MEET TONY AUSTIN

Tony had over twenty years experience in marketing and advertising before leaving the agency scene in Atlanta and turning his focus to real estate. Now a licensed real estate broker, Tony helps prospective buyers who might like to do as he did and give up some time in the city to enjoy the mountains. He also helps sellers, using the marketing skills he learned in the agency business to give their properties maximum exposure.

Tony’s marketing and advertising clients included IBM General Systems Division, Herman Miller office furniture, Pizza Hut southeast region and Copeland Meats, a division of the Green Giant Company. A local client was Buckhead Brokers, a premier Atlanta brokerage with a large “new homes” clientele.

In the 1970s Tony had an opportunity to teach advertising in Switzerland at The American College in Lucerne. He became Director of Education then moved with the school to London where it became The American College in London. He served as president of the college before returning to the United States and his advertising career.

Back in Atlanta, Tony worked for an advertising agency that specialized in resort properties such as Kiawah Island and Hilton Head Island. Tony’s clients included real estate holdings of Alcoa Aluminum (Dataw Island) and selected Florida properties of Arvida (The Islands of Cocoplum).

In the 1980’s, Tony, his wife and her brother started Wade Hampton Golf Club in Cashiers. During that time, he consulted with Lake Toxaway Company, writing marketing plans and producing brochures. Eventually he joined Lake Toxaway Company, initially as marketing director and listing coordinator. His contributions during that time included the Lake Toxaway Magazine, the Toxaway Reader, Friday Friends, and Music at Meadow Ridge.