Craig Smith

CEO/Founder

As founder of Fountainhead Development, Craig Smith brings over 35 years of retail shopping center and commercial real estate knowledge, expertise, and experience to bear on each Fountainhead Development project.
Initially, Craig was responsible for all aspects of Fountainhead’s development process including business development, site acquisition, marketing, entitlements, title issues, lease negotiations, signage programs, environmental issues, financing, construction supervision, and the liquidation of completed product on over 70 projects.

Craig currently focuses on strategic planning, business development, and managing Fountainhead Development. Craig has developed, leased, and managed in excess of one hundred retail projects and shopping centers. Craig has successfully managed Fountainhead through three market changes over the past 16 years and has succeeded in accurately identifying each change, its impact of market direction, and positioned Fountainhead for continued success. A few notable accomplishments for Fountainhead Development are: i) the development of the first drive-thru Starbucks in Southern California; ii) the #1 buyer of excess properties from Arco in the State of California for several years running; and iii) the recent completion of the first ground up Aldi in California.

Prior to founding Fountainhead Development, Craig joined Coldwell Banker Commercial Real Estate Group in 1984 in the commercial group-training program. Over the next two years he gained experience in various specialties including appraisal, consulting services, marketing research, and brokerage services. Upon his completion of basic training, he spent the next year learning his specialty; retail brokerage. Craig eventually went on to become a Senior Associate at CB Commercial. During his tenure, he generated and completed real estate transactions in the millions of square feet with a market value in the hundreds of millions. Craig left CB Commercial in 1995 to start Fountainhead Development.

Craig graduated in 1983 from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in investment finance. Craig speaks regularly at the University of Southern California Masters of Business Administration program and industry related events.

Craig is a devoted outdoorsman.