Greg Cantrell strives to be a “go-giver” more than a “go-getter,” a philosophy he learned from the book The Go-Giver and from Gwinnett Chamber legend Judy Waters, who demonstrated the power of approaching business from the standpoint of giving first.
Cantrell explains, “Givers help people without any expectation of getting something in return. I watched Judy live and work that way, and it impressed me. It’s so much fun to give without any expectation of return.”
That mindset has shaped how Cantrell operates his business — Living Stone Properties, located on the Lawrenceville square — and has contributed to his ability to form strong relationships across Gwinnett County and metro Atlanta. “My business is relationship-driven. About 99 percent of my business comes from referrals,” he notes.
Cantrell describes Living Stone Properties as a “complete real estate broker,” reflecting the firm’s broad range of services. He works with buyers and sellers across residential and commercial properties.
“If it has to do with real estate, I can help you,” he says. “I really enjoy helping people, negotiating, putting transactions together and fighting for my clients.”
A licensed Realtor since 1992, Cantrell holds a broker’s license and is a CCIM designee, a leading commercial real estate credential. He is also a member of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors and the Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of Realtors.
Destined for Real Estate
Cantrell’s interest in real estate began early, shaped by his parents’ unusual hobby. “We never moved, but my parents looked at homes all the time,” he says.
One experience in particular stayed with him. He recalls, “My dad and I looked at a tract of land, but he didn’t buy it. Years later, we revisited it, and I saw how much more it was worth, even though nothing had been done to it. That really got my interest in real estate.”
Cantrell launched Living Stone Properties out of necessity when his former boss abruptly decided to close the brokerage where Cantrell worked.
“It was 2008 — during the crash. I had been married one year, had a brand-new baby boy and had built four spec homes,” he recalls. “We didn’t make enough to survive, but somehow we did. It was almost like a fish-and-loaves situation.”
After weathering difficult early years, Cantrell has led his company through significant growth while staying true to the relationship-first approach that defines his business.
Investing in Gwinnett’s Business Community
A longtime Gwinnett Chamber member, Cantrell draws a direct line between his involvement and his business success. “The relationships I’ve built through the Chamber have been key for my business,” he says. He has built those connections by consistently engaging in a range of opportunities — from monthly networking events to board service and participation in Strategic Leadership Visits, where local leaders travel to other cities to study best practices in economic development, talent and infrastructure.
As part of the Chamber’s Executive Committee, Cantrell has helped shape key initiatives that support members and strengthen the organization. One effort he was especially proud to contribute to was the renovation of the Chamber’s offices. He often uses the new Community Room after meetings, appreciating its convenience.
“It saves members time so they don’t have to run back to their offices between appointments,” he says.
Beyond the Chamber, Cantrell is deeply involved in community organizations. He currently serves with the Rotary Club of Gwinnett, the Atlanta Regional Commission Board and the Northside Gwinnett Hospital Foundation Board. His community engagement has also included the Lawrenceville Kiwanis and the Downtown Development Authority of Lawrenceville.
A Commitment to Family
Outside of work, Cantrell’s focus shifts to his family and their activities. “I spend my time doing whatever my four kids are doing,” he says. That often means keeping up with a full schedule of sports, from football to volleyball and more. “My best job is being a dad to my kids,” he says.
