Exploring Life & Business with Kyle Leighton of Leighton Property Management

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Leighton. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Prior to establishing my businesses, I started working for Everlast Lighting as a Public Relations representative in 2011. That was really the first real job of my career that mattered. At Everlast Lighting, I studied and mastered the commercial lighting trade’s integrities. I began authoring engineering reports and case studies that were later published in trade magazines, international publications, and college textbooks. I also worked on projects for the United States Department of Energy, and the University of California Davis Lighting Technology Center. During that time, I was invited to teach at Jackson College as an adjunct instructor and help develop the Energy Systems Management Associate’s degree program. 

As a result of my work, I was honored at the National Association of Electrical Distributors LEAD Conference in Chicago, Illinois, and was named to tED Magazine’s list of emerging electrical industry leaders in the United States. And, in 2014, I received the Recent Graduate Award from Siena Heights University which was also based on some of my successes in the energy field. 

In 2015, I moved to New York City and worked and consulted for businesses in New York, Boston, and Moscow, Russia. While I was visiting a construction site, I made the decision to form my own engineering company, First Building Solutions. I moved back to Michigan in late 2016, and later secured my first customer—a large Japanese manufacturer. I invested all of my profits into real estate, laying the groundwork for my own property management business, Leighton Property Management. To date, Leighton Property Management currently owns a portfolio exceeding $2M in residential real estate within the City of Jackson, which is my hometown. 

Along with the finer points of lighting design, installation, and global regulations, I learned a great deal about international imports and brokering while sourcing lighting components in China. It was this specified knowledge that led me to found Tapestry Girls, a women’s home decor business, in 2019. With distribution in California, Pennsylvania, and Florida, Tapestry Girls currently sells its products direct to consumers as well as to wholesale customers such as Etsy, Society6, Redbubble, Amazon, and Walmart. The company was recently given a 7-figure valuation by Clearbanc, a financial firm headquartered in Toronto, Canada. 

I currently serve as Founder and President of all three companies. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I was born in Jackson, Michigan, and raised there. It’s a tough town, it’s where the Michigan state prison is. There’s no industry or infrastructure. Most of the employers are either franchises of some sort or social service type of organizations. Much of the community’s revenue is generated from the criminal justice system and so if you’re from there, and you want more out of life, you really have to start thinking beyond the end of your street, beyond the end of your own neighborhood. 

And, because I didn’t come from a wealthy family, or inherit any existing businesses, everything was new to me. Starting not only one, but multiple different businesses, was incredibly difficult. Each one had its own unique set of challenges; however, I tend to outwork other people and won’t give up on a goal or objective until it’s accomplished. That’s the difference. That’s my special talent. I just keep going. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Leighton Property Management is one of the largest private property management companies in Jackson, Michigan. The business currently manages 26 rental units, and is growing. We consider ourselves one of the most hardworking, forward-thinking, tech-savvy, ethical, and transparent property management companies in Michigan. We make it our goal to always be proactive when it comes to management and have a sense of urgency when it comes to all of our tenant requests. 

What makes us unique is the condition of property we acquire and our flexible leasing agreements. Joshua Tryon, our maintenance manager, keeps all of our properties up to code and in compliance with municipal requirements. And, Michael Kendall of Beiswanger and Risner Real Estate Group, is constantly hunting down new, fully renovated properties for sale that we can add to our existing rental portfolio. 

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Fortunately for me, I married an amazing woman, Heather Leighton, and she’s very supportive of my business ambitions and goals. She is a great Mom to our daughter Vera, and wonderful wife to me, and she makes a charming home for our little family. Her contributions to our household allows me to be able to do the things that I do, and so without her none of this is possible. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.leightonpm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leightonmanagement/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leightonmgmt
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/leightonmgmt