J.D. Nichols
Chairman, NTS Development Company
Louisville, KY 40222
Chairman for NTS Development Company
Phone (502) 426-4800
Chairman for NTS Development Company
Property Types
Hospitality, Industrial, Land, Office, Retail, Flex, Sports & Entertainment, Specialty, Multi-Family, Health Care, Residential
Markets
Louisville
Languages
English
Bio
J. D. Nichols is Chairman of NTS Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates. He graduated from the University of Louisville School of Law in 1964 and conducted his undergraduate studies at the University of Kentucky with a concentration in accounting, marketing, business administration, and finance. Mr. Nichols began his career in construction and real estate development in 1965, and since then has overseen the development of more than 10,000 acres of land and 10 million square feet of office, residential, commercial, and industrial construction throughout the southeastern United States. The company currently owns and/or manages over 5,700 rental apartment units and over 4 million square feet of office, retail, healthcare, and office/showroom space.
Mr. Nichols is active in many civic and charitable organizations including the University of Louisville, where he served as a member of the Board of Trustees; the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees; the Board of Overseers; and the University of Louisville Foundation. Reflecting his continuing support of the University and commitment to quality education, its downtown research and office complex has been named “J.D. Nichols Campus for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.”
Mr. Nichols has also served as Chairman of the Kentucky Council on School Performance Standards, which was charged with the responsibility for development of the academic agenda incorporated into the Kentucky Education Reform Act (“KERA”) - a program which has been recognized nationally for innovation in education reform. In addition, Mr. Nichols served on the Steering Committee of the Kentucky Education Technology System which was created by KERA, and charged with development of a statewide computerized information system linking Kentucky’s public schools. He is a past member and chairman of the Council for Education Technology; a past member of both the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence and the Partnership for Kentucky Schools; and is a lifetime member of the President’s Society of Bellarmine College.
Mr. Nichols was inducted into the Junior Achievement Kentuckiana Business Hall of Fame in 1989; was named the University of Louisville’s Alumnus of the Year in 2015; is a past director and member of the Executive Committee of Greater Louisville Inc. (Louisville’s Chamber of Commerce); has served on the Governor’s Council on Economic Development; the Board of Directors of both Actors Theater of Louisville and Kentucky Opera; and several other community organizations.
Mr. Nichols was one of the longest serving members of the board of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, serving as both vice-chairman and chairman during his tenure. He was also the primary catalyst behind the billion dollar expansion of Louisville International Airport, and the decision by United Parcel Service (UPS) to make Louisville its corporate headquarters for UPS Airlines and their main domestic and international hub. In addition, Mr. Nichols was instrumental in developing the concept for and implementation of Metropolitan College - a program that pays the tuition (including room and board) for college or post-high school technical training, as well as providing a part-time job at UPS. This program provides the majority of the 6,500 part-time jobs at UPS Worldport - its 5,000,000 square foot sorting hub located at the center of Louisville International Airport. Metropolitan College is credited with allowing thousands of Kentucky high school graduates the opportunity to obtain a college degree or advanced technical training, who otherwise could not afford an advanced education.
Education
