ABOUT US
Our Roots
In 1954 Charles Tomlinson started a small, forestry-consulting firm in the northwest Alabama. Back then, forest management was in its infancy and landowners had few markets for their timber. Only the most progressive landowners were spending money to improve their resources. Over the next 20 years, as more markets developed, the demand for timber increased, and the consulting business grew.
So much so that by the mid-1990s the business, then known as Tomlinson & Associates, was actively managing thousands of acres of land for both small and large landowners. These owners, who saw the potential for a return on investment, were spending to manage, improve, and protect their natural resources.
In 1997, Charles asked his son Stephan to join him as he was preparing to partially retire. At the time Stephan was co-owner of a logging business in Mississippi, as well as a consulting land broker so it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Growing Assets
Through the transition it became apparent that they needed to find a way to preserve the vast store of information Charles had amassed over the past 40+ years about the management of clients’ land; information that was difficult to find and now was in jeopardy of being lost. This led to the creation of the Growing AssetsTM Information Management Service; a project that began as a simple data storage system, and has grown into a multi-faceted and interactive software tool used to run the business.
In 2008, Tomlinson & Associates branched into Natural Resources Group to handle all land sales, and Growing Assets for land services.
The names have changed over the years, but the principles of honesty, integrity, and “mutual trade for mutual benefit” that have guided our business for over 50 years remain unchanged.
ABOUT US
Our Roots
In 1954 Charles Tomlinson started a small, forestry-consulting firm in the northwest Alabama. Back then, forest management was in its infancy and landowners had few markets for their timber. Only the most progressive landowners were spending money to improve their resources. Over the next 20 years, as more markets developed, the demand for timber increased, and the consulting business grew.
So much so that by the mid-1990s the business, then known as Tomlinson & Associates, was actively managing thousands of acres of land for both small and large landowners. These owners, who saw the potential for a return on investment, were spending to manage, improve, and protect their natural resources.
In 1997, Charles asked his son Stephan to join him as he was preparing to partially retire. At the time Stephan was co-owner of a logging business in Mississippi, as well as a consulting land broker so it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Growing Assets
Through the transition it became apparent that they needed to find a way to preserve the vast store of information Charles had amassed over the past 40+ years about the management of clients’ land; information that was difficult to find and now was in jeopardy of being lost. This led to the creation of the Growing AssetsTM Information Management Service; a project that began as a simple data storage system, and has grown into a multi-faceted and interactive software tool used to run the business.
In xxxxx, Tomlinson & Associates branched into Natural Resources Group to handle all land sales, and Growing Assets for land services.
ABOUT US
Our Roots
In 1954 Charles Tomlinson started a small, forestry-consulting firm in the northwest Alabama. Back then, forest management was in its infancy and landowners had few markets for their timber. Over the next 20 years, as more markets developed, the demand for timber increased, and by the mid-1990s the business, then known as Tomlinson & Associates, was managing thousands of acres of land for both small and large landowners. These owners saw the potential for a return on investment, and were spending to manage, improve, and protect their natural resources.
In 1997, Charles asked his son Stephan to join him as he was preparing to partially retire. At the time Stephan was co-owner of a logging business in Mississippi, as well as a consulting land broker so it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Growing Assets
Through the transition it became apparent that they needed to find a way to preserve the vast store of information Charles had amassed over the past 40+ years about the management of clients’ land; information that was difficult to find and now was in jeopardy of being lost. This led to the creation of the Growing AssetsTM Information Management Service; a project that began as a simple data storage system, and has grown into a multi-faceted and interactive software tool used to run the business.
In xxxxx, Tomlinson & Associates branched into two businesses: Natural Resources Group to handle all land sales, and Growing Assets for land management services.
Stephan R. Tomlinson
President, Real Estate Broker, Registered Forester
Experience
Stephan Tomlinson has been a licensed real estate broker and agent for more than 30 years, and in the business of buying and selling land for more than 35 years. He is a Registered Forester in Mississippi and Alabama, and a licensed Real Estate Broker in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. His past experience also includes time as a registered real estate appraiser, and a certified burn manager.
Early in his career he was an independent land broker and consultant, and co-owned a timber-harvesting business in Mississippi where he introduced the use of Scandinavian cut-to-length forestry equipment.  When his father Charles was looking to retire, Stephan partnered with him to run Tomlinson & Associates, one of the earliest forestry consulting businesses in the Southeast. Stephan later assumed ownership and over time expanded and diversified the business to better address the different needs within the real estate market: South Main Realty to focus on residential real estate services, South Main Land Realty for rural land real estate services, Growing Assets LLC for land management and consulting services, and Natural Resources Group for timber investment services.
Education
Stephan holds a B.S. in Forest Engineering from Auburn University, where he received the 1985 President’s Award for the outstanding forestry graduate from the Auburn University School of Forestry.
Organizations
He is a past member of Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Advisory Committee, the Council on Forest Engineering and the Society of American Foresters. He has been President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Forestry Association, and in 2023 retired from serving many years on its Executive Committee. In 2024 he completed his term as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Valley Art Association.
Stephan and his wife Rosario live in the home they designed and had built on a bluff overlooking the Tennessee River Valley in northwest Alabama.
Stephan R. Tomlinson
President, Real Estate Broker, Registered Forester
Experience
Stephan Tomlinson has been a licensed real estate broker and agent for more than 30 years, and in the business of buying and selling land for more than 35 years. He is a Registered Forester in Mississippi and Alabama, and a licensed Real Estate Broker in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. His past experience also includes time as a registered real estate appraiser, and a certified burn manager.
Early in his career he was an independent land broker and consultant, and co-owned a timber-harvesting business in Mississippi where he introduced the use of Scandinavian cut-to-length forestry equipment.  When his father Charles was looking to retire, Stephan partnered with him to run Tomlinson & Associates, one of the earliest forestry consulting businesses in the Southeast. Stephan later assumed ownership and over time expanded and diversified the business to better address the different needs within the real estate market: South Main Realty to focus on residential real estate services, South Main Land Realty for rural land real estate services, Growing Assets LLC for land management and consulting services, and Natural Resources Group for timber investment services.
Education
Stephan holds a B.S. in Forest Engineering from Auburn University, where he received the 1985 President’s Award for the outstanding forestry graduate from the Auburn University School of Forestry.
Organizations
He is a past member of Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Advisory Committee, the Council on Forest Engineering and the Society of American Foresters. He has been President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Forestry Association, and in 2023 retired from serving many years on its Executive Committee. In 2024 he completed his term as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Valley Art Association.
Stephan and his wife Rosario live in the home they designed and had built on a bluff overlooking the Tennessee River Valley in northwest Alabama.