Dallas began his commercial real estate career in 1982 at Atlanta Air Center Realty under the guidance of Thomas W. Tift, Jr. as leasing and management representative for the portfolio. In 1989, he became the first African American broker at Cushman & Wakefield of Georgia. His affiliation with the company opened doors for many minority brokers. In 1995, he pioneered the brokerage division for H.J. Russell & Company, an African American-owned construction and management firm, where he served as VP of the Brokerage Division. In 2006, with the blessing of the late Herman J. Russell, Dallas opened T. Dallas Smith & Company, specializing in tenant representation.

T. Dallas Smith & Company has led projects across the country with metrics exceeding more than eight million square feet of tenant and buyer representation in office and industrial space, and more than five thousand acres of land acquisitions. Since its inception, the team has grown exponentially, and with their combined experiences have successfully led transactions totaling over $16 billion in aggregate value. Dallas is an innovator and thought leader in the commercial real estate community and is intentional about cultivating and developing diverse talent to help shape the commercial real estate industry.

Dallas’ extensive board memberships emphacize his commitment to his community. As the chair of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, Dallas plays a pivotal role in shaping educational policies. He also serves on the boards of Georgia Power and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, where his strategic insights drive economic growth. He takes great pride in serving on the board of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs in honor of his former mentor H.J. Russell and the University System of Georgia Real Estate Foundation Manager, LLC, where he champions real estate development. His leadership role as Board Chair at the Westside Future Fund highlights his dedication to community revitalization. Additionally, Dallas’ involvement as a board member with the the Georgia Research Alliance and the Georgia Higher Education Facilities Authority reflects his commitment to civic engagement. Dallas is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta.

Dallas has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Most Admired CEO Award in 2021 and 2017, and the 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Atlanta Business League. Dallas’ leadership acumen is further illustrated by his historic role as the first Black president of the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS® in 2023 and his inclusion in Atlanta Magazine’s Atlanta 500 list for three consecutive years (2021-2023). Celebrated as a Distinguished Alumni by Georgia State University in 2023 and listed among Georgia Trend Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Georgians in 2022 and 2021, Dallas’ impact is far-reaching. He graduated with Leadership Atlanta’s Class of 1996 and continues to inspire others, as demonstrated by his leading T. Dallas Smith & Company to receiving the Microsoft Supplier Program (MSP) Prestige Award as the 2021 Rookie of the Year.