Dear CoreNet Global Community,

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Prentice L. Knight III, Ph.D., a visionary leader, educator, and cherished member of the CoreNet Global community.

Prentice served as CoreNet Global’s CEO from 2005 to 2009 and was the organization’s second Chief Executive Officer. During his tenure, he helped shape the strategic direction of the association and solidify CoreNet Global’s role as a leading voice in the corporate real estate profession. His influence extended well beyond his years as CEO through his enduring contributions as a thought leader, instructor, and trusted advisor.

A gifted educator, Prentice held degrees from the University of Georgia and the University of Illinois and taught economic geography at the University of Kansas and Dartmouth College.

He brought this academic rigor to CoreNet Global as a longtime instructor of the MCR Capstone course and as the leader of the Discovery Forum series. He was widely admired for his clarity of thought, engaging presence, and ability to elevate conversations across disciplines.

Those who worked with Prentice remember not only his intellect, but also his generosity, vision, and character.

Frank Robinson, MCR, President of IDRC in the 1990s, shared:
“Prentice was very bright and a strategic as well as practical thinker. He helped me very much at IDRC during my leadership days, and I will always appreciate that guidance.

Prentice was the key figure in the IDRC staff management team during some of our most rapid organizational expansion, both domestically and internationally. With his prior experience as an educator, he helped expand IDRC members’ educational opportunities to include a more strategic focus and leadership skills. He also encouraged us to research and educate our members on how to better understand the impact of our profession on our individual companies. While this may sound commonplace today, in the 1990s these ideas were entirely new and groundbreaking.”

Mike Joroff, Senior Lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, reflected:
“Prentice was the ultimate professional. He thought big into the future, and he executed for the here and now. He was a backbone of the transformation of corporate real estate into a high-value business service for organizations around the world.”

Jeff Elie, Vice President of Real Estate & Facilities, Kaplan, Inc., reflected:
"Premier educational leader, team player, thought challenger, visionary, family man, friend.  These are the words that come to mind when you think about Prentice Knight.  As a member of the integration committee for the merger of IDRC and NACORE and then Chairman of CoreNet Global, I was honored to work with Prentice in those early years. Those were hard working, late night, trying times to create CoreNet Global.  Prentice knew that we had to be professionally education driven to be successful, and he was spot on.  Additionally, I admired when the Board made a change at the CEO level of CoreNet, Prentice stepped up to keep the ship sailing in the right direction. 

Prentice's devotion was not only to the real estate world. He was a dedicated family man who spoke of his trips and ventures often, with that deep southern drawl.”

Raised in Macon, Georgia, Prentice combined warmth, humor, and intellect in a way that made people feel both challenged and welcome. His ability to connect ideas and people left a lasting impression across the industry.

Prentice is survived by his wife, Linda Knight, and his two daughters. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and to all who had the privilege of learning from and working alongside him.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Franklin Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Kentucky.

We honor Prentice’s life, leadership, and enduring legacy. He will be deeply missed, and his contributions to CoreNet Global and the corporate real estate profession will continue to resonate for generations to come.

With sympathy and remembrance,
CoreNet Global