Our Team

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AREA OF EXPERTISE

Chris Neese founded Ark Project Management in 

2017 to launch and direct the firm with the goal of being best in class. Bringing extensive

entrepreneurial, project management, and

economic development experience, Chris is

uniquely suited to advise clients

through the construction, occupancy, and

closeout processes. He acts as the owner’s and

tenant’s representative, guiding clients from

lease/purchase through occupancy. Chris

manages all vendors involved in tenant

construction, build-out or renovation, including

general contractors, architects, audio/visual, signage and more. 

BUSINESS AND EDUCATIONAL

BACKGROUND

Chris serves as Managing Director of Project Management for Colliers International | Nashville. He was engaged by Colliers to start and build its Project Management division. The division grew quickly under Chris' leadership and became profitable within it's first year of operations. Prior to Colliers, Mr. Neese served as Chief Operations

Officer for Strategic Hospitality, the restaurant

group behind prominent Nashville eateries

including The Catbird Seat, Patterson House,

and Pinewood Social. Before joining Strategic

Hospitality, Chris was Chief Operations Officer

at Community Hospitality, LLC, where he helped

grow the company from one location with 45

employees to 7 locations with a combined 280

employees. His entrepreneurial experience

includes ownership of BUZZ Entertainment, an

artist management company, and AAAG, a

group that specialized in acquiring capital for

commercial real estate developments. Notably,

Chris led the Cheatham County Chamber of

Commerce as Executive Director from 2009 to

2013.

A native of Brentwood, TN, Chris earned his

bachelor’s of business administration in

management at Nashville’s Belmont University.

He is heavily invested in giving back to the

Middle Tennessee community and is cofounder

and past president of the Society of

Leaders in Development (SOLID). Chris has

served on the boards of Leadership Cheatham

County, The Regional Chamber Alliance, Middle

Tennessee Tourism Council and PENCIL Metro

Nashville Public Schools Career Academies.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Founder and past president of Society of

Leaders in Development (SOLID)

• Founded the long-term recovery committee

for Cheatham County

• Past board involvement: Leadership

Cheatham County, The Regional Chamber

Alliance, Middle Tennessee Tourism Council,

and PENCIL Metro Nashville Public Schools

Career Academies

EDUCATION

Belmont University -

Bachelor of Business

Administration in

Management