Warehouse and Distribution Center Leasing in Atlanta: Kerry Phillips

Kerry Phillips, assistant vice president, Leasing, helps manage Link Logistics' extensive warehouse and distribution center portfolio in the Atlanta metro area. Her strategic approach to industrial asset management and logistics real estate leasing helps the firm drive long-term value while meeting diverse customer needs. Read on to learn how she navigates Atlanta's dynamic industrial real estate landscape.

How long have you been with Link Logistics and what are your primary responsibilities in industrial real estate leasing?

Kerry: I've been at Link Logistics for four years. I started in property operations and transitioned to industrial real estate leasing two years ago. I am responsible for maximizing long-term value and ROI for the assets I directly oversee. I accomplish this by developing strategic leasing plans, managing risk and monitoring economic trends in the market. In simple terms, I focus on leasing vacant spaces, keeping occupancy rates high through customer retention, and stabilizing our portfolio through short periods of down time. This allows customers to focus on their core operations while helping our firm maximize long-term value.

What types of Atlanta industrial facilities do you oversee?

Kerry: Link Logistics operates approximately 40 million square feet of industrial real estate in Atlanta. Due to the volume, our team divides the market by geographical submarkets. I focus on our portfolio in the I-85 South submarket, which includes Atlanta’s largest mega bulk industrial product, extending through Stone Mountain, Northeast Atlanta and Central Atlanta. With this broad market oversight, I am responsible for leasing spaces exceeding 780,000 SF down to 2,000-square-foot suites. Most of our properties in the area are standard industrial or manufacturing facilities, with some flex retail industrial assets.  

What makes Atlanta such a strategic location for warehouse and logistics operations?

Kerry: About 80% of the U.S. population can be reached within a two-hour flight or two-day drive from Atlanta, making the area ideal for distribution center operations and supply chain management. Georgia has the busiest airport in the world, a growing nearby port in Savannah, approximately 5,000 miles of rail across two major rail services in the Southeast, and extensive interstate connectivity. This robust transportation infrastructure gives warehouse users efficient regional and last-mile distribution. Beyond connectivity, Atlanta has consistent population growth and a skilled labor pool. We're constantly seeing an influx of businesses moving to the area, which strengthens the industrial real estate market and demand for distribution space.

What's the most rewarding part of working in industrial real estate?

Kerry: The most rewarding part of my work in logistics real estate leasing is being able to evolve with our customers’ warehouse needs thanks to the scale of our business. Link Logistics operates a vast amount of industrial real estate, which gives us the ability to offer competitive expansion or downsizing options within our portfolio. We meet our customers where they are so we can accommodate their requirements as their operations evolve.

What skills are essential for success in industrial real estate leasing?

Kerry: It’s incredibly important to build relationships with internal and external peers. I've learned invaluable lessons from collaborating with my colleagues at Link Logistics to accomplish goals and hit critical targets. Whether I’m working with our Leasing, Property Management or Regional Construction teams, we're all moving toward the same goal together. Second to that, connecting with brokerage firms and other landlords to become market experts is a valuable skill to track market trends and make decisions for our assets that increase value and support our customers. 

How do you and other teams at Link Logistics work together to operate industrial assets and serve customers? 

Kerry: At Link Logistics, it's a true all-hands-on-deck effort across our industrial real estate operations, and the culture we have is the best I’ve ever experienced.  We work hand in hand with our Property Management team as we prepare spaces for new customers. Once a lease is signed, we partner with our Regional Construction team to manage projects and provide realistic expectations on timelines. When the process is seamless, it provides our customers with a smooth transition in and out of their spaces.

Speaking of projects, what goes into a vacant space preparation project in industrial real estate? 

Kerry: A few months before a customer moves out of a warehouse facility, we'll walk through the space with our Regional Construction team so we can identify our make-ready scope of work. We then refresh the property so it's ready for the next customer to move into the space. In other cases, a potential customer will show interest in moving into one of our vacant industrial properties and request certain modifications. We then share their project proposal with our Regional Construction team, determine pricing for the improvements and—if it’s approved—close the deal and proceed with the enhancements. We’re constantly trying to upgrade our assets and make them best-in-class for our customers. 

What makes Link Logistics’ approach to industrial real estate different?

Kerry: I value Link Logistics’ commitment to adapting to market conditions and understanding what customers value in an industrial real estate landlord. We're constantly evaluating what we can do better in our warehouse management operations, whether that’s launching new reporting systems, sourcing valuable information from our Research & Analytics team, conducting customer experience surveys or streamlining our own operations. This creates a fast-paced environment with constant evolution, but our overall goal is to retain our customers, understand their supply chain requirements on a deeper level and invest in warehouse properties that support long-term success. 

When you're not focused on leasing and warehouse operations, how do you spend your time?

Kerry: I love spending time with my family and friends, which usually involves traveling. My family is all on the West Coast, so I visit them frequently. I also enjoy trying new restaurants in Atlanta, especially farm-to-table spots where the menu changes with the seasons. I also enjoy exercising and being outside, usually with my golden retriever at my side.