Fast 15: Jenny Button

One of the state’s largest commercial real estate and property management firms had no problem entrusting one of its greatest assets to a rookie property manager.

Sage Partners combined with Hunt Ventures of Lowell and Capital Partners of Little Rock in 2016, and it needed to expand its property management division. The company hired Button as a property coordinator, and after six months she earned a promotion.

Button is now the youngest of the firm’s eight property managers, overseeing a collection of 42 buildings, primarily in Benton County, totaling 1.2 million square feet of office, retail and mixed-use space. That represents about 35% of Sage’s entire property management portfolio, and includes the 10-story, 226,000-square-foot Hunt Tower in Pinnacle Hills, the tallest building in Benton County that’s nearly 90% occupied by a roster of 14 tenants.

She reviews monthly financial, leasing and maintenance reports to ensure each property is performing well financially and being maintained to Class A standards.

Button said the job’s greatest satisfaction is negotiating service contracts and saving clients’ money. In her first year alone, she reduced contract services for her client and tenants by $35,000.

She also recognizes the importance of building strong rapport with tenants.

“It’s important for our clients and Sage Partners to get the highest return on investment, but it’s also important to maintain a good reputation with existing tenants and the community” she said.

Button, a Northwest Arkansas native, graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2014 with a degree in architectural studies, with an emphasis in interior design. Her first job was in Fayetteville working for a real estate valuation startup, which fostered an interest in the commercial real estate process. Her architectural background complements her growing curiosity in building management and development.

Her advice for young people entering the workforce?

“Do your best and learn as much as you can,” she said. “You don’t know it all, so don’t act like you do.”

Married with two boys, ages 2 and 1, Button balances her professional career with a young family. She and her husband go camping, kayaking and backpacking. Button is also an admitted “old soul” who likes to sew, paint with watercolors and do hand embroidery.