How one Birmingham professional found his best fit locally for building a career + family

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For Trussville native Michael Leonard, working in real estate investment is all about legacy. Professionally, he’s part of one that stretches back over 80 years for his Birmingham-based company. He’s also creating his own, growing his young family here in the Magic City.

Read on to learn more about Michael, his purpose and how his career at EBSCO fuels his home life.

Meet Michael Leonard

(Sho Hill / Bham Now)

Michael grew up in Trussville and attended The University of Alabama, where he earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in finance and real estate finance.

During his time in Tuscaloosa, he and his wife, Mary-Walker, met at church. She is from the Oak Mountain area, and it seemed natural for the two to return to Birmingham and build their life here after college.

“We have a two-year-old boy, and then we have another boy on the way. So, we’re about to have two under two! This is an exciting time. I love my family, and that’s definitely my ‘why’ … I am here to provide for them and to provide a safe and stable home for them.”
_{Michael Leonard}

In turn, Leonard says the stability and flexibility he’s found at EBSCO help him show up fully at work and home, staying firmly rooted in his family and hometown without sacrificing ambition or goals.

As examples of that support, he cites ample time off, strong health benefits and leadership who are trusting.  

Looking for a career that supports your priorities at home? Explore careers at EBSCO here.

Aligned with thoughtful growth

While he’s growing his family for the long term, Michael also directly impacts his company’s future growth.

Here’s the breakdown of his time with the company so far + what’s on the horizon:

• After working as an analyst for McKinney Communications + Regions Bank, Michael joined EBSCO’s real estate holdings group a few years ago.
• Among EBSCO’s most noted real estate developments over its history include Alys Beach on the Gulf Coast + Mt. Laurel in Birmingham.
• The Income Producing Real Estate (IPRE) team maintains + builds an impressive portfolio of real estate in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas + Florida, including multifamily + industrial properties.
• Recent local IPRE projects and developments include the luxury apartment + carriage home community The Whitby in Birmingham, the active adult community Knox Square in Hoover + the luxury apartment community Vestavia Reserve in Vestavia Hills.

See how EBSCO is growing its real estate footprint across the Southeast by visiting EBSCO Income Properties.

Allowing work + life to charge one another

Michael’s role involves frequent travel across the Southeast to meet developers, tour properties, and evaluate opportunities. His work takes him to cities like Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta and Charleston.

“I get a lot of energy from my work, and it really flows over to home. I get a lot of energy from what I do here. I really love it. So I’m able to come home after a couple of days of travel and really pour into them.”
_{Michael Leonard}

And when he’s home, he’s all in. On weekends, you’ll likely find the Leonards:

• At the Botanical Gardens or the Birmingham Zoo
• Grabbing tacos or coffee at El Barrio or MELT
• Watching Alabama football, baseball or basketball (Just pick the season!)

Building for generations to come

Among IPRE’s 6,000-unit multifamily portfolio is a newly constructed, $90 million apartment and carriage home community in the Greystone neighborhood, The Whitby Birmingham. This is the company’s first 100% cash equity property built from start to finish.

The Whitby sets a standard for the kind of properties IPRE seeks for investment, Michael says.

“One of the initiatives and goals that we’ve been given from leadership is to sustain profitable growth for generations, and so we do that with places like The Whitby. No detail has been spared. That’s how we sustain profitable growth for generations—investing in creating places like this.”
_{Michael Leonard}

Projects like this demonstrate the company’s commitment to thoughtful, long-term development in its hometown, Michael says. That’s the kind of life he’s trying to build here, too.

For him, that’s the whole point.

To hear from other professionals about their experience at EBSCO, check out these insights from four early-to-mid-career team members.

Looking to grow something real within a company + for yourself? Find your fit at EBSCO.

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