headcount grew to 25 employees over the past two years. Because of its recent growth under new ownership, the company is taking more office space and seizing the opportunity to rebrand.
“The firm has evolved,” said Jason Hughes, president and one of three owners of the company.
“We want our brand and name to represent who we are collectively. This is about creating something that represents all of the talented people who comprise our firm, as each one of us and our diverse backgrounds, brings our individual talents to advocate uniquely for our clients, making an impact on the projects and the communities we serve.”
Founded in 1999 by William E. “Bill” Darden Jr., Darden & Company has been growing ever since. In 2018, three partners, Jason Hughes, Matthew Dale and Kyle Taylor, purchased the company. Then in 2019, they acquired Collins Program Management. With a new leadership team in place, the company now serves more markets and represents projects from Texas to Detroit, as far south as Miami and all along the East Coast. Collectively, they are evolving the way they do business by deepening their collaborative efforts and advocating in the sincerest fashion for their clients. After all these changes, the company’s leaders felt it was the right time to create a new name and brand for the new generation of leaders and associates.
“When we talk to clients, one of the things they like the most about us is our ability to bring companies and people together to manage projects, making a difference in the outcomes for clients, projects and communities,” said Mr. Dale, executive vice president. “We bring people together for a common goal – that’s our difference and our impact. That is now our company name and mission: At Impact Development Management, we positively impact people and communities through commercial development projects.”
Over two decades, the company has amassed the skills and reputation to manage budgets, schedules and outcomes for more than 570 real estate projects valued at $12 billion. Projects have included the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, thyssenkrupp Elevator’s Innovation and Qualification Center in Cobb County, Ga., Northside Cherokee Hospital, The Bellyard Hotel at the Interlock in Atlanta, Adela at MiMo Bay apartments in Miami, Emory Medical Office Building at the Atlanta Falcons’ Training Facility, Atlanta United’s Training Facility, Kennesaw State University Student Housing, and many others.
“It’s been quite a journey. Now, we’re working across the United States,” added Mr. Taylor, executive vice president. “And, we’re proud to announce today that our headquarters is staying in Cobb County, where we moved in 2019.”
Impact Development Management is expanding to a new floor at 900 Circle 75 Parkway in Cobb County to accommodate recent growth and adapt to the evolving needs of their employees.
“Part of the intent and the design of our new office space is to go back to the old school methods of more offices vs. open offices to give people the space and the ability to do video and client meetings from their office,” added Mr. Hughes. “We found most people that are working in open offices preferred the ability to conduct business without disturbing others, so they need the privacy and want to respect their neighbors who are working as well. We also added ‘zoom rooms’ to better accommodate today’s business model.”
The Cobb Chamber recently named the company a finalist for the 2021 Small Business of the Year, and in 2019 the Chamber also hired the company to oversee their office renovation.
“We’re thrilled that Impact Development Management is staying in Cobb County and will remain our neighbor,” said Sharon Mason, President & CEO of the Chamber of Commerce. “When we were redoing our space, we found it was critical to hire an expert to oversee the entire project and handle all the time-consuming details. Impact Development Management enabled us to continue focusing on our mission instead of all the many complex details of the project.”
