Camm Morton
Camm Morton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Claude Cammack Morton June 12, 1951 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, investment banker, business executive |
Claude Cammack "Camm" Morton (born June 12, 1951) is an American entrepreneur, investment banker, and business executive.
Early life and education
Morton was born in Birmingham, Alabama to Emily Cammack and Claude Morton Jr., who worked in real estate with The Equitable Life Assurance Company. Due to his father's profession, the family moved multiple times, living in New Orleans before settling in Richmond, Virginia.
He completed his secondary education at Huguenot High School in Richmond in 1969. Morton obtained a bachelor's degree in economics from Hampden-Sydney College in 1973, where he distinguished himself as a football letterman, served as junior class president, chaired the Honor Council, and was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. He pursued further studies earning a Master of Science in horticulture from the University of Florida in 1976 and later an M.B.A. from East Carolina University in 1980.
Career
Between 1976 and 1980, Morton was employed by DuPont in North Carolina as a sales representative while completing his M.B.A. Upon graduating from East Carolina University in 1980, he took on the position of Product Manager at Rhone-Poulenc in New Jersey.
In 1981, he joined Philadelphia-based regional mall developer Kravco Company (now part of Simon Property Group) as the department store relations manager, reporting directly to President Bob Girling.
As President of Retail Development for Western Development Corporation (later known as Mills Corporation), Morton oversaw the development of Potomac Mills in Woodbridge, Virginia. This outlet mall became a landmark retail project and served as the model for the Mills outlet concept. By 1992, it was recognized as Virginia’s leading tourist attraction.
Morton established Charter Oak Partners in 1986. The firm later affiliated with Rothschild Realty of New York City, where Morton advanced to managing director. Charter Oak was responsible for developing and acquiring more than 3.3 million square feet of outlet retail space across the United States before its acquisition by Tanger Factory Outlet Centers for $491 million.
In 1994, Morton assumed the roles of president and COO at Factory Outlets of America, eventually becoming CEO. The company rebranded as Konover Property Trust in 1998 and was purchased in 2002 by Kimco Realty (NYSE: KIM), a prominent real estate investment trust focusing on neighborhood and community shopping centers, along with Chelsea Property Group (now integrated into Simon Property Group).
Morton joined the Baton Rouge Area Foundation in 2002 as president and CEO of Commercial Properties Development Corporation (CPDC), overseeing its commercial real estate portfolio. He directed CPDC's transformation into a REIT and led significant redevelopment initiatives such as converting a historic downtown building into the 300-room Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center.
In 2007, he co-established Ashby Hospitality, a hotel management enterprise collaborating with CPRT.
Currently, Morton serves as Principal and Owner of VR Baton Rouge, a business brokerage firm affiliated with VR Business Sales located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.