A native Middle Tennessean, Kayla Bates spent the first decade of her career gaining diverse experience across the real estate industry before joining David Koellein to form The DK Group at Compass. Starting her professional life as director of marketing for Franklin-based Bristol Development Group and its award-winning multifamily projects across the Southeast, Kayla most recently managed facilities for Nissan, including its North American headquarters and domestic portfolio of non-manufacturing real estate, as well as high-profile tech clients for the commercial real estate startup WeWork in New York City and Seattle.Raised in a large family that loves designing, cooking, and entertaining together taught her that a home is more than the four walls we occupy and that buying a house should be more than a transaction. Working with clients to make smart financial and life decisions on cherished spaces is where her passion lies, along with the creative problem-solving and work ethic required to do it well.Kayla holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and a master's from Swansea University in Wales, both in English. Outside of the office she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and trying to wrangle her giant golden retriever, Mack.