Founder
J. ALAN KENT
Credit his southern roots for the quiet tone and dignified manner of J. Alan Kent, the native Houstonian who has become the largest landowner and developer in northwest Harris County. Governed by uncompromised professional standards and driven by a sense of philanthropic duty, the founder of J. Alan Kent Development has, for over thirty years, been quietly working to improve the lives of those around him.
His personal and professional journey has taken him from Texas to Alabama and back, and now sets him on a path that includes development projects in Tennessee and Florida.
The son of a Houston lawyer and his office administrator wife, Alan Kent discovered his fascination and proficiency for discovering how things work during his days at Waltrip High School, where he was a competitive swimmer. His early interest in all things electric and mechanical lead to the creation of his first business endeavor, a commercial electric contractor company founded in 1974 that he named Kent Electric.
In 1980, Mr. Kent turned his attention to Houston’s thriving home building market with the launch of Flair Custom Homes, a company specializing in one-of-a- kind residences ranging from $1,000,000 to $10,000,000 in value. His success in this arena garnered multiple Prism Awards from the Greater Houston Homebuilders Association in their Best Custom Home $1,000,000+ category.
In 1990, Mr. Kent created J. Alan Kent Development, an enterprise that has created large scale residential communities in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio with projects currently underway in Florida and Tennessee. As the company’s sole founder, Mr. Kent now oversees a portfolio of projects which have generated over $100 million in revenue.
A dynamic, confident and driven entrepreneur, Alan Kent’s track record of creating thriving and profitable fast-paced organizations sets him apart as a business and industry leader. But it is his work in support of charitable causes that defines the man who values family and the communities he serves over all else.
Since 1985, Mr. Kent has served as a Director for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, helping to generate millions of scholarship dollars for the education of Texas youth.
A patron of the Houston Children’s Museum, he has also contributed to Texas Children’s Hospital, The Boys and Girls Home, and Houston Children’s Charities. As a sponsor of FFA and youth football programs in northeast Houston, Mr. Kent has been a proponent of these wholesome extracurricular activities and has encouraged others to become involved as well. A gentle man and a gentleman, J. Alan Kent remains eternally vigilant for causes and projects to which he can lend his talents and resources. As much at home in the boardroom as on the golf course, Mr. Kent balances his business life with his family life, pursuing his passions for boating, travel, and high performance automobiles and motorcycles. At his side is his loving wife Julie, who is his companion, confidante, and biggest fan.
Motivated by his need to serve, fortified by his commitment to family and community, and assisted by his capable team at J. Alan Kent Development, Alan Kent is making bold moves for America’s future on the strength of his dreams, his vision, and his sense of goodwill to others.