Business Development

Mr. Driver started his first business, a car detailing shop, at the age of 19. Having no cash assets and only a few years work experience in the field, Craig moved forward and rapidly grew a successful business with pre-owned automobiles. In the 1990s, Mr. Driver owned the largest, independent preowned auto dealership in Chattanooga and the largest pre-owned Harley Davidson dealership in the Southeast. In his early 20’s Craig became the youngest professional bass fisherman and fishing champion in the southeast. He eventually quit the fishing circuit to focus on his family and business.

In the mid-1990s, Craig moved on to real estate development and his first project—the Ashley Oaks subdivision, named after his daughter—located in the high-end community of East Ridge. One development project led to another and numerous residential and commercial real estate ventures were formed including Seminole Ridge Apartments, City Green Apartments, and the 3rd Street medical facilities (former Colonial Bread Baking Company, which included an environmental clean-up aspect). Mr. Driver spearheaded a successful development in Ft. Oglethorpe GA that included the voluntary environmental clean-up of the former North Georgia Ready Mix concrete plant which is now a commercial development featuring a Walgreens Pharmacy as the anchor tenant. Over the years, Craig specialized in recovering troubled property assets. He continues to consult bankers, investors and developers alike regarding management of their assets. One of the more notable troubled assets he saved is the “St. George Hotel” in Chattanooga to attract investors for the new owner, with the intent of the re-development of this property into the St. George Boutique Hotel.