With 20 years in the real estate business, John Bauknight is president and Co-founder of Longleaf Holdings USA, a Spartanburg-based investment firm that started and sold several business ventures including Shred First, LLC, Total Records and Information Management, LLC, Total Training Services, LLC, and Total Storgae Services, LLC.
Additionally, they still operate Longleaf Holdings, LLC, a commercial real estate and development firm that has also taken a minority position in several start-up businesses, the most recognized being Southern Tide.
In 2007, John and Nick (his longtime Partner in Longleaf) acquired RJ Rockers Brewing Co of Spartanburg. Bauknight along with founder and Brewmaster Mark Johnsen relocated the Brewery back to downtown Spartanburg in 2009.
Bauknight continues to be heavily involved in Spartanburg Countys entrepreneurial community, including helping to launch the Spartanburg Angel Network in 2015.