JC Griffin is the founder and president of Griffin & Taylor Company, Inc. (GTC) and is responsible for the executive governance, planning and operations for the family office’s investment strategy and its affiliated subsidiary enterprises. An American patriot, entrepreneur and businessman, Mr. Griffin began his professional career in government on the federal, state and local levels prior to focusing his efforts in commercial real estate and capital markets. He is recognized as a sophisticated business development professional and negotiator, and is routinely sought after to assist in the management of strategic partnerships, implementation of community and business development strategies, regulatory affairs and commercial agency representation matters.

Prior to founding Griffin & Taylor Co., Mr. Griffin worked for Norfolk Southern Railroad Corporation (NSCORP) where he managed freight-rail operations out of Chicago and Detroit, eventually assuming a leadership role within the corporation's Midwest Division, charged with coordinating the training, hiring and rail safety implementation for the division’s 3,200 train and engineer workforce population. Mr. Griffin transitioned from NSCORP after receiving an appointment by the Office of the Governor of Illinois to lead business workforce development efforts within the state’s Department of Transportation and intragovernmental affairs within the Division of Aeronautics. Subsequent to his time in state government, Mr. Griffin went on to work in the Bureau of Asset Management for Cook County Government and later served as a research fellow for the U.S. House of Representatives.

A veteran and former aviator of the United States Air Force, Mr. Griffin received an honorable discharge after serving eight years as a Combat Readiness Airman and C-130 Loadmaster. Griffin deployed to Iraq in 2008-2009 supporting combat operations during the U.S. Department of Defense deescalation of military forces within the region following the 2007 “Surge Command” ordered by President George W. Bush. During his combat tour, Griffin was recognized for his meritorious service by Air Combat Command leadership staff and U.S. Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley.

Mr. Griffin participates and contributes to several philanthropic and non-profit organizations throughout the nation and served as a liaison to the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council established by President Donald Trump in 2018. Additionally, Mr. Griffin is a staunch advocate for veteran support, education and advancement initiatives and is a proud member of American Corporate Partners and a former member of the board of directors for the Chicago Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP) - a national non-profit 501(c)3 which works to increase sustainable home ownership, financial-literacy education, VA loan awareness, and economic opportunity for the active-military and veteran communities.

Mr. Griffin is a REAP fellow of the Urban Land Institute Commercial Real Estate Academy, an alumnus of The John Marshall Law School of Chicago, a licensed real estate broker in the State of Illinois and North Carolina, and a graduate of North Park University, where he earned an AB in Business and Organizational Management.