Leveraging his education in finance and the drive to accomplish that he learned on the soccer field and basketball court, Stephen F. Been founded real estate development and construction firm Legacy Communities LLC in the early 1990s. Located in Atlanta, the company went on to complete projects throughout the Southeast and become one of the area’s top builders. Acting as Chief Executive Officer, Stephen F. Been oversaw the completion and sale of more than 1,750 homes in 2007. The following year, he announced expansion plans, and continued to grow the firm.

Stephen F. Been’s focus on achieving ambitious business goals seems to have begun in athletics, where he demonstrated talent, perseverance, and leadership skills. At Frederica Academy, a coeducational, nondenominational preparatory school situated on St. Simons Island, Georgia, he played on the basketball team for five years, earning several honors, including the Coach’s Award and the Headmaster’s Award. Stephen F. Been made it to the All-Region and All-State basketball teams and still holds the school record in rebounds (716).

Also a gifted soccer player, Stephen F. Been served as team captain and won Most Valuable Player honors in his time on the junior varsity team, as well as twice receiving Most Valuable Player recognition on the varsity team. He served as varsity captain in 1982, when Frederica Academy boys soccer won the State Championship, and he held positions on All-Region, All-State, and All-Star soccer teams. He was twice honored as Frederica Academy’s Most Valuable Male Athlete and received the United States Army Reserve Scholar/Athlete Award. Stephen F. Been used this award money towards earning his Bachelor’s degree in Finance from The University of Georgia. In September 2009, Frederica Academy inducted Stephen F. Been and several other memorable athletes as the inaugural group to join the school’s new Sports Hall of Fame.

Coming from generations of professional builders, Stephen F. Been shares his success with various charities. He also participated in his community by serving on the Frederica Academy Board of Visitors. He garnered Builder of the Years honors from Professional Builder magazine in 2009.