Ben and Paige Hakimian share an unlikely, immensely successful partnership built on mutual respect for their differences and similarities, and a deep love for one another.
Married for nearly 40 years, the Hakimians met at Regency Square when Paige was 19, and Ben was 25.
“He sold me a used Porsche 944,” says Paige. “And then he asked me out to lunch. Four hours later, we still weren’t ready to say goodbye.”
Paige, the daughter of San Marco orthodontist Dr. Clark Hoshall, was fascinated by this brilliant young man from Iran.
“Ben was the smartest man. His long-term vision matched mine so well,” she recalled. “We discovered that both of us were prolific savers and planners, and that, in spite of completely different backgrounds, we shared many of the same goals and values.”
Born in Tehran, Iran, his mother a school principal, and his father the owner of a general store, Ben came to the United States in 1977 at age 17. Iranian military service was mandatory at 18, and Ben had bigger plans. Inspired by his Uncle Ali Hashmi – head of Boy Scouts in Iran, a man of means and imagination who owned an engineering company and mentored him from an early age – Ben’s goal was to earn a degree in mechanical engineering and return to Iran. At that time, Iran was an ally of the U.S., but when the Iranian Revolution occurred in 1979, Ben decided to remain in “the land of opportunity.”
He began pursuing his degree at the University of Nebraska, working part-time in a restaurant and ducking into the library often to study and to escape the freezing temperatures. Before long, he was researching other U.S. universities, particularly those in warmer climes. For $88, he took a three-day Greyhound bus ride to Jacksonville to sign up for Florida Junior College. He worked at Quincy’s Steakhouse in Arlington and saved up money to buy a car.
By the time he met Paige Hoshall, the young entrepreneur had realized the automobile business was capital-intensive and offered great opportunities. A natural-born salesman, he was now in the business of buying, fixing, and selling automobiles.
Their long lunch was the beginning of an exciting, goal-oriented relationship. Paige, working on earning a degree in criminology from the University of South Florida, obtained her real estate broker’s license when she was a sophomore in college, and partnered with Ben to begin purchasing real estate.
“We would drive around searching for ‘For Sale’ signs,” said Paige. “Ben prepped me on sales and negotiating skills for each prospective, and purchases were under my name, as his Iranian last name was suspect in those years.”
They soon accumulated a great deal of property, but discovered that real estate is a long-wait game and the automotive recycling business was a short-term business solution to generate capital right away.
They began their automobile recycling company, E-auto, before they were married, and it grew into an extremely successful venture. At its height, E-auto was processing more than 7,000 cars a year. After they married and began having children, however, the automobile recycling business became more challenging. Many of its demands no longer aligned with their shared family values, culture, and mission, so in 1999, they transitioned to their current real estate acquisition and holding company, Hakimian Holdings.
“Everything we’ve done has been for our family,” said Ben. “At first, we lived modestly. Our first house was on Monument Road, an FHA purchase for $5,000 down with an assumable mortgage.”
The Hakimians’ six children (2000): Blair, Haley, Blake, Hunter, Brighton and Hollin.
They sold and saved and raised their six children – Blair, Haley, Blake, Hunter, Brighton, and Hollin – with loving discipline and strong values, teaching them to appreciate uniqueness.
Their Thanksgiving table was (and still is) like a Persian rug: rich with color and diversity, a place where laughter and intelligent conversation abound.
Paige had the advantage of growing up in an inclusive family.
“My step-father, Arthur Ettinger, was Jewish and Mom, Vicki Stone Ettinger, was Episcopalian,” said Paige. “We lived near the duck pond in San Marco, and my grandmother, Bishop Stone, and my grandfather, Vic Stone, owned McMillan Bedding Company. They were always generous with their time and talent. Grandmother Stone used to remind us that everyone is doing life for the first time.”
The Hakimian children were encouraged to be curious and questioning, always respectful and always learning.
“We took no vacations, had no big hobbies, never had a babysitter,” said Ben. “At one time, we held the record for having six kids at The Bolles School at the same time, but they never went skiing on spring break like many of their classmates. They were too busy working and learning.”
Conversations about values and goals were common in the Hakimian household. The children were encouraged to read historical biographies and grew up hearing about philosophies like that of Ben’s Uncle Ali: “Go toward what scares you. Roll up your sleeves and get the sword out. Work hard and remember that you must give up something to gain something.”
With heavy emphasis on faith and education, they regularly attended All Saints Episcopal Church and enrolled their children in college preparatory schools such as The Bolles School and Episcopal School of Jacksonville. All six Hakimian children attended top universities such as Dartmouth College, the University of Florida, Georgia Tech, The George Washington University, Stanford, and Georgetown University.
Five generations living in Jacksonville (1989) Mrs. Lillian Jarvis, Mrs. Bishop Stone, Mrs. Vicki Hoshall Ettlinger, Dr. Paige Hakimian and Miss Blair Hakimian
Today, Paige and Ben live in a lovely home on the St. Johns River in the Lakewood area of Jacksonville. Paige, who went on to earn several degrees, is now Dr. Paige H. Hakimian, co-founder and VP of community development and advancement for Hakimian Holdings. She has a PhD in psychology and serves on the teaching team of one of her alma maters, Harvard Extension School. She also serves on the vestry and board of directors for the Center for Wellbeing at St. John’s Cathedral, the board of trustees for the Episcopal Schools of Jacksonville, and as executive co-chair for the foundation board of Florida State College of Jacksonville.
Through their company and individually, Ben and Paige Hakimian are philanthropists who focus on giving back to their community. With a passion for both education and healthcare, Ben serves as a board member of Flagler College in St. Augustine, mentors student entrepreneurs in the business school, and serves on the board of Baptist Health Foundation.
Their son, Blake, now head of acquisitions and finance at Hakimian Holdings, is a double graduate of the University of Florida, simultaneously earning a master of science in real estate finance and a bachelor of arts in political science and public policy. Upon graduation in 2017, Blake was inducted into the University’s Hall of Fame for outstanding academic achievement and community leadership. As president of UF Habitat for Humanity, Blake grew the organization from approximately 80 student members to well over 500. With their enhanced volunteer base, they also completed the total renovation of two Boys and Girls Clubs in Alachua County.
Brighton, who earned her master’s in economics at Georgetown and double-majored in fine art and economics at the University of Florida, is now assistant controller at Hakimian Holdings. An artist in her own right, Brighton’s mural, the Baptismal Tree, graces the narthex of St. John’s Cathedral.
Hakimian Family: Ben and Paige with their four grandchildren: Clark, Galeh, Gia and Blake
Blair, the Hakimians’ oldest child, is also an accomplished artist, graduated with a degree in fine art from George Washington University, most recently doing the landscape rendering in watercolor for the Four Seasons. Hunter Hakimian earned his PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Florida and a degree in physics from Georgia Tech, and is currently a scientist at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. Hollin is a recent master’s graduate from Stanford University and is currently launching an educational app and starting her college consulting company.
Their daughter, Haley, who earned her master’s in public relations at Georgetown University, has contributed her expertise to philanthropy at Hakimian Holdings since returning home from D.C. a decade ago. She is married to orthopedic surgeon Sina Kasraeian and is the mother of the Hakimians’ four grandchildren: Clark, Galeh, Gia and Blake.
“We are proudest of our children and grandchildren,” said Paige. “If there was a hall of fame for the gift of love and respect, they have earned it. Our family has learned that humanity is all one family. We live by the 80/20 rule: Focus on the 80% we all have in common. We are better together.”