The Raines Group was founded by William B. Raines, Jr. A native of the city, Raines began his career in Chattanooga in 1973, working with CBL and Associates and then Cousins Properties, managing several major retail centers in the Nashville area.
While in Nashville, Raines partnered with Joe Rodgers, former Ambassador to France, to form The Center Group in 1984. Raines purchased Rodgers’ interest in 1988, becoming sole owner and renaming the company The Raines Group. At its start, The Raines Group oversaw 3 million square feet of commercial property in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky.
Bill Raines has received the designation of Real Property Administrator (RPA) from the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), a Certified Commercial Investment Manager (CCIM) from the National Association of Realtors and is a Certified Shopping Center Manager (CSM) from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). He also holds the distinction of retired Major General in the U.S. Army. He holds a Real Estate Broker’s license in Tennessee and Georgia. Having once been licensed in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, and Virginia, his footprint has been reduced in recent years in order to become laser-focused on the greater Chattanooga area market.
In recent years, The Raines Group has had many success stories, including:
- The Raines Group has a strong regional presence, with over 1.5 million square feet of commercial space and numerous residential condominium responsibilities in Tennessee. We maintain real estate brokerage licenses in both Tennessee and Georgia, and we are very active in these markets as well.
- CIGNA retained The Raines Group as its facilities manager for the Chattanooga region, which included approximately 175,000 square feet of commercial office and support services property. This outsourcing solution enabled CIGNA to have their properties managed by an entire team of dedicated experts including permanent, on-site property operations managers, which enabled them to realize a lower total cost of property.
- We were also successful in leasing 17,000 square feet of office space to Galen Medical Group at Eastgate Town Center.
- Whether retrofitting an existing facility or developing a new building from the ground up, The Raines Group understands the importance of technology-based solutions in creating productive and efficient workspaces. High-speed data networks, communications, energy efficient heating and cooling zones, and flexible workspaces all play a part in designing functional facilities that work today and continue to perform well into the future.