About Us

Charlie Trotman grew up in Montgomery, Alabama. Son of John M. Trotman, who in 1972 became only the second President of the National Cattleman’s Association, to hail from east of the Mississippi River, in the 102-year history of the organization.

Attended Auburn University on an athletic (football) scholarship from 1976-80, and was the starting quarterback for the Auburn Tigers from 1977-79.  Named “Academic All-SEC” in 1978 and 79, and was chosen as the recipient of the 1979 “Cliff Hare Award”, which is the highest honor that can be given an athlete at Auburn.

Graduated from Auburn in 1980, with a degree in Political Science and a Business minor.

After graduating from Auburn, Charlie attended Cumberland Law School at Samford University in Birmingham, where he received his law degree and passed the Alabama Bar Exam in 1983.  Choosing real estate over law, Charlie accepted a leasing position with Jim Wilson & Associates in 1984 and leased retail space in regional malls.  In 1987, Trotman went to work for Helms-Roark, Inc., another development company in Montgomery, AL.  There, he worked as a developer of grocery anchored centers.  Trotman started his own company, The Trotman Company, Inc. in 1990.

Charlie Trotman Jr. serves as Vice President of Development at The Trotman Company. In this role, he is responsible for identifying and acquiring sites for commercial projects, coordinating with architects and engineers on site planning, and working with tenants to lease space within each development. He also assists clients in negotiating sale agreements, option agreements, and leases.

A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Charlie graduated from Auburn University in 2022 with a degree in Finance. As a second-generation member of the company, Charlie works closely with his father, Charlie Trotman, and uncle, Woody Trotman. Growing up around the business provided him with valuable first-hand experience and a strong foundation in commercial real estate development.

Outside the office, Charlie enjoys playing tennis and golf, as well as duck hunting. He is passionate about contributing to projects that bring long-term value to the communities The Trotman Company serves.

Woody Trotman grew up in Montgomery, AL, and graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. in Finance in 1985.  He started his career with Aronov Realty of Montgomery, as a leasing professional from 1986-1990.  While at Aronov, Trotman leased many development projects in Oklahoma and Texas.  After leaving Aronov, he went to Atlanta, GA and joined Compass Retail, the real estate development arm of Equitable Life Insurance Company.  There, he was in charge of leasing their flagship retail development in Atlanta, Phipps Plaza.  Trotman personally leased over 330,000 square feet in the totally renovated Phipps Plaza, which won over seventeen national awards and was chosen best new mall of the year in 1994.

Also while at Compass Retail, Trotman transformed the old Kenwood Mall in Cincinnati, OH into the nation’s first hybrid center (mall/strip center) in 1997.  This project won the ICSC’s best de-malled, hybrid project in the country.  Trotman also leased Tallahassee Mall in Tallahassee, FL, which was a failing property when acquired by Equitable.  It had an occupancy when Trotman began leasing it of 33%.  After his leasing efforts, the property’s occupancy rose to 82%, with the addition of AMC Theatres, Barnes & Noble, Old Navy, The Gap, etc…

Woody worked on Southgate Plaza, a small project in Sarasota, FL that Equitable decided to expand and renovate.  He added a Saks’ Fifth Avenue and many upscale national tenants such as Williams Sonoma, Ann Taylor, Victoria Secret, The Limited, etc…  His leasing transformed this property into a very successful mall with very high sales figures.

In 1999, Equitable Life Insurance Company sold Compass Retail and its real estate holdings to what is now Jones Lang LaSalle, and Woody accepted a position with Greg Greenfield & Associates, as Senior VP of Leasing.  He worked on AMC Theatres’ redevelopment effort in downtown Kansas City, MO.  This redevelopment included a 12-block area of office, retail, hotel, restaurants, theatre and entertainment venues.  It was known as the “Power and Light District”.

Beginning in 2000, Woody joined his brother Charlie at The Trotman Company, Inc. in Montgomery, AL as the VP of Leasing to work on regional retail projects.  He leased projects consisting of Wal-Mart Supercenters as well as regional lifestyle and power centers until 2009, when the recession decimated retail development.  His projects include the Eastern Shore Centre and Eastern Shore Plaza, a 850,000 square foot project in Spanish Fort, AL.  Trotman brought in high-end retail to this development, which had not previously come to Alabama.

Trotman leased the Renaissance project in Jackson, MS for Andrew Mattiace and partners from 2005-2007.  Trotman secured a who’s who list of upscale retailers for this lifestyle center, making it a highly successful development.  

 From 2009-2010 Woody worked for The MG Herring Group in Dallas, Texas, leasing the Village at Fairview, a urban retail and residential project.  In 2014, Trotman began working for UP Development, in Orlando, FL as head of Development and Leasing.  UP Development was Florida’s most active retail developer at the time, and Woody completed several projects that included Winter Park Square, a Nordstrom, Whole Foods center.  

Woody is recognized as one of the nation’s leading leasing professionals and is currently back working with his brother, Charlie, at The Trotman Company, as the VP of Leasing.

 

Ellen was raised in Montgomery, Alabama, where she completed her high school education at Trinity Presbyterian School. She later earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences from Auburn University in 2017. Currently, Ellen holds the position of Executive Assistant at The Trotman Company. This role includes all administrative and accounting duties.

Residing in Pike Road, Alabama, she shares her home with her husband, Jake Farmer, and their son, Hudson. In her leisure time, Ellen enjoys outdoor activities, exercising, and cherishing moments with her family and friends. Her role in the family business brings her immense joy, as it allows her to learn from those she values most, making her contribution to the team a significant blessing.