A Raleigh native, Smedes York has spent many years serving the needs of Raleigh and its citizens. He is a highly respected businessman and has been instrumental in helping the Triangle area become one of the most desired places to live in the United States.

Smedes earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. From 1964-1966, Smedes served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, receiving an Army Commendation Medal for his service in South Korea.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Smedes served the Raleigh community in the political arena. He was a Raleigh City Councilman, District E, from 1977 to 1979. He then served two terms as Mayor of the City of Raleigh, from 1979 through 1983.

Smedes has spent his professional career in real estate and construction and is President of York Properties, Inc. and Board Chairman of related companies York Simpson Underwood and McDonald-York. In addition to his business, he has served in a leadership capacity for many organizations. Some of these positions include past chairman of the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry and the N.C. State University Board of Trustees. Current positions include Board of Directors of the Research Triangle Foundation, the YMCA of the Triangle, and North Carolina Amateur Sports. He continues to serve as a Trustee of the Urban Land Institute.

Among Smedes' many honors are the "Outstanding Young Men of North Carolina" award, the Chamber of Commerce A. E. Finley Award, the Boys Clubs of America Silver Medallion, Tar Heel of the Week, Realtor of the Year, the Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen Award, the North Carolina Public Service Award, and induction into the Raleigh Hall of Fame.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel and former stock broker, Sam Simpson has performed for over thirty years in the capacity of director and owner of York Simpson Underwood. He is a proud father of six children. He also enjoys golf and fishing in his spare time.

With over thirty five years of experience in the residential real estate industry, Speck’s achievements include serving as President of both the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® and the Triangle Multiple Listing Service. He also acted as Chairman of the Professional Standards Committee. Past accolades include REALTOR® of the Year.

Joe Kalkhurst oversees the operation of the Commercial Division and serves on the executive committee of York Properties, Inc. He has over 25 years of real estate brokerage and management experience and is a past President of the Raleigh board of Realtors. He has also received their Realtor of the Year honor. He specialized in tax deferred exchange work involving office and industrial income properties, as well as “build to suit” and sale/lease back transactions. Joe is an active industrial member of the Society of industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) and a past president of the Carolinas Chapter. Membership in the Society signifies the highest level of the professional performance.