PARTNERS

Merritt has been active in commercial real estate for over 20 years. As a Lender, Owner and Developer, Merritt has learned it takes persistence, patience, knowledge, and creativity be successful. Merritt is responsible for over $3 billion in real estate transactions, and brings extensive knowledge of retail, office, industrial, hospitality, self-storage, multi-family and senior housing. 

Prior to Confluence, Merritt co-founded the most recent iteration of Paces Properties in Atlanta, GA. As one of two partners, Merritt was involved in over $600 million in adaptive reuse developments between 2012 and 2019. Prior to Paces, Merritt was CIO of Flournoy Development Company in Columbus, GA where he was responsible for the investment in and development of over 2,000 new garden apartments. Previous roles include leading Merrill Lynch’s Southeast CMBS office and 10 years with JP Morgan’s CBMS Group.

Merritt is a Board member of Action Ministries and A+ Squash, mentoring the next generation of scholars in academic, athletic, and civic growth.Merritt resides in Inman Park with his 3 children. 

Though she speaks the language of the sought-after Millennial generation, Laura eschews labels and prefers to be considered a conduit for bringing young, dynamic businesses to Atlanta’s urban buildings with unusual architectural details that help tell the story of the brands inside. 

With her long history working with high profile developers, chefs and restauranteurs, Laura ensures that each brand is positioned for longevity, filling an essential niche in Atlanta’s culinary or cultural scene. 

Laura brings over 15 years of experience, with prior roles at Vantage Realty Partners and as Director of Leasing at Paces Properties. Laura was instrumental in putting some of the city’s hotspots on the map: Chef Bruce Logue’s BoccaLupo, Castellucci Hospitality Group’s Bar Mercado, The Merchant (Howell Mill and Krog Street Market), Big Peach Running Company, Collier’s Department Store at Atlanta Dairies, and The Watchman by Kimball House at Krog Street Market. At Confluence, Laura represents and develops expansion strategies for James Beard Award-recognized restaurants like Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Chai Pani Restaurant Group’s Chai Pani (Decatur and Asheville) Buxton Hall BBQ (Asheville) and Botiwalla (Ponce City Market, Alpharetta) as well as other high profile brands. Other leasing credits include Krog Street Market, Vinings Jubilee, Atlanta Dairies (www. atlantadairies.com) and Larkin on Memorial (www.larkinonmemorial.com) winner of the 2018 Urban Land Institute award for "Excellence in Adaptive Reuse/ Repositioning”.  

 Outside of work, Laura finds harmony in world travel, good books and yoga. Laura resides in Lake Claire with her husband and one very spoiled cat named Larry. Laura earned her BS in Real Estate from Georgia State.