David H. Fenley, CCIM
David Fenley, President and Co-founder of Fenley, graduated with honors as an economics major at Bellarmine University. At the start of his professional career he was one of the youngest individuals to have ever received the CCIM designation at age 26. He has been named as a finalist for the Ernst & Young "Entrepreneur of the Year" for the Kentucky/Ohio region in both 2003 and 2004. At the age of 41, David was also selected as a finalist for Business First's "Business Leader of the Year" for large companies with annual revenue in excess of $25 million.
Since co-founding Fenley in 1994, David has amassed the largest investment grade portfolio of Class A properties in the state of Kentucky. David closed on Kentucky's largest 2008 recapitalization of a property corporate office portfolio with partner GE Capital and in August 2014 refinanced and placed the entire portfolio in the CMBS 2.0, proof of its financial strength. David's work ethic and dedication to staff, clients, and community have made him one of Kentucky's preeminent entrepreneurs—and Fenley one of the state's most respected companies.
Professional Accomplishments
1988-89 Formed first business – Junior year in College, Student Home Improvements, Inc. employs 6
1990 Bellarmine Graduate with Economics degree
1991 Press department U.S. Senate, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC.
1992 Obtained Virginia Real Estate License
1993 First real estate agent selected by HC Realtors. Received CCIM designation at age 26. Bought first laptop and cell phone.
1994 Founded Fenley Real Estate Group on $10,000 savings and worked with a consultant to revolutionize commercial real estate marketing.
1995 Built first speculative office building in Louisville following the Savings & Loan market crash. Negotiated and signed first major tenant, Semonin corporate headquarters and PageNet. Organized first speculative bank loan with Commonwealth Bank.
1996 Built second speculative office building, 48,000 sf, and signed Kentucky Medical Association headquarters to anchor. Organized bank loan with Jefferson Bank.
1997 Built the first speculative office building in the Hursbourne Green Research & Office Park, One Corporate Center, 87,000 rsf. Organized construction loan with Great Financial Federal.
1998 Built twin office buildings, each 75,000 sf, totaling 150,000 sf, largest speculative development to date. Introduced virtual transparency.
1999 Built Bellevoir Crossing, first tilt-up speculative office building and leased to Providian headquarters. Organized first loans with Stockyard bank.
2000 Built Six Corporate Center & Five Corporate Center, both speculative and married into newly formed Corporate Campus, largest modern suburban office park built in Louisville.
2001 Constructed Fenley Office Park 3, final phase. Selected as LMCDC’s preferred developer. Co-Developer for the Mixed use development of Olympia/Summitt.
2002 Triton Office Park (first corporate park in Eastpoint). Developed first Hilton’s Embassy Suites, the first full service hotel built in 20 years in suburban Louisville. Completed the restoration of Hycliffe Manor.
2003 Completed GLI’s future headquarters
2004 Selected to develop, construct and own Anthem’s 245,000sf headquarters. Pioneered and built first 4 story tilt-up concrete office building in Southeast/Midwest.
2005 Sold Anthem headquarters to Inland. Selected as the real estate manager for Preston Pointe.
2006 Completed the rezoning of the mixed use development, The Midlands. Completed the complete restoration of the historic Glen Entry estate in Glenview.
2007 Placed under contract the buy-out of the portfolio from outside investors.
2008 Individually closed on the largest recapitalization of the entire office holdings portfolio
2009 Completed the new Northeast Hilton Garden Inn. Set up and started new companies to bring in-house all 3rd party services for a turn-key operation.
2010 Selected to be the Manager for the FBI headquarters for Kentucky
2011 Signed AAF headquarters
2012 Signed Vogt headquarters
2013 Signed Aetna headquarters, signed Wellcare headquarters, signed Norton Corporate headquarters
2014 Closed on the Citi Group permanent portfolio CMBS loan, largest in Kentucky.
2015 Signed CBS Kentucky headquarter offices. Signed HomeCare HomeBase corporate headquarters
2016 Begin first entre into luxury residential development. Completed the historic restoration of the Breeze Hill estate in Glenview.
- In 1994, the first to develop speculative Class A properties in the region on the cusp of the 1990's S&L crisis.
- Serves over 270 clients with more than 7,300 employees and guests.
- Led the company through the 2000 recession, 9/11 tragedy, telecom bust and dotcom fallout, and finally through the 2008 market crash with increased sales and marketing capitalization and an occupancy of 95% in 2015.
- David and his son Truman. Building a Future. Business First Profile November, 2001.
- Fenley helps the Louisville Orchestra and the Kentucky Author Forum relocate HQs to Main Street.