Mayor Kasim Reed Promotes Jalal Slade to Direct City's Real Estate Portfolio

Staff Report

Mayor Kasim Reed today announced the promotion of Jalal Slade, the Administration’s Strategic Planning Officer since 2011, to the position of Senior Policy Advisor on Real Estate. In this new role, Mr. Slade will work directly with the Chief Operating Officer to oversee the city’s general fund facilities and land holdings, and advise on enterprise fund and other public entity holdings, leveraging each to their highest and best use. The city currently has over 900 parcels in the general fund.

“Jalal has been a key member of my senior team and his experience will be invaluable as he leads the effort to redevelop several iconic City of Atlanta properties,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “Going forward, I have the highest confidence in Jalal because I know he will draw upon the deep knowledge and experience he gained while executing strategic priorities for the City of Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.”

In his prior role of Strategic Planning Officer, Mr. Slade was a senior advisor to the Chief Operating Officer on the strategic development and execution of real estate projects, including the relocation of Porsche North American Headquarters into the City of Atlanta, commercial redevelopment of Fort McPherson, rebuilding historic Mims Park in Vine City, opening over 150 new food & beverage concessions at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and development of the new Atlanta Falcons multi-purpose stadium.

“Jalal’s business acumen and insight are of tremendous value to the City of Atlanta,” said Chief Operating Officer Mike Geisler. “He has played a pivotal role in complex negotiations that are transforming the city, from new park land to adaptive re-use of facilities. Going forward, I am confident that Jalal’s leadership will prove instrumental in the successful sale and redevelopment of signature properties like Underground Atlanta and the Atlanta Civic Center, to name just a few.”

From 2006 to 2011, Mr. Slade was an Aviation Properties Manager at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. In that role, he provided strategic and tactical support associated with the development and oversight of 4,800 acres of aviation properties and facilities through real estate ground leases, real estate purchase and sales, intergovernmental agreements, terminal leases, landing and use agreements, space permits, and service contracts. In his tenure at the world’s busiest passenger airport, Mr. Slade executed over $82M in new leases and $24M in realized revenue, executed over $34M in land and building purchases, and $5M in land sales. He also negotiated over $200M in complex transactions.

“It is a pleasure to work with a brilliant team of professionals who have a passion for public service,” said Mr. Slade. “As a native Atlantan, I am honored and proud to serve this Administration, and I look forward to working on projects that will strengthen our city’s reputation as a great place to build and grow businesses.”

Mr. Slade received a BS in General Science from Morehouse College, a BS in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech and a MBA from Brenau University. He is also a Certified Commercial Investment Member, with credentials from the CCIM Institute in Chicago.