S. Vern Hakes was originally licensed to practice Real Estate in Georgia in 1989 and joined Vanguard Associates in 1994. He has extensive experience in commercial real estate sales and leasing transactions and property management. The early part of his career focused on the representation of clients in the leasing and acquisition of commercial properties. As the scope of Vanguard's business expanded to include the purchase and development of commercial real estate throughout the Southeast, Mr. Hakes spent an increasing amount of time on the acquisition of said assets. Ultimately, his role focuses on the acquisition, management and disposition of assets contained in the Vanguard Portfolio.

Mr. Hakes is a graduate of Georgia Tech (BSM '87), is married to Kim Hakes and together they have three children – two in college and one in high school. He and his family live in Marietta, GA, where he is active in the local lacrosse community at both the high school and elite club level.