Building on a Real Estate Legacy: Porter Hentritze's New Chapter at Partners
For Porter Henritze, real estate isn’t just a career choice – it’s practically genetic. Born and raised in Atlanta with real estate coursing through his family’s veins, Henritze recently made waves in the commercial real estate community by joining Partners, a 27-year-old firm making strategic moves in its southeastern expansion under the leadership of John Silverman and Travis Rogers.
The Atlanta native comes from a family deeply embedded in the real estate industry. His father founded the Brookdale Group in 1995 after working at Heinz, while his siblings have carved out their own paths at industry powerhouses including CBRE, Lincoln, and Blackstone. “Through osmosis, I picked up a lot, and have been immersed in commercial real estate, whether I wanted to or not, since I was young,” Henritze reflects.
After a brief sojourn in Bozeman, Montana with his then-fiancée (now wife), Henritze returned to Atlanta and began what would become a successful 13-year tenure at Cushman & Wakefield’s landlord office team. During his time there, he established himself as a formidable presence in Atlanta’s office market, participating in the market’s evolution through the 2008 financial crisis, the tech boom of the late 2010s, and most recently, the transformative changes brought on by the pandemic.
His move to Partners represents an exciting new chapter in his career. “It was one of the most significant decisions I’ve ever made in my life,” Henritze says, adding that while he grew tremendously under his previous role and leadership team, the opportunity to join Partners presented a different type of opportunity at this stage in his career.
At Partners, Henritze has found a distinct platform that complements the industry’s diverse service offerings. The firm’s partnership model, which includes approximately 50 partners, creates strong collaboration across service lines. As Henritze explains, “When everyone is getting a piece of the bottom line at the end of the day, I find that collaboration tends to be very transparent.” This collaborative environment is further enhanced by Partners’ unique fund structure, which provides significant buying power. “If we’re helping someone underwrite an asset, and there’s maybe a partnership opportunity or a limited equity position, we could come in,” Henritze notes, highlighting the firm’s ability to align interests with clients beyond traditional service offerings.
A Bright Future in Atlanta
In his analysis of the current Atlanta office market, Henritze draws on deep experience through multiple market cycles, including the recent tech-driven boom in Midtown that drove substantial demand through 2019. Now, he’s observed a striking three-to-one ratio favoring what he terms “tier one” properties – buildings either constructed in the last four years or those that have undergone major renovations within the past 36 months. Explaining this trend, Henritze notes, “Obviously they have shrunk their footprint while trying to keep their head count relatively the same, knowing that there’s going to be some kind of shake up in the days in which people are coming in… Their real estate cost is remaining the same, but their square footage is roughly 30% to 50% of what it used to be.” This shift reflects companies’ focus on optimizing their space utilization, with teams often alternating office days while maintaining collaborative spaces and premium amenities.
Looking ahead, Hentritze speaks more optimistically about the firm’s regional outlook, emphasizing a thoughtful and strategic approach to growth in the Southeast. While specific plans remain confidential, he notes the team’s focus on strengthening their Atlanta presence and exploring opportunities across key service areas. The firm continues to prioritize its entrepreneurial culture as it evaluates future opportunities in the region.
For Henritze, who has witnessed Atlanta’s office market evolution firsthand over the past 13 years, this new chapter represents an opportunity to blend his deep market expertise with Partners’ unique approach to commercial real estate services. The combination of the firm’s collaborative culture, investment capabilities, and entrepreneurial spirit positions it perfectly for the evolving demands of today’s market. As Partners continues its strategic expansion across the Southeast under John O’Neill’s regional leadership, Henritze’s experience and market insights will help shape a new kind of real estate services platform – one that emphasizes partnership in both name and practice.
