It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our partner, colleague, and friend, Jeff McElhinny following a courageous battle with cancer. He was 47. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Amy, and his sons Landon (14) and Alec (24).
We first got to know Jeff in 2002 during his time as real estate counsel for Dick’s Sporting Goods, later moving in-house to the real estate department. In his years at Dick’s, Jeff was responsible for the opening of new stores in various markets across the country and built a national network of relationships that would last the rest of his career.
Jeff joined Atlantic in 2008 when he relocated from Pittsburgh to establish our Charlotte office. In addition to managing local accounts in the Carolinas such as Petco and Five Below, Jeff used his prior experience to serve as an outsourced real estate department for the national expansion of HH Gregg. During this time, Jeff would hone his reputation as a tireless advocate for his clients’ interests while at the same time being an efficient deal maker. Over a four-year period, Jeff would complete more than 50 HH Gregg transactions in a dozen states.
With Charlotte established locally and Jeff’s focus turned toward national accounts, he returned home to Pittsburgh in 2010 to continue his work with national clients as well as establish Atlantic’s first office away from the east coast. With Jeff’s guidance, our Pittsburgh office would assist in the national expansion of retailers such as The Sports Authority, Altitude Trampoline Parks, Charming Charlie, and Bob’s Discount Furniture, bringing Atlantic’s services to clients throughout the Midwest. Jeff’s organization, work ethic, and tenacity made him a valued partner to dozens of retail clients throughout his career.
Other than work and family, Jeff was most passionate about the city of Pittsburgh itself. He was a graduate of UPITT – Johnstown where he was a pitcher on the baseball team and an unapologetic fan of all Pittsburgh sports. Jeff was thoughtful, caring, and had a self-deprecating sense of humor. He was a valued partner, leader, and friend to his clients, colleagues, and the team here at Atlantic. We count ourselves fortunate to have known and worked with Jeff and will miss him dearly.
