FAISON S. KUESTER, JR.
President

FAISON S. KUESTER, JR. founded The Kuester Companies and is the President and CEO. Prior to establishing The Kuester Companies, Mr. Kuester was with the Independence Development Corporation. His expertise was the development of medical complexes in which he not only was responsible for overseeing the construction process, but also the leasing and management of these complexes. This position was a firm stepping stone of a variety of contacts, which enabled him to further his career in the Charlotte property management and real estate development market by forming the first of the Kuester Companies.

In the early years of The Kuester Companies, Mr. Kuester focused on his unique management style. His success has been an uncanny ability of reading the economic market and providing a foresight to investors. He has charted a course, which shared the risks, rewards, and responsibilities associated with each venture among its participants through solid leadership and efficient organizational skills.

Mr. Kuester’s most cherished talent is his ability to work with a diverse group of clients and partners. By gaining respect for his sincere integrity, he has built The Kuester Companies into a highly respected regional real estate firm that entails not only a vast array of networks, but also a firm with a can-do attitude filled with expertise and loyalty.

Mr. Kuester received his B.A. in History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a First Lieutenant in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. He enjoys his career with his wife, Carol, and his three sons who display much of the same integrity of their father. Mr. Kuester was recently appointed by the Mayor of Charlotte, to serve on the Civil Service Board, with oversight review of the Charlotte –Mecklenburg Police and Fire Departments

His grandfather, Clarence O. Kuester, was the founder of the Charlotte Chamber and his maternal grandfather, Frank W. Hancock, Jr., was a United States Congressman for 8 years and served with President Roosevelt. Mr. Kuester’s father, Mr. Faison S. Kuester, Sr. was a retired sales executive from American Cyanamid after 30 plus years of service. The entire Kuester family is a well-respected family in the Southeast region and has continued to hand down its family values from generation to generation.


F. SHAW KUESTER, III
V.P. Commercial Management | Leasing & Brokerage

F. Shaw Kuester III is a partner in Kuester Real Estate Services and has been with the company for eight years. He began his tenure in multi-family, commercial, and residential management and is knowledgeable in all three fields. Since working extensively in the Management Field, Shaw committed to the Brokerage & Leasing Division in 2004 to help maintain and increase production in this vastly growing market. He has received his Broker’s License for both North and South Carolina, and works both markets extensively for clients and customers accordingly.

The Kuester Companies, with Shaw’s leadership, has brokered and leased many transactions in the Charlotte-Metro Region within the medical, office, retail, and restaurant fields of business. The company has been instrumental in locating sites as tenant representation in areas such as Birkdale, South Park, Downtown Charlotte, and Ballantyne. The scope of business also includes the larger regional area of Western & Central North Carolina, as well as Upstate South Carolina. Land Brokerage for both Residential and Commercial use is crucial in the Fort Mill market, and Kuester has also become an integral part in locating parcels for clients.

Shaw represents the sixth generation to have lived in the Charlotte area, and the third generation to be working for the Kuester Companies since its founding in 1975. He and his two brothers are graduates of the Charlotte Country Day School, which strengthens his family history of hardworking, honest, civil servants providing services to the Charlotte-Metro region. Shaw received his Bachelors in Humanities from North Carolina State University in 1998, with a Minor in Business and a concentration in Economics.


BRYAN KUESTER, CMCA, AMS
Director of Homeowners Association Management

Bryan Kuester joined the Kuester Companies in late 2000. Since joining the Kuester Companies, Bryan’s concentration has been to oversee the property management division of Kuester, where he has become the point-of-contact for any management questions and/or consultation.

In 2006 Bryan was appointed to the Board of the North Carolina Chapter of Community Association Institution (CAI), where he hopes to contribute his knowledge and experience to the betterment of the industry as well as expand his passion for the business.

Bryan attended North Carolina State University, in the College of Business, where his concentration was in Accounting. Since joining Kuester Real Estate Services, he has continued his education, and has earned the Microsoft Certified Professional and Certified Systems Engineer designations.

Bryan graduated from Charlotte Country Day School in 1996. Bryan was a member of the football and track teams, and holds several records for Mecklenburg County High School Football.



AARON LIGON, CPM
Development

Aaron Ligon joined the Kuester team in 2004. Aaron is a native Charlottean and currently lives in the South Park area of Charlotte. Aaron is active in the community and served as the chairperson for a local non-profit organization from 2004-2006.

Aaron currently holds the CMCA or Certified Manager of Community Associations Designation. This certification is awarded to individuals who complete a course offered by the Community Associations Institute in conjunction with satisfactory performance on the National Certification Exam.

Aaron attended North Carolina State University in the College of Engineering, where his concentration was in Industrial Engineering, and his activities included leadership roles in various organizations such as the Student Senate.

LAURA KNIFFIN, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
Director of Coastal Management

Laura Kniffin attended Mt. Vernon College in Washington DC. Her experience in association management started over twenty years ago when she served on her own board of directors for her community. I was never too sure of what our managers were actually doing, so I decided to become one. Laura's credentials include the designations of Certified Manager of Community Associations and Association Management Specialist to her credentials, along with SC Notary Public.

Most valuable lesson I've learned; "everyone, no matter who, from the maintenance man to the homeowner to the supplier, has an opinion and a lot of times it is valid.........always listen you may learn something."

My goal is to help my communities achieve the most they can with the least amount of spending and so far it's working.

Laura lives in Pawleys Island, SC with her husband Larry who serves as the board President for their community. She is still very active with Rotary, Habitat for Humanity and Community Association Institute SC.

BEN RHODES, CMCA, AMS
Senior Charlotte Property Manager

Ben Rhodes is the latest addition to the Kuester Management Group, and he brings with him several years of industry experience. He is a certified Community Association Manager as well as an officially designated Association Management Specialist, from the Community Associations Institute.

Prior to his career in the Association Industry he worked in New York City in the service industry specializing in high profile events. Over his 10 years in the Carolinas he has worked with non-profit companies raising awareness for people with disabilities and promoting sport as a means to bettering relations among diverse groups.

Ben is a graduate of Clemson University where he focused on management. His studies included community development, leisure services, and business. In his ever shrinking spare time Ben is a devoted cyclist and mountain biker. He has been an independent cycling promoter for over a decade.

Ben brings with him a passion for balancing homeowner rights and broader community needs. He exercises this balance in his own neighborhoods association by holding the position of president of the board in his south Charlotte neighborhood where he lives with his wife and young daughter.