Rod Heller

Acting in Civility & Respect Go Far in Business & Beyond

As we present our annual November issue focused on business in Williamson County, we are also moving into the holiday season. I find that it is time to reflect and give thanks for the many blessings we are given in our personal and professional lives—and to put my focus on the things that matter most in all areas of my world.

I recently had the opportunity to share a conversation with an incredible businessman in our community who also happens to be a true southern gentleman. This gentleman knows a lot about what I am speaking of and certainly helped to feed my motivation to appreciate all the blessings this life has to give. 

Join me for an opportunity to get to know this month’s southern gentleman: J. Roderick Heller III. Rod is the Chairman & CEO of Carnton Capital Associates, an investment firm in Franklin, and of Harpeth Associates, a Tennessee LLC.  He was a partner in the law firm of Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering in Washington, D.C. from 1971-1982 and then served as Chairman and CEO of three successful corporate turnarounds, including NHP, Inc., the nation’s then largest owner and manager of residential apartments.  Mr. Heller was the founding Chairman of the Civil War Trust, and Vice Chairman of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He also served as Chairman of WETA, Washington’s public radio and television station and Chairman of NCRC, the capitol’s then economic development corporation.  Mr. Heller has also served as director of numerous for-profit and nonprofit boards.

He graduated from Princeton University, received a master’s in history from Harvard University, and graduated from Harvard Law School.  His deep interest in history has led to three books, most recently Democracy’s Lawyer, Felix Grundy of the Old Southwest, published by LSU Press in 2010.

When you think about what it means to be a Southern Gentleman, what comes to mind?

Some years ago, I gave each of my grandsons a copy of George Washington’s Rule of Civility and Decent Behavior, which reflects an 18^th century view of what constitutes a gentleman.  Although some of the rules are amusingly arcane, the Rules generally reflect the one cardinal rule for a Southern Gentleman:  A gentleman must treat everyone—with no exceptions—with courtesy and respect.  

In thinking about what exemplary and gentlemanly behavior looks like to you—has there been someone you considered a role model?

Easily... My father. Dr. John Roderick Heller, Jr. was a native South Carolinian, and fourth generation doctor. Although he achieved great professional success in Washington, D.C. and nationally, he never forgot his roots and treated all, regardless of wealth or status, with the same courtesy and dignity.

Your life has taken place all over the country but what brought you to Williamson County? 

My mother was born and raised in Spring Hill, with middle Tennessee roots dating to the 1700s.  My two younger brothers and I spent our summers, three months a year, in Columbia, until I was fifteen. We were all imbued with a deep love for middle Tennessee, and an appreciation for its people and history. I had always visited regularly in Franklin. Because of my interest in history, and historic preservation, and persuasion from great people including Angela Calhoun, Mary Pearce, Ernie Bacon and Robert Hicks, my wife Kay and I were receptive when approached in 2002 about helping preserve 110 acres at what was then the Carnton Country Club. It was threatened with a housing development adjacent to the Confederate Cemetery and McGavock family cemetery. Our involvement in those preservation activities gave us more involvement in Franklin and, ultimately, a decision to move here in 2012.

What have you seen as the biggest changes here in our community since you visited as a child and now reside here?

Although Franklin has changed greatly in the thirteen years that we have lived here (and obviously much more since I first visited), it still retains the community spirit, great people, leadership and warm friendliness which are so characteristic. Because Franklin has been blessed for sixty plus years with a large group of people (not simply one or two), committed to preservation, it has retained much of a sense of its history. The nationally recognized leadership of Robert Hicks and Julian Bibb, and others, with respect to the reclamation of the land of the Battle of Franklin is an outstanding example. At the same time, Franklin has accepted the inevitability of growth, and its leaders, both elected and in the administration, have done an impressive job of balancing growth with preservation. If Franklin continues to elect leaders of the quality that we have and have had, I am confident that it will continue its successful balancing act.  

What advice would you give to young men as they begin their careers and professional lives and what qualities are you looking for when you hire?

I think that the most elusive quality in institutional life is that of the closer—someone who gets important things done on a timely basis. Many can present well, analyze well, and in general talk a good game, but often fall short in action. I have been fortunate in Franklin and elsewhere in working with people who are closers. I should add that the quality of closing is often allied with determination, another intangible quality which I look for in a CEO.

What advice do you have for current or future business owners?

Establish critical strategy and priorities. There are only two or three issues which are important to any institution, and they must dominate time and attention. Most leaders fail because they try to do too much or choose the wrong priorities.

Hire the best possible people that you can. The best investor that I know, who ran a large private equity firm, stated that he spent 80% of his time on selection and motivation of personnel. I don’t think you can understate the importance of people.

Ensure that your best possible people carry out your strategy and priorities.

Outside of the business realm, what are your required daily activities?

I start the day with a cup of coffee, followed by an hour walk of thought and appreciation. In general, outside of work, I am an enthusiastic, albeit mediocre, golfer, and I used to play squash. My true interest, however, is reading and writing history, and talking about history with those like-minded.

What things do you care most about that have inspired you to give back?

My wife, Kay, is involved with great local organizations like Studio Tenn, Franklin’s Charge and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. I have been active at Cumberland University and various preservation organizations, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and what is now the American Battlefield Trust. I also believe in public television and was Chairman of WETA, D.C.’s public television station. We collect and have donated Haitian art to the National Gallery of Art in DC and other museums.

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Education, historic preservation and the study of history are areas where I and others try to ensure that the values and benefits that we had growing up are available for future generations opportunity to have a discussion with Mr. Heller. To have his story included in our business issue is so very fitting, but the added element of his perspective on how being a gentleman, caring for others and giving back, are truly what makes someone stand out in both the business and personal worlds—could not be more appropriate. 

My takeaway from this conversation? Like Mr. Heller—let’s treat others with respect. Let’s learn from, live by and teach our children the 110 “Rules of Civility." This means showing consideration and deference to others in all your actions and words, regardless of your relationship with them. It is truly the guiding principle that all subsequent rules for decent behavior are based upon.

Thank you, Rod, for sharing your time. Thank you for all you and your wife contribute to our wonderful community.