Ford S. Elliott
Chief Executive Officer
Joshua Howard
President & Chief Legal Officer
Josh is a seasoned attorney with over two decades of experience providing strategic counsel to businesses and developers across the southeast region. Josh oversees the Contender family of brands, encompassing a diverse portfolio of commercial and residential real estate ventures, as well as development initiatives.
Under his leadership, he has assembled a high-performing team of professionals in management, legal, finance, and real estate. Josh holds a Bachelor's degree from Clemson University and earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Prior to his current role, he served as a Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, LLP and Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA. He also held a law clerk position with the Honorable Henry M. Herlong Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Josh has consistently demonstrated a commitment to community leadership, maintaining an active presence in both the southeast legal community and the South Carolina business sector.
Ford is Chief Executive Officer of Contender Development and is a veteran real estate developer and entrepreneur with over 18 years of experience in development, construction, business acquisitions and running multiple successful operating businesses.
Ford has led the team to over $1.25 Billion in active developments and founded Blackstream, which sells over $700 Million worth of real estate annually and has over 350 team members. He prides himself on the partnerships that the company has formed with some of the best companies in the world, including, but not limited to, Marriott, Hilton, DR Horton, Lennar, NVR, Meritage Homes, Culver’s, Christie’s International Real Estate and SVN. He is an Advisory Board Member of Synovus Bank.
Some of Ford’s greatest business accomplishments include winning the Christie’s Affiliate of the Year Award, finishing as a Top 10 SVN office for three consecutive years, and winning the RealTrends Emerging Leaders Award for which he was nominated by Christie’s International Real Estate. Most recently, he was honored as a recipient of the 50 Most Influential Award by Greenville Business Magazine.
Ford attended Clemson University where he studied construction management and is a licensed general contractor and real estate broker. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, their five children and their golden retriever.
