Bivins Blog Real Estate Log Archives
Smith Earns Promotion
SANA ANA, Calif. – Grubb & Ellis Co. has promoted Kari Smith to vice president of operations after 15 years with the firm...........................................................
Helterbran Rejoins Grubb & Ellis
DALLAS – Veteran Bob Helterbran, CCIM, has returned to Grubb & Ellis Co. as vice president after spending nearly three years away at Transwestern Dallas.
Helterbran, who specializes in multifamily investment sales, originally joined Grubb & Ellis in 2005, also as a vice president. During his 36-year career, he has been involved in more than $600 million of investment sales.
"Bob has developed many long-term relationships and an in-depth understanding of the market. He is a forward-looking professional that will help us build our multi-housing presence in the area," said Moody Younger, executive managing director in Dallas, "and I'm delighted he's rejoining the team."
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California, Illinois Offices Get New Brokers
SANTA ANA, Calif. – Three industrial brokers have started at Grubb & Ellis Co. in its San Francisco Peninsula office and one 10-year veteran has been added in Rosemont, Ill.
In San Francisco, Mike Davis and JP Custodio were accorded vice president titles and Michael Draeger was named associate in their move from Coldwell Banker Commercial. Davis and Custodio have nine years of commercial real estate experience while Draeger is marking his fourth year in the business.
In Illinois, Richard M. Antczak, a 10-year veteran, has joined as vice president of the industrial group. He most recently was a vice president with Op2mize Commercial Real Estate.
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CBRE's Sulentic Releases CFO Reins
LOS ANGELES – CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. has promoted its chief accounting officer and CFO of the Americas group to replace Bob Sulentic as CFO. Sulentic remains president of the company.
The promotion went to Gil Borok, who joined CBRE in 2002 as corporate controller. In late 2008 and early 2009, he served as interim CFO.
"I am pleased to welcome Gil back to the CFO role," CBRE CEO Brett White said. "He has intimate knowledge of our finances and a deep understanding of our business….and has earned the respect and confidence of our board of directors and senior management throughout the organization."
White added Sulentic has "filled two crucial roles at a critical time, and has contributed enormously to our success in navigating through the sharp market downturn." Sulentic oversees day-to-day-business operations and human resources' functions.
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Emmons Returns to Grubb & Ellis
MIAMI – After a five-year hiatus, Larry Emmons, a 23-year veteran, has rejoined Grubb & Ellis Co. as a senior vice president in the investment group. He most recently was a director in the office and industrial group of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services.
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Grubb & Ellis Adds Two Execs
SANTA ANA, Calif. – Grubb & Ellis Co. has hired Hook McCullough as vice president and director of private capital markets in Newport Beach, Calif. office and Matthew Swantko as vice president of the retail group in Southfield, Mich.
McCullough spent the last 17 of his 35 years in the business at CB Richard Ellis. Swantko, marking his 21st year in the industry, was president and founding partner of the 16-year-old Source Real Estate & Investment Co. in southeastern Michigan.
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Younan Names COO
LOS ANGELES – Younan Properties Inc. has hired 22-year veteran, Robert C. Peddicord, for the newly created position of COO. He most recently was COO for Arden Realty Inc.
"Robert Peddicord brings significant commercial real estate experience and depth, which will help us to accelerate our growth," said Zaya S. Younan, chairman and CEO of the Los Angeles-based investment group. "As we expand our footprint in our target markets, it is imperative that we add a seasoned executive like Robert to help navigate our growth and execute our business plan."
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CBRE Names Team
LOS ANGELES - CB Richard Ellis Group announced the appointment of Jeffrey Ackerman, Jennifer Pierson and Christina Roush as the new leadership team for CBRE's Private Client Group (PCG) in the U.S. CB Richard Ellis' Private Client Group, part of the CBRE Investment Properties Group, serves the real estate investment needs of individual investors.
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G&E Adds Leaders in
Atlanta and San Francisco
ATLANTA - Brett Hunsaker has been named executive vice president and managing director of the Grubb & Ellis’ Atlanta office.
“Brett is undoubtedly one of the most respected commercial real estate professionals in the Atlanta area,” said Jack Van Berkel, chief operating officer and president, Real Estate Services.
SAN FRANCISCO - Bruce Carlson has joined the Grubb & Ellis as senior vice president, Retail Group, effective immediately. He will lead the San Francisco retail group in tenant and landlord representation, as well as investment sales.
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E&Y Expands Real Estate Tax Group
NEW YORK – Ernst & Young LLP has added Kevin Nishioka and Dawn Timan to its real estate tax practice.
Nishioka, a 13-year veteran, joined E&Y in May 2008 in its tax practice. Timan, with more than 10 years in the business, also moved over from the tax group.
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LMI Taps Richard Zigler
Houston - LMI Capital announced that Richard Zigler has joined the executive team of LMI Capital as Managing Director. Zigler's expertise in research, market analysis, and client services will enable him to complement the outstanding team of capital advisors already in place at LMI.
Ken Lawrence, Principal of LMI Capital, said: “Richard’s depth of knowledge, particularly in the multifamily industry, will be a vital ingredient in our growth and expansion.”
Prior to joining LMI Capital, Zigler was President of Kaplan Acquisitions in Houston, where he headed acquisitions for a multifamily developer.
Zigler previously served as Managing Director for Research and Consulting at O’Connor & Associates. Zigler was responsible for all strategic, operational, and business development activities of the research division. At O’Connor, Zigler served as primary feasibility consultant on real estate projects totaling in excess of $1.2 billion, helping clients make better decisions on potential real estate investments.
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Hall Financial Selects
New Leasing Director
FRISCO, Texas – After 25 years at Transwestern Dallas, Kim Vincent Butler has been lured away by Hall Financial Group. Butler has been tapped to replace Jean Farris, who recently retired.
Butler, marking her 26th year in the business, starts March 1. "Kim's vast experience in the Dallas leasing market, strong work ethic and tenured relationships in the real estate community make her an ideal fit for us at Hall Office Park," said Mark Depker, president of Hall Financial Group. "She is a well-known leader in the industry and we are pleased that she has chosen to join the Hall Financial Group team."
Butler consistently was one of Transwestern's top producers in its office division and is an award-winning "heavy hitter" in the North Texas market. She will spearhead leasing efforts for the 162-acre Hall Office Park.
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Corgan Shuffles Executives
DALLAS – As part of a management shuffle, Corgan has promoted a 32-year veteran to president and CEO to replace its current leader who has moved up to chairman of the board.
Bob Morris, currently a managing principal, is taking the reins from David Lind. Jon Holzheimer remains COO of the design firm. In other changes, Matt Mooney, Brian George and Steve Hulsey are joining Corgan's management committee.
"After working alongside David for more than 30 years, including the last 10 under his leadership as CEO, I have watched Corgan successfully open new offices across the country and internationally, in addition to landing monumental projects such as DFW International Terminal D, the headquarters for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, and most recently Parkland Hospital’s new campus," Morris said. "I am confident that we are poised for continued success and look forward to building Corgan's legacy for the future."
Lind, who joined Corgan in 1978, led the company through the design and construction of its corporate headquarters in downtown Dallas and the opening of offices in Phoenix, Miami, Sacramento and Beijing. He specializes in airlines and aviation facility design..............................................................
Alvarez & Marsal Adds Hunt
CHICAGO – Patrick R. Hunt, a 25-year veteran, has joined Alvarez & Marsal Real Estate Advisory Services as a senior director based in Chicago. He most recently was executive director of joint ventures for locally based First Industrial Realty Trust.
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Sebree Moves to HFF
INDIANAPOLIS – John S. Sebree has been named managing director for Indiana and the Midwest for Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP.
For the past 17 years, he has worked for Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, rising to senior investment associate and director of the National Multi-Housing Group. In 1998, he opened the Indianapolis office for the Encino, Calif.-based firm.
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Cobb Joins Grubb & Ellis
DENVER – James T. Cobb, marking 25 years in the industry, has come on board at Grubb & Ellis Co. as a senior vice president and local leader of its financial services asset management group.
Cobb co-founded BWAB Real Estate Ventures LLC, a subsidiary of BWAB Inc., in 2005 and was serving as a principal.
"Jim is well-known throughout the financial services industry in Denver and we are counting on him to play a critical role in servicing the needs of financial institutions and special servicers grappling with distressed commercial real estate assets," said Conrad Andersen, executive vice president of Grubb & Ellis' financial services asset management. "His addition is part of Grubb & Ellis' companywide initiative to build market share as the number of distressed assets grow over the coming year."
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Mohr Partners Opens Orlando Office
ORLANDO, Fla. – Andrew McCaw, a 25-year veteran, has been named managing director of a new office for Dallas-based Mohr Partners Inc. He most recently was a senior vice president in the office group of Grubb & Ellis Co.
"We expect to expand this office quickly with the addition of others who have shown an interest in joining Mohr Partners during our search," said Paula Nodwell, Mohr's managing partner. "We are definitely in an expansion mode having opened a new office in Cleveland in August 2009, with others opening in the near future."
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Gates and McGarry Expand Roles
at Jones Lang LaSalle
DALLAS - Jones Lang LaSalle announced the appointment of firm leaders John Gates and David McGarry to newly created, expanded positions serving as Director of Markets West and as Director of Markets East, respectively. Both executives will partner with the firm’s local Market Directors to integrate client service across the platform and to accelerate the firm’s local and national growth initiatives.
“These new positions will help drive geographic market and business line expansion as we remain focused on achieving market leading positions in all market segments where we choose to compete,” said Bill Krouch, Chief Executive Officer, Markets, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas. “John and Dave have the unique experience and skills to leverage and integrate our full service platform while driving market share gains in each of our business lines as we further penetrate our local markets."
As Director of Markets West, Gates will oversee integrated service delivery of the firm’s business from the West Coast to Chicago from his headquarters office in Dallas, Texas. In addition, he’ll maintain his current responsibilities as President of Americas Brokerage. He will also continue to serve on the Americas Executive Committee.
As Director of Markets East, McGarry will oversee the integrated service delivery of the firm’s markets from Canada though the eastern Midwest down the East Coast from his headquarters office in Washington, D.C. He will also continue to serve on the firm’s Americas Executive Committee.
Prior to joining Jones Lang LaSalle as part of the Staubach merger of 2008, Gates was President and Chief Operating Officer of the Staubach Company. McGarry joined Jones Lang LaSalle in 2006 in the firm’s merger with Spaulding & Slye, where he served as President of the Boston-based firm. Most recently, McGarry was Market Director for Jones Lang LaSalle’s Mid-Atlantic region. Mike Ellis has been appointed to McGarry’s prior position as Market Director of the firm’s Mid-Atlantic region.
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Jordan Returns to D/FW Retail
DALLAS – Transwestern Dallas announced that Larry Jordan has rejoined the Central region office as Senior Vice President, Retail Services. Jordan, who had been a member of Transwestern’s Retail Services team from 1997 until 2006, has returned to the Metroplex from Mobile, AL.
Jordan will oversee the leasing of several of Transwestern’s large retail projects, and utilize his retail asset management and marketing experience to provide proven solutions to special servicers and banks dealing with today’s complicated troubled real estate assets.
Prior to joining Transwestern in 1997, Jordan was president of his own retail brokerage firm, and had also served as Vice President of Asset Management for AMERSCO. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.
“Larry is an extremely talented real estate professional with over 30 years of experience in large land developments, land brokerage, retail leasing, and retail investment acquisitions and dispositions,” said Steve Williamson, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Retail Services. “
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HFF Hires Net-Lease Professional
DALLAS – Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP has added Coler Yoakam to its ranks as part of a corporate initiative to target single-tenant, net-leased real estate.
The net-lease team is led by managing director Mark West, with Yoakam as a director and Brandon Chavoya as associate director. "The net lease industry in its current state is highly fragmented and lacks a full-service dedicated intermediary that can provide quality knowledge of capital markets," West said. "HFF’s goal is to play an integral role in the net lease business by offering unique and creative solutions on a continuous basis to improve the quality and predictability of the client’s net lease program."
Yoakam has five years of experience in net-lease investment sales. He most recently was a senior associate at ConnectedNet Lease, an affiliate of Dallas-based Retail Connection.
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Deloitte's Alpert, O'Brien Earn Promotions
NEW YORK – Robert T. O'Brien will lead the U.S. real estate practice for Deloitte, succeeding longtime leader Dorothy Alpert, who has been named northeast deputy regional managing partner.
"Bob's broad background and global relationships position him well to execute for our clients. His more than 25 years of public accounting and transaction experience in the real estate and hospitality industries will prove to be an invaluable asset to Deloitte and to our clients in meeting the challenges of the current market dislocation," said Bill Freda, Deloitte's vice chairman and U.S. managing partner for clients and markets.
O'Brien most recently was the U.S. audit and enterprise risk management leader for the real estate practice and the initiative leader for Deloitte's global real estate funds. He joined the company in 1983.
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Grubb & Ellis Promotes Burback
SANTA ANA, Calif. – David Burback has been promoted to managing director to oversee and grow Grubb & Ellis Co.'s Northern Orange County and Inland Empire business. In marking his fourth year with the company, he is getting oversight for the Anaheim and Ontario offices.
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Portfolio Property Management Adds to Team
LAS VEGAS – Rhonda Panciro has been named senior property manager/leasing broker for Portfolio Property Management Global LLC.
Prior to joining the Boca Raton, Fla.-based company, Panciro was vice president of the office division for Colliers International. Her new duties include business development in Nevada and the West.
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New Office for Houston Realtor
HOUSTON - Rich Guderyon has been tapped as manager of the new Prudential Gary Greene Realtors office in the Cy-Fair area in the Highway 290 Corridor.
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New Portland Leader for Grubb & Ellis
PORTLAND, Ore. – Grubb & Ellis Co. has expanded the duties of Bob Dean, executive vice president and regional managing director in the Pacific Northwest.
Dean will assume regional management of the Portland office. He will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations for Sacramento, Roseville and Stockton, Calif., offices and regional oversight for Seattle.
In a press release, Grubb & Ellis' Jack Van Berkel, COO and president, said Dean's new duties are key to the company's plan for expansion in the region. Dean was instrumental in recruiting Bill Condon to lead the Seattle office.
"Grubb & Ellis has historically been a great contender and we plan to be very aggressive as we look to expand our presence," Dean said.
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Six Camden Employees Earn Promotions
HOUSTON – Camden Property Trust has promoted four professionals in its Houston office and one each in Dallas and Las Vegas.
In Houston, Alex Jessett and Kristy Simonette were named senior vice presidents. Jessett had been vice president of finance and Simonette had been vice president of information technology.
Also in Houston, Jimmy Whorton was made vice president of information technology and Margaret Plummer became vice president of employee development. Whorton previously was director of technical operations and Plummer was director of employee relations.
In Dallas, Dawn Mathwig rose to Central Division vice president from regional vice president. Elaine Withrow was promoted to Western Division vice president after serving as regional vice president of the Houston-based firm's Las Vegas regional office.
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Miller Named Trademark's President
FORT WORTH – Marking his 10th year with the company, Tommy Miller has been promoted to president of Trademark Property Co.
Miller rose to chief investment officer during his tenure. He also has served as CFO, development partner and an acquisitions executive.
"Tommy Miller is one of the brightest guys I know in the industry," said Terry Montesi, founding partner of the Fort Worth-based company. "He has worked tirelessly to build Trademark into one of the top retail and mixed-use firms in the U.S."
Miller led the development of the Woodlands' Market Street, a 560,000-sf mixed-use development north of Houston, and the Royal Oaks Shopping Center, a grocery-anchored project in West Houston.
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New President Leading Wedge Hotels
HOUSTON – Wedge Real Estate Holdings Inc. has named Brian Stage as president and CEO of Wedge Hotels Corp.
Gregory Armstrong, president of the Houston-based investment group, said Stage's experience is an integral component for Wedge's plan to increase the portfolio through new investments and acquisitions. "His depth of industry expertise and proven leadership talent create a solid foundation for our plans to significantly grow our hotel investments and overall portfolio in the next three years," he added.
Wedge's existing portfolio consists of the Radisson Hotel and Suites in Chelmsford, Mass., Sheraton Suites in Houston and the Wyndham Boston Chelsea Hotel and Marriott Courtyard, both in Shelton, Conn. If all goes as planned, the portfolio will double in size within two years and triple by 2013, according to Wedge's press release.
Stage formerly was president of Radisson Hotels & Resorts Inc. In starting his new reign, he said he initially will target investments in the Northeast US and Texas, where Wedge has an established presence.
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Grubb & Ellis' Hunt Gets New Role
SANTA ANA, Calif. – Grubb & Ellis Co. has promoted Chuck Hunt, executive managing director of Los Angeles, to oversee its newly created Southern California region.
Hunt, a 31-year veteran, has been leading the L.A. office since 2008. In addition to the day-to-day responsibility in L.A., he will oversee the Ontario, Anaheim and Newport Beach offices.
"Chuck has had tremendous success growing and improving our Los Angeles operations and I am thrilled he is taking on this additional responsibility," said Jack Van Berkel, COO and president of Grubb & Ellis' real estate services. "He's an effective leader and will play a key role in our growth in these markets."
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Camden's Sloan Earns Promotion
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Houston-based Camden Property Trust has promoted Tom Sloan to vice president of its Eastern Division. He previously was regional vice president of the Washington, D.C. office.
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Marcus & Millichap Capital
Forms Debt Advisory Group
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. has added a debt advisory services' division to its ranks.
The division will be led by newly hired directors Eric Gunderson and Deborah Schiavo, formerly of Highland Advisory Partners, and Brian Sullivan, who was a vice president of Deutsche Bank. The trio will assist borrowers with loan modifications and restructurings, loan maturity extensions, loan assumptions, discounted pay-offs and note purchases.
"As a borrower's representative, we act as a single point of contact between a buyer and seller in working with the loan servicer and other approval parties," said Gunderson, who most recently was Highland's principal and Schiavo was Highland's co-founder.
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CapStar Hotel Adds VP
ARLINGTON, Va. – Capstar Hotel Co. LLC has promoted Gary Klett to vice president of development as part of its plan to ratchet up acquisitions.
Klett will source, negotiate and close transactions for the Arlington, Va.-based company, which owns three hotels. "We are focusing on upscale, branded and independent hotels with the potential to operate as a 3.5- to four-star asset, with a particular focus on life-style properties, ranging in size from 150 to 500 rooms," said Klett, who was promoted from senior director of finance. "We are looking primarily in the major urban markets in the U.S. and Canada, where barriers to new competition are high."
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Bolton Taking Phoenix
Reins for Grubb & Ellis
PHOENIX – Grubb & Ellis Co. has scored a coup in the local market, swaying veteran Pete Bolton to return to the fold after a nine-year hiatus.
The hiring dovetails with Grubb & Ellis' announcement earlier this month that it will plant a company-owned office in the Phoenix metro. Bolton was named executive vice president, managing director.
"Grubb & Ellis has been an integral part of the Phoenix commercial real estate market for four decades. We have significant client relationships, which we believe will be better served through a company-owned office," said Jack Van Berkel, COO of the Encino, Calif.-based Grubb & Ellis and president of its real estate services. He added that Bolton "was the first person to come to mind" when the search for an office leader began.
Bolton had marked his ninth year at CB Richard Ellis, rising to senior managing director. He started with Grubb & Ellis in 1980 as an industrial broker and was one of its senior vice presidents in the market from 1996 until 1999.
"I'm thrilled to lead the charge, especially at the company where I began my real estate career," Bolton said. "Grubb & Ellis and I have always been committed to the Phoenix market, and we have every intention of attracting the best talent in the market place and building a full service office that puts the client first and delivers the integrated real estate solutions they expect." In the press release, Grubb & Ellis said recruiting begins immediately to fill the brokerage slots.
Bolton's return also puts him back at the side of a longtime partner, Greg Coxon, who now is president of brokerage services and head of Grubb & Ellis' Mountain region, which includes Phoenix. The two teamed at CBRE.
"It's back to the future," Coxon said. "Pete and I had a successful nine years as partners and accomplished a great deal together. I am very excited to be working with Pete and have responsibility for our Phoenix operations."
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Top Brokerage Team Shifts to JLL
SAN DIEGO – In a market coup, Jones Lang LaSalle has landed a five-member brokerage team with deep ties in the marketplace.
Joining JLL are Jay Alexander, SIOR, Chad Urie, Tim Olson, Ryan Grove, SIOR and Grant Schoneman. Formerly with Colliers International, the team has a portfolio of nearly five million sf in more than 30 office, research and development, industrial and life science properties.
"This team's breadth and depth of experience will be a great benefit to our clients," said Jan Pope, JLL's Southern California market director. "They represent some of the top talent in the San Diego brokerage community, and we are thrilled to have them as part of our team."
Alexander was named managing director; Urie, executive vice president; Grove, senior vice president; Olson, vice president; and Schoneman, associate.
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Grubb & Ellis Makes New York Changes
NEW YORK – Joseph Swingle rises to executive managing director of the New York office for Grubb & Ellis Co. to replace David Arena, who was marking his fourth year as the region's leader.
Arena, a 25-year veteran, has been promoted to chairman of the Tri-State Region. Swingle joined the firm in 1988. The 22-year veteran was executive managing director of global client services since 2004, overseeing more than 1,400 professionals and a dozen corporate clients that occupy in excess of 100 million sf.
"With Joe leading our day-to-day operations in New York and David focused full-time on nurturing and expanding client relationships, we are enhancing Grubb & Ellis' ability to expand its presence and better serve clients in one of the world's most important and complex markets," said Jack Van Berkel, COO and president of Grubb & Ellis' Real Estate Services.
Van Berkel credited Arena with raising the firm's profile in New York, resulting in its assets under management tripling under his reign. "Now is the right time for Joe to take the helm as we look to recruit high quality professionals and grow market share through service excellence," Van Berkel added.
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Hunt Midwest Names New President
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Ora H. Reynolds has been promoted to president of Hunt Midwest Real Estate Development Inc. She previously was vice president and general manager of the firm, which she joined in 1991.
"Since day one, Ora Reynolds has made huge contributions to Hunt Midwest and I am pleased to see her step into this new role," said Jim Holland, Hunt Midwest chairman. "We are confident she will do a great job of leading the Hunt Midwest team as the company continues to grow in the coming years."
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Corrigan Chairing Dallas Regional Chamber
DALLAS – David Corrigan, CEO of Corrigan Investments Inc., has taken over as chairman of the Dallas Regional Chamber.
The chamber has nearly 3,000 member businesses, which represent more than 600,000 employees in North Texas. As part of Corrigan's move into the chairman's role, W. Mike Baggett, chairman emeritus of Winstead PC, was named the 2011 chairman elect. The chamber's 92-member board got 14 new members this year.
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Ernst & Young Names Practice Leader
SAN FRANCISCO – Sean O' Reilly has been named manager of Ernst & Young LLP's transaction real estate practice. The native Californian will lead the practice from San Francisco, where he has been operating an independent real estate appraisal firm that he founded.
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IDI Hires Petta
FORT WORTH – Innovative Developers Inc. has brought Chris Petta on board as senior vice president of real estate services. He most recently worked as development manager/director of business development of health care for Cogdell Spencer Erdman Co. in Dallas.
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TREC Adds to Staff
DALLAS – Twenty-year veteran Beth Lambert-Saul and Tessa Doiel have joined The Real Estate Council as vice president of community affairs and membership manager, respectively.
"Beth brings a depth of commercial real estate, financial affairs and community involvement to this position. Tessa has a phenomenal sales background to recruit new members and to keep them engaged once they join TREC," said Michelle Corson, TREC's president.
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Younan Lands Hennessey
LOS ANGELES – Younan Properties Inc. has added a new post to the company, vice president of leasing, naming a former executive to head up the leasing initiatives for the company's 12 million-sf portfolio of class A office properties in the U.S.
Brian Hennessey, a 25-year veteran, spent the past three years as president of Westridge Realty Partners in Southern California. He was a senior vice president for Younan from 2003-06.
"With aggressive growth objectives in place for the next 12-24 months, it was imperative that we add a seasoned leasing executive to lead this effort nationally. Brian brings a background and expertise in commercial real estate and leasing, combined with a knowledge of Younan Properties that is unparalleled. He will work with our U.S. asset managers and outside brokers to ensure growth objectives are met," said Zaya S. Younan, chairman and CEO of the Los Angeles-based company.
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Highland Beefs Up Team
DALLAS – Clay Shumway has joined Highland Capital Management LP as a director in the business development group. The 10-year veteran most recently was vice president of business development and investor relations for Newcastle Capital Management.
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Encore Names VP
DALLAS –Julian Wells has started with Encore Equities LLC as a vice president. He most recently was a partner in Dallas-based Valquest Equity Partners.
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LoPinto Joins Kern/Ferry International
NEW YORK – Anthony LoPinto, founder and CEO of Equinox Partners, will lead the North America Real Estate Practice of Korn/Ferry International. He will be based in the New York City office.
LoPinto, who will be based in New York City, is a governor of the Urban Land Institute and a member of NAREIT, Pension Real Estate Association, Real Estate Roundtable and the National Multi Housing Council.
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Integra Adds Analyst
FORT WORTH – After interning with Integra Realty Resources, Allison Whitehead has joined is on board full time as an analyst. She recently earned a Master of Real Estate at the Mays Business School of Texas A&M University.
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Behringer Harvard Eyes Mid-East
DALLAS – Behringer Harvard has added a managing director of Middle East investments, targeting sovereign wealth funds, institutional capital and high net-worth investors in the Arab Gulf states.
Heading the push is David Alani, formerly managing director for Real Estate Capital Associates LLC of Bloomington, Ind. He is the son of Dr. Salman H. Alani, a world-renowned scholar and professor of Arabic linguistics and phonetics at Indiana University.
"Combining the resources of our organization with Mr. Alani's cultural and professional background will enable us to meet the needs of Middle Eastern real estate investors," said Robert M. Behringer, chairman of the Dallas-based investment group.
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Rogers Joins Dougherty Mortgage
PLANO, Texas – Jeffrey L. Rogers has been named senior vice president for Minneapolis-based Dougherty Mortgage LLC's Plano office. He most recently was with KeyBank in Dallas.
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Fisher House Board Taps Siegel
NEW YORK – Stephen B. Siegel, chairman of CB Richard Ellis' global brokerage, has taken a seat on the board of the Fisher House Foundation, a public-private partnership that supports America's military families.
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TCC Houston's Saphier Heads to DFW
DALLAS – Adam Saphier, marking his fourth year with Trammell Crow Co., will take the reins to the Dallas-Fort Worth Business Unit from its eight-year leader.
Saphier previously served as principal in TCC's Houston business unit. He replaces Denton Walker, who will remain with the group as a senior managing director, focusing on office and retail projects.
"I am excited that Adam is joining us to lead the DFW business unit and am pleased that I will now be in a position to spend all my time doing what I love to do best: sourcing and executing real estate deals," Walker said.
Saphier's specialty is class A office development as principal investments and fee basis. His recent volume has resulted in sourcing, financing, developing and leasing 1.5 million sf of office projects in Houston. His background includes sustainable building designs and co-chair of the Urban Land Institute's Houston executive committee.
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Kessler Tapped as McMahan's
Replacement as TAR's CEO
AUSTIN – Travis Kessler, CEO of the San Antonio Board of Realtors, has been picked from a field of more than 100 applicants to lead the Texas Association of Realtors. Kessler will replace retiring CEO Benny McMahan.
Kessler, with 32 years' experience, began his career in Fort Worth and spent the past 12 years with the San Antonio board. In November, he was accorded the William R. Magel Award, the highest honor for a Realtor association executive from the National Association of Realtors.
"Like any good CEO, he understands that it's not about what you did yesterday but what you'll do tomorrow. I have complete confidence placing the organization under his leadership," said McMahan, who has nearly 50 years in the industry.
McMahan founded a brokerage firm in Dallas in the 1960s and sold it in 1982 to become the executive officer of the Dallas Board of Realtors. He has been TAR's CEO since 1990, earning the William R. Magel award in 2007. He will step down as CEO after TAR's 2010 winter meeting, which concludes Feb. 23.
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New Board Members Named in Fort Worth
FORT WORTH – Nina Petty, vice president of strategic real estate services for Innovative Developers Inc. and Matt Carter of Fine Line Diversified Development have been appointed to Fort Worth's Downtown Design Review Board.
The new members, both employees of Fort Worth companies, will serve until October 2011 on the eight-member design board. Petty also was named chairwoman of the city's 20-member Modern Streetcar Task Force committee.
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CBRE Adds Director
LOS ANGELES – Dr. Laura D'Andrea Tyson, one of the nation's leading economists, has joined the board of directors for CB Richard Ellis Group Inc.
Tyson is the S.K. and Angela Chan professor of global management for the Walter A. Haas School of Business at University of California at Berkeley. From 1995-96, she was the national economic adviser to the nation's president and began a two-year term as the first female chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, beginning in 1993.
"It is an honor to have Dr. Tyson join our board," said Brett White, CBRE's president and CEO. "We will benefit tremendously from her insight and experience on economic affairs, international trade and business management."
Tyson became the 10th director for CBRE's board. Her background includes stints as dean of the Haas School of Business and the London Business School, author and board member of AT&T, Morgan Stanley, the Peter G. Peterson Institute of International Economics, Eastman Kodak Co., Silver Spring Network and the New America Foundation.
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Cushman Chairing Rock Creek Capital
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – John C. Cushman III, chairman of Cushman & Wakefield Inc., has been named board chairman for Rock Creek Capital, an investor in resource-rich land.
"The coming scarcity of water and arable land affects the entire world. Although I have mainly worked in the commercial real estate industry, my experiences as a director of the National Park Foundation and as a former Trustee of the Urban Land Institute have given me the background to see that the next logical step for real estate investment is to utilize and preserve land in an environmentally responsible manner," Cushman said in a press release.
The 17-year-old Rock Creek Capital is an alternative asset investment manager designed to deliver sustainable returns through opportunistic acquisitions of resource-rich land and increasing value through management, repositioning and resource enhancement.
"We are thrilled to be working with John and believe his expertise will be instrumental in our continued success," said James H. Dahl, founding partner of the Jacksonville, Fla.-based Rock Creek Capital.
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Integra Analysts Take Lead Roles
FORT WORTH – Greg Cook and David Harry, senior analysts with Integra Realty Resources DFW, have been installed as president and secretary, respectively, of the International Right of Way Association, Chapter 36, serving the Dallas, Fort Worth, Tyler and Waco areas........................................................
Jennings Joins Stream Realty
DALLAS – Jamie Jennings has been named acquisitions director of the industrial division for Stream Realty Partners LP. The veteran honed his skills at Kirtland Realty Group, Rainier Capital Management and Lincoln Capital Group.
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JLL Adds VP
BOSTON – Brian F. Connolly has joined Jones Lang LaSalle's Boston leasing team. He most recently was a vice president of Richards Barry Joyce & Partners.
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Ehrenberg At Helm of CBRE's
Global Facilities Management
LOS ANGELES – CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. has appointed recently hired senior managing director Maureen Ehrenberg to lead the global facilities management group.
"Moving Maureen into this role is a tremendous win for CBRE," said William Concannon, president of global corporate services. "Facilities management is a highly successful service line that we expect to grow more quickly under Maureen's leadership."
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SoCal Brokerage Team Moves to HFF
IRVINE, Calif. – Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP has added a leading investment sales team to its Southern California ranks.
Ryan Gallagher starts as senior managing director and Kelly Rohfeld begins as a director in the Irvine office, with their focus on institutional investment sales. Gallagher had been a senior vice president for Grubb & Ellis Co. and his partner was a vice president. In the past 40 months, the team has completed more than $1.4 billion of transactions in the Southwest.
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Grubb & Ellis Adds Retail Group Leader
SANTA ANA, Calif. – Branson Edwards has joined Grubb & Ellis Co. to lead the newly formed Retail Occupier Services Group. The executive vice president and managing director will be based in Chicago. The 19-year veteran most recently was managing director of Jones Lang LaSalle's Retail Outsources Services.
"Branson brings tremendous retail real estate field execution and corporate management experience," said Jack Van Berkel, COO and president of Real Estate Services. "He has participated in developing and managing thousands of stores as a retailer and as a service provider. Bringing him on board is a big step toward enhancing the level of service we can provide our retail occupier clients."
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McGrath Earns Promotion
HOUSTON – American Spectrum Realty Inc. has promoted Bill McGrath to director of operations from leasing director after nine years with the company. He will oversee all leasing and management for Texas for the company, which also has properties in California and Arizona.
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CBRE's LEED Ranks Hit 400
LOS ANGELES – Four hundred professionals in CB Richard Ellis Group Inc.'s ranks have been accorded LEED AP status by the Green Building Certification Institute.
According to the company, it now has LEED professional in nearly every service line that it offers. The company also has about 2,000 professionals who've completed BOMA's Energy Efficiency Program and more than 100 who've been designated as Green Knights, an in-house asset services program focused on sustainability.
"Putting the client first is a core value at CBRE and our professionals are constantly striving to ensure we have the expertise needed to deliver the significant economic and ecologic benefits demanded by today's commercial real estate market," said David Pogue, national director of sustainability for the Los Angeles-based brokerage house.
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D'Arcy Named President,
CEO of Grubb & Ellis
SANTA ANA, Calif. – Effective Nov. 16, Grubb & Ellis Co. will seat Thomas P. D'Arcy as president, CEO and a member of the board of directors.
"Tom is an experienced and respected executive in the commercial real estate industry and we are extremely pleased to have him joining our company," said C. Michael Kojaian, chairman of the board. "With the recent completion of the company’s recapitalization, we are confident that Tom will accelerate the execution of Grubb & Ellis' growth strategy and build long-term value for stockholders."
Gary Hunt has been acting as interim CEO. Anthony J. LoPinto of New York-based Equinox Partners conducted the company's search and recruitment of D'Arcy.
The 25-year veteran most recently was the non-executive chairman of Inland Real Estate Corp. Grubb & Ellis is "in a strong position to expand its leadership position in the commercial real estate industry, especially now while the market is in significant transition," he said. "I believe Grubb & Ellis has an enormous opportunity to leverage its talent, reach, proprietary research and local market expertise to create value for our shareowners, our clients and our employees."
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CBRE Trio to Studley
Micheal Palmer, John Simons and Aaron Howes, have left CB Richard Ellis and moved to the Studley tenant-rep firm. Palmer, senior managing director and Simons, corporate managing director, will expand Studley’s national Industrial Services Group to the Houston market, while Howes, corporate managing director, will continue with his tenant-focused corporate services work, both in the office and industrial sectors.
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Gould Wins
HOUSTON - Heather Gould, marketing director for Newland Communities in Houston, has won the 2009 Star Award for “Marketing Professional of the Year” from the Texas Association of Builders.
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Vickery Aims at Kingwood Commercial
Anne Vickery, a 20 year veteran of the real estate business, has joined Keller Williams Realty Northeast in Kingwood as an agent in the KW Commercial division. Vickery has been a leader in the commercial growth of the northeast Houston area.
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Janik Moves to Mohr Partners
DALLAS – Hank Janik has been named portfolio account manager for Mohr Partners Inc. The 25-year veteran of the restaurant/retail sector most recently was real estate director for Dallas-based Corner Bakery Café.
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Brokerage Team Joins Marcus & Millichap
TAMPA – CCIM members Bill Renje and Casey Babb are part of the Tampa team for Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services. The multifamily brokers, with a combined 15 years' experience, most recently were with NAI Tampa Bay.
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Ackman On Board With Mohr
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – Mohr Partners Inc. has added Stuart Ackman as managing director in Minneapolis-St. Paul. He most recently was vice president of the C. Chase Co.
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Gibson, McGalla Join HFF Board
PITTSBURGH – Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP's shareholders have elected Susan P. McGalla and Mark D. Gibson on its board of directors.
Gibson, a founding partner and head of the Dallas/Fort Worth office, had voluntarily resigned a three-year board position as a Class II director in May to ensure the company remained in compliance with the NYSE by reducing the head count to seven. McGalla was named as a Class III director and added to the audit and nominating committees.
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JLL Hires Millington
FORT WORTH – Gary Millington joins Jones Lang LaSalle as vice president of property management. He previously was an associate director for CB Richard Ellis.
Millington will work in the Fort Worth office. His duties include 550 N. Bailey Avenue, a seven-story, class A office building owned by locally based Goff Capital. JLL manages and leases about 14.5 million sf in Dallas/Fort Worth.
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Reins Change in Fort Worth
FORT WORTH – Marking his eighth year with the firm, David Luther has been named regional manager of the Fort Worth office for Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services. He has been sales manager in Fort Lauderdale since March.
Luther, a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, succeeds Drew Kile. He is a five-time winner of the brokerage firm's National Achievement Award and has earned six sales recognition awards.
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Dudley Joins Mohr Partners
DALLAS – Jonathan Dudley, a 10-year veteran, has been named recruiting manager for Mohr Partners Inc. He is responsible for recruiting in the corporate office and locations west of the Mississippi River. He most recently was vice president of Site Selection Group LLC.
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Sours, Kelly Return to CBRE
DALLAS – David Sours and Kevin Kelly have rejoined CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. after a short stint at Lee & Associates DFW. The team specializes in leasing and sales of food facilities nationwide.
"David and Kevin are valuable assets of CB Richard Ellis here in Dallas and across the nation," said Michael Caffey, CBRE's managing director. "They know their specialty extremely well and have had great success here over the years. We are very happy to have them back with us." Last year, the specialty brokers completed deals for more than 2.6 million sf of freezer, cooler and food production space in the US.
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Encore Gets Construction VP
DALLAS – Curtis Bentley starts as vice president of Encore Construction LLC, a subsidiary of locally based Encore Enterprises Inc. The 28-year veteran spent the past 11 years at JPI, rising to construction manager and regional vice president.
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Legend Properties Joins TCN Worldwide
PHILADELPHIA – TCN Worldwide has added Legend Properties Inc. to its membership roster.
The 19-year-old Legend Properties will be the retail affiliate in Greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey for the international organization.
"This partnership will be an asset to our company as we expand into new markets, providing us the ability to offer our clients an expanded array of services on a local, national and international basis," said James DePetris, CEO and broker of record for Philadelphia-based Legend Properties. The TCN pact also includes Legend's markets of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, Pa.
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Tarrant County Businesses Honored
FORT WORTH – Innovative Developers Inc. and Sanders Travel Centre have won top honors in the 2009 Greater Tarrant Business Ethics Awards, a regional competition. The next stop is the American Business Ethics Awards, which will be presented this month.
The awards are bestowed on companies that demonstrate a firm commitment to ethical business practices in their everyday operations, management philosophies and in response to crises or challenges. Other finalists for the fifth annual event were Frank Kent Motor Co. and Kubes Jewelers. Judges were professors and instructors from Texas Christian University.
"For 40 years, we've developed and built projects and never had any contractual litigation. We're extremely proud that we’ve never been in court for a contract dispute with a client, subcontractor or tenant," said Glen W. Hahn, president and CEO of Innovative Developers. The firm's leadership includes Nina Petty, Mark Presswood, Brad Rupay, Eric Robinson, Harold "Red" Tatro, Bob Edmondson and Lisa Kruczynski.
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Grubb & Ellis Adds to Ranks
SAN FRANCISCO – Grubb & Ellis Co. has brought vice presidents on board in San Francisco and Edison, NJ.
David Ford joined as vice president and director of management services in Northern California. For the past eight years, he has been president of Asset Management Services.
In New Jersey, Robert F. Black, CCIM, has been added to the office group. The 35-year professional most recently was principal and COO of Black & Co.
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Marcus & Millichap Promotes Associate
TAMPA, Fla. – Marking his third year with the firm, Travis Prince has been promoted to senior associate in Tampa office for Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services.
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Nowak Named COO
HOUSTON - Means Knaus Partners has appointed Bob Nowak to the position of Chief Operating Officer. Nowak, who joined Means Knaus in July of 2008, previously served as the company’s Senior Managing Director for the western United States.
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Truitt Tops in Sales
HOUSTON - Kim Truitt, with the Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors Sugar Land office, recently received an award from Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. for second place in closing the most residential units in Texas for the second quarter.
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Wieneke Heads to Grubb & Ellis
SEATTLE – Richard Wieneke, a 28-year veteran, has been named senior vice president of Grubb & Ellis Co. He spent the majority of his career at Kennedy Associates Real Estate Counsel Inc.
"Richard is one of our city's most accomplished commercial real estate practitioners. He brings extensive experience and relationships and will be an asset as we continue to build our presence in the Seattle market," said Bill Condon, managing director of Grubb & Ellis' Seattle office.
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Landscape Architects Society Seats Board
WASHINGTON, DC – The American Society of Landscape Architects has inducted Gary D. Scott, FASLA, as its 65th president of the 17,000-member organization.
Scott is director of parks and recreation for West Des Moines, Iowa. ASLA's president-elect is Jonathan Mueller, a senior landscape architect with Landmark, a studio of Architects West in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho.
The organization's three new vice presidents, all starting two-year terms, are Liz Birkholz of Seattle, Stephanie V. Landregan of the University of California Los Angeles Extension and Richard S. Hawks of Syracuse, NY.
Marking their second year as vice presidents are Pamela M. Blough, Brian J. Dougherty and Gary A. Brown.
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Hendricks & Partners Gets New Broker
ST. LOUIS – Andrea Aston Kendrick has joined Hendricks & Partners' regional office in St. Louis. She most recently was an investment adviser for Grubb & Ellis|Gundaker Commercial Group in St. Louis.
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Listingbook Names Exec
Ray Gronowski has been named Senior Vice President of Sales & Partnerships at Listingbook, a Greensboro, N.C.-based provider of a client-servicing software system for real estate professionals.
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Jones Lang LaSalle Adds Senior Broker
DALLAS - Michael Haggar has been named senior associate for Jones Lang LaSalle's industrial practice in Dallas/Fort Worth. He had been an associate with Stream Realty Partners LP.
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A10 Capital Taps McClure
DALLAS – Mark McClure, a 25-year veteran, will lead the Texas office of Boise, Idaho-based A10 Capital. The new executive vice president has completed more than $4 billion of commercial transactions as a senior-level professional for Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs' Archon Financial Group, Credit Suisse's Column Financial Inc. and New York Life.
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Grubb & Ellis Lands 22-Year Broker
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Gary Bechtel, marking 22 years in the business, has joined Grubb & Ellis Co.'s Newport Beach office as a senior vice president. He will be responsible for arranging debt financing and equity needs of clients as the office inroad into mortgage brokerage.
Bechtel has completed roughly $7.5 billion of commercial debt transactions during a 22-year career. He most recently was managing director of institutional accounts for Hometown Commercial Capital, which he joined in 2008, and previously managing director of the West Coast operations for Meridian Capital Group.
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Payne Promoted to SVP, Co-Manager
DALLAS – Stream Realty Partners LP has promoted Sarah Payne to senior vice president and co-manager of the Dallas/Fort Worth office building management and leasing business unit.
Payne joined the company in 2006 and was the firm's top producer in 2007. Since 2005, she has earned or been in competition for numerous brokerage awards.
Payne will co-manage the group with Stream's co-founder Mike McVean. "We are very proud of this milestone event in Sarah's amazing career and our history," he said. "While tales of Sarah's leasing success are well known, we look forward to witnessing and sponsoring her continued growth as a leader and manager."
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Veteran Returns to Kennedy Wilson
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Kennedy Wilson Auction Group has returned 20-year veteran Andrew Levant to its team. For the past 10 years, Levant worked as a commercial mortgage broker.
Levant starts as senior managing director of business development. "The market has gone full circle and so too has my career," Levant said. "This literally marks a return to my roots as a broker, where I first started in 1987 when Kennedy Wilson was known only as a boutique real estate auction-marketing firm." Levant's background also includes stints with George Smith Partners, Finova Realty Capital, JE Robert Cos. and VMS Realty Partners.
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Encore Adds SVP
DALLAS – Kurt Maerschel has joined Encore Capital LLC, a subsidiary of locally based Encore Enterprises Inc.
Maerschel will work with recently hired Encore Capital president Donna Arp to launch the $250 million Encore Opportunity Fund II, which carries an option for a $150 million expansion. The fund is expected to close in the fourth quarter. Maerschel was president of Maerschel International Consulting LLC prior to joining Encore.
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Forestar Lands Weber as EVP
AUSTIN – Phil Weber, with more than 15 years' experience, is the new executive vice president for Forestar Group Inc. Since 2006, he has been a senior vice president of multifamily lending for Fannie Mae.
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Real Estate Veteran Leading
L.A. HQ Association
LOS ANGELES – Gregory Schultz, managing director of First American Title Insurance Co., has been named president of the Los Angeles Headquarters Association for 2009-10.
Schultz is a 20-year member of the headquarters association. He's also a member of the Real Estate Roundtable, National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, International council of Shopping Centers and Urban Land Institute's Los Angeles District Council executive committee.
"Greg is taking over the reins at a very trying time in our economic history," said outgoing president Lynda Sybrandt. "However, his intimate knowledge of our local business landscape will clearly help our members push our city's prosperity into the future."
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CoreNet Global's CEO Retires
ATLANTA – Dr. Prentice Knight is retiring as CEO of CoreNet Global, a position he's held since April 2006. In the coming weeks, the board will name an interim CEO to accept the reins from Knight and begin its search for a long-term replacement.
"Prentice became CEO of CoreNet Global at a challenging time for the association, and has not only expertly steered us towards an exciting future, but has done so during the worst global recession in living memory," said Barry Varcoe, chairman of the Atlanta-based global board. "We recognize, however, that Prentice has made significant personal sacrifices in undertaking this role, spending much of his time away from his Kentucky home and family. We accept his wish to retire now with our thanks and best wishes for his future."
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Florida Broker Earns Promotion
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Richard D. Matricaria has been named sales manager in the Fort Lauderdale office of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services. He joined the firm in November 2000 and became a senior investment associate in 2008.
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JLL Taps Ingham to Lead Office
IRVINE, Calif. – Jeffrey Ingham, a top producer for 14 consecutive years, has been named brokerage leader of Jones Lang LaSalle's 15-broker office in Orange County. He replaces Leland Bruce, who is returning to full-time brokerage.
"With an impressive track record in Orange County brokerage for the past several years, Jeff is the perfect fit to lead our team," said Jan Pope, JLL's Southwest market director.
Ingham, who is an executive vice president, will continue as a tenant representation broker and develop new and innovative commercial real estate solutions for tenants and landlords in the market.
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HFF Adds Los Angeles Director
LOS ANGELES – Christopher Vittetoe has been hired as a director in Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP's debt placement group in the Greater Los Angeles region.
Vittetoe will focus on multifamily properties in Southern California and Western U.S. During his career, he has been involved in more than $750 million of transactions, including agency financings. He most recently was a mortgage banker at CapMark Finance Inc.
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C&W Team Heads to Grubb & Ellis
NEW YORK – Grubb & Ellis Co., notching its belt one more time, has hired Jon Epstein, Charles Kingsley and Yoav Oelsner.
The leading middle-market specialists were with Cushman & Wakefield Inc.'s capital markets division. In the past six years, the team has sold more than $2.2 billion of assets, including the Plaza Hotel, 530 Broadway, 225 Fifth Ave., 90 West St. and 610 Lexington Ave.
Grubb & Ellis' back-to-back hires in recent months have expanded its capital markets team to 29 professionals. "While other real estate firms are downsizing, Grubb & Ellis is recruiting and attracting top talent," said David Arena, president of Grubb & Ellis New York. "Our investment sales capabilities are strong because of institutional quality expertise and execution within the middle market size range – properties trading at or under $100 million. Jon, Charles and Yoav will play a huge role in taking our business to the next level."
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Lee & Associates Broker Nabs CCIM
PLEASANTON, Calif. – Gabe Stephenson, associate with Lee & Associates-Pleasanton, has earned his CCIM designation.
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PKF Director Joins Executive
Women's Partnership Board
HOUSTON – Karen Love, director of PKF Texas, has been named as a member of the Executive Women's Partnership committee for the Greater Houston Partnership.
"This is an outstanding group of women and I am humbled at the opportunity to interact with them through this committee. With PKF Texas' international focus, my participation with this committee fits in with the goals of the firm," said Love, who also chairs the advocates committee and is a member of the business leadership council, Opportunity Houston steering committee and working chair of the 2009 World Trade Soiree.
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Fertitta Heads to Colliers
HOUSTON - Charles G. Fertitta Jr. has been named senior vice president of the office and industrial divisions at Colliers International. Fertitta focuses on tenant advisory and corporate services including leasing, sales, and structured finance. Prior to joining Colliers International, Fertitta was a senior vice president at Moody Rambin for over 11 years.
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Venture Boosts Team to 31 Brokers
DALLAS – Venture Commercial Real Estate LLC has added nearly 60 years of brokerage and development experience to its team, picking up three seasoned professionals and taking the total to 31 brokers in Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston.
Starting as senior vice presidents are Bob Moore and David Schnitzer. Earlier this summer, Chris Corbin came on board as a vice president.
Moore, marking his 40th year in the industry, was vice president of The Woodmont Company for 15 years. Schnitzer, working through his seventh year in retail brokerage, was vice president of The Weitzman Group. Corbin, an 11-year veteran, relocated earlier this summer from Salt Lake City, where he spent the past two years in redevelopment and leasing for Phillips Edison & Co.
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Lyons Returns to ProLogis Board
DENVER – Irving F. "Bud" Lyons III has rejoined ProLogis' board of trustees after a three year hiatus. The appointment fills the 10th seat on the 11-member board.
Lyons was a member of the Denver-based firm's management team from 1993 until 2004, when he resigned as chief investment officer. He served on the board for 10 years, beginning in 1996. After his retirement, he managed a private investment firm, Lyons Asset Management.
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Barnello Becomes LaSalle CEO
BETHESDA, Md. – LaSalle Hotel Properties has implemented a succession plan for Jon E. Bortz, who retired last week after 11 years at the helm. Michael D. Barnello has been named CEO of LaSalle Hotel Properties and Stuart L. Scott, lead director, will become chairman of the board, effective immediately.
Barnello joined the firm in 1998 when it launched its initial public offering. "The continuity of his leadership and commitment to excellence positions LaSalle Hotel Properties to continue to be a leader in the hotel industry," Scott said in a press release.
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CBRE Launches New Group
HOUSTON – Richard Dagnall and Tom Kosonen are launching an Assessment & Consulting Services Group for CB Richard Ellis Group Inc.
Dagnall is a 20-year veteran who most recently was vice president of LandAmerica Assessment Corp. in Houston. He starts as a senior managing director for the Los Angeles-based brokerage firm, retaining Houston as his home base.
Kosonen, who will be based in New York, has been accorded a managing director's title with his transition to the firm. The 30-year veteran, also a registered architect, has been employed at several financial institutions, including a stint as managing director for Bear, Stearns & Co.
"Adding environmental and property condition assessment services to our industry-leading valuation platform puts CBRE in a unique position to offer our clients true one-stop shopping," said Thomas B. McDonnell, MAI, CCIM, president of CBRE's Valuation & Advisory Services Group.
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Grubb & Ellis Adds Two, Promotes One
SANTA ANA, Calif. – Grubb & Ellis Co. has picked up 19-year veteran Charles Davidson for its Philadelphia office and returned Gary Womack to its Ontario, Calif., team after a 17-year absence from the firm. In Fairfield, N.J., the firm promoted Lisa Kochan to assistant vice president of the management services division.
Davidson, the firm's new senior vice president, was an SVP with BPG Properties Ltd. since 2007, directing its activities in the Washington, D.C., office. Womack joined the company as a vice president in the industrial group of the Inland Empire after spending the past decade as owner and principal of California Asset Management.
Kochan's new role comes with the oversight of day-to-day operations for central and north New Jersey. The firm has offices in Fairfield and Edison. Kochan joined the company in 2001.
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Fort Worth Exec Earns CCIM
FORT WORTH – Dak Hatfield, development manager of Innovative Developers Inc., has added a CCIM designation to his achievements.
"The CCIM certification puts Dak in an elite group of real estate professionals. This set of skills and specific knowledge blends well with our desire to create a trusted advisor relationship with our clients," said Glen Hahn, president and CEO of Innovative Developers.
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Webb Earns New Designation
DALLAS – Russell Webb, vice president of Stream Realty Partners L.P. has earned his Certified Commercial Investment Member designation by the CCIM Institute. He was one of 199 commercial real estate professionals in the country to pass the recent exam in Chicago.
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Struble, Ivy Join NAI Robert Lynn
DALLAS – Jim Struble, SIOR, and Conner Ivy, CCIM, join the NAI Robert Lynn as senior vice president and vice president, respectively.
Struble most recently was with the former Richter, Reynolds & Lapp while Ivy ran his own shop for several years. "By bringing on board seasoned investment brokers Jim Struble and Conner Ivy we are poised to meet the critical challenges facing real estate investors in today's changing market while fulfilling another client needs. Our next step will be to include multifamily investments," said Mark Miller, president of the 36-broker firm in Dallas.
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Regency Adds Managing Director
LOS ANGELES – Mac Chandler has been named managing director of the Pacific Region for Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers.
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FirstService Adds Six Professionals
SEATTLE – FirstService Real Estate Advisors has landed Scott Nelson as principal and president of client solution design, and Mark Rosenthal as national director of operations. Also joining the company are Muscoe Garnett, Andrew Ferguson, Vance Spilman and Alicia Fritter.
Nelson, a well-known broker in Atlanta, will remain in his homeport to lead the growth and development of FirstService's global workplace solutions business. His teammate, Rosenthal, also stays in Atlanta, with his new day-to-day duties including responsibility for process improvement and information technology. The team had been with GVA Advantis.
"Scott and Mark and their team bring a wealth of experience and gravitas to a critical service area, providing a best-in-class, customized real estate strategy to corporate clients with multiple locations throughout the U.S. and around the world," said Dylan Taylor, president of U.S. operations for FirstService REA.
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CBRE Picks Up Ehrenberg
CHICAGO – CB Richard Ellis has added Maureen Ehrenberg as a senior consultant for its global corporate services group. She most recently led the global client services unit for Grubb & Ellis Co.
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Stone Gets Grubb & Ellis Promotion
NEW JERSEY – Eric Stone rises to executive vice president and managing director of Grubb & Ellis Co.'s Northern and Central New Jersey operation. He joined the company in 2005 as a vice president and director of management services.
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Younan Hires One, Promotes One
LOS ANGELES – Younan Properties Inc. has hired Terry Smolich as vice president of human resources to replace Sarah Sadat, who's been promoted to a newly created position of director of finance and treasurer.
Smolich was vice president of human resources for Arden Realty Inc., now part of General Electric, from 1995 to 2007. "During that time, Terry managed all aspects of the HR function and assisted in Arden’s considerable growth from a 40-person firm to the largest landlord of office space in Southern California," Zaya S. Younan, chairman and CEO of Los Angeles-based Younan Properties Inc.
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Grubb & Ellis Adds VP
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Thomas Horvath has joined Grubb & Ellis Co. as a vice president of the investment group. The 30-year veteran spent the past five years sourcing and completing acquisitions for a private investor in the Silicon Valley.
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Leading L.A. Broker Changes Shops
LOS ANGELES – Robert Stepp, one of the region's top multifamily brokers, has joined the West Los Angeles team of Hendricks & Partners. Starting as an associate partner, Stepp is owner and principal of Fortune Income Properties in Long Beach, Calif.
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Concannon Takes Lafitte's
Seat in CBRE Shuffle
LOS ANGELES – In another power promotion for a Dallas-based executive, CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. named William Concannon as president of Global Corporate Services. He succeeds Michael J. Lafitte, who just yesterday was seated as president of the Americas for the Los Angeles-based company.
Concannon was promoted from vice chairman of Global Corporate Services. The longtime senior leader helped to meld the group's success in the U.S. and abroad. Earlier this year, CBRE was named to the Top 10 Global 100 outsourcing firms by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals.
Since the CBRE-TCC merger, Global Corporate Services has added 75 new clients, including the FDIC, Ontario Realty Corp. and the state of Michigan and expanded its service offering for 62 existing clients, many of which are in the Fortune 500 ranks or higher.
"Bill is a natural leader and the obvious choice to ensure the continued strong growth of our GCS business," said Cal Frese, who turned over his reins to Lafitte to become CBRE's Global COO. "He is a pioneer in the corporate services field with intimate knowledge of client needs and opportunities. Our GCS clients and employees alike are in good hands with Bill at the helm."
Concannon, like Lafitte, joined CBRE as part of the CBRE merger in December 2006. His credits include launching TCC's corporate services division in 1991 and guiding to an international force that became one of the focal point of the merger talks. Concannon began his career in 1986 with TCC, moving up to the board of directors five years later and staying there until the merger.
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Venture Gains Schnitzer
DALLAS – David Schnitzer has joined Venture Commercial as a senior vice president. He previously was with the Weitzman Group.
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IDI Promotes Petty
FORT WORTH – After two years with the company, Nina Petty has been named vice president of strategic real estate services for Innovative Developers Inc. She is a founding member and current chair of the Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Council.....................................................................................
Lafitte Rises to CBRE President, Americas
LOS ANGELES – CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. has appointed Michael J. Lafitte to succeed Calvin W. Frese Jr. as president of the Americas division. Earlier this year, Frese was named COO.
For the past 2.5 years, Lafitte has been president of the institutional and global corporate services group. In his new role, he will direct CBRE's largest business segment, a division that generated more than $3.2 billion last year for the company.
"Mike is the perfect person to lead our Americas operations to the next level of success," Frese said. "He is widely respected by our employees and clients alike and is a great leader who lives-out our corporate values."
Lafitte, a Dallas resident, became part of the CBRE team in December 2006 with the acquisition of Dallas-based Trammell Crow Co. Now marking his 25th year in the industry, he joined TCC in 1997 after a production stint at Bear Stearns Real Estate Group. Lafitte began his commercial real estate career as a leasing agent for Lincoln Property Co., also Dallas headquartered.
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Cisneros' CityView Adds to Ranks
LOS ANGELES – San Antonio native Henry G. Cisneros, former U.S. secretary of HUD, has added two key players to his CityView team.
Joining the Los Angeles-based investment group are J. David Martin and Lee H. Wagman, who are starting as vice chairmen and co-owners of CityView's investment management company. Since Cisneros' launch of CityView in 2000, the team has generated more than $2 billion of urban investment in workforce and smart growth development for 45 cities in the nation.
The new vice chairmen have worked closely for six years with CityView's team. Cisneros said the personnel addition "underscores our commitment to our mission of providing 'Smart Capital for Smart Growth.'" The senior executives' "deep operating, development and management experience" is particularly needed during current economic times, he added.
Cisneros will continue as CityView's executive chairman and co-founder Victor Miramontes as the longtime investment manager. Sean Burton remains as president and COO.
"There are going to be extraordinary near-term opportunities to invest in U.S. real estate and infrastructure," Wagman said. "We are tremendously excited about working with Henry, Sean and the entire CityView team to take the next logical step toward expanding our relationship and our urban investment strategies." Martin was founder and chairman of the 25-year-old Martin Group while Wagman was its CEO.
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Dallas Regional Chamber Adds VP
DALLAS – Duane Dankesreiter has joined the Dallas Regional Chamber as vice president of business information and research, a post designed to support economic development region-wide. He spent the past 14 years with the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
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Irvine Co. Hires One, Promotes Two
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – The Irvine Co. has hired Doug Holte, a veteran of Houston-based Hines, to succeed Val Wheeler as president of the office properties division. Wheeler has been named division chairman, a newly created post.
Wheeler joined the company in July 2003 as senior vice president of asset management, rising to president in 2007. Holte has spent more than 20 years at Hines, climbing to one of four regional partners responsible for development, investment and asset management in the Western U.S.
Also, Steve Case has been promoted to executive vice president of office properties and will continue to lead the leasing team. He joined the company in 2004.
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CBRE's Carter Gets New Role
LOS ANGELES – CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. has named Theodore Carter, executive managing director of the public institutions and education solutions group, to a leadership role in the company's African American Network Group. He joins Eric Yarbro, a senior vice president in CBRE's Midtown Manhattan office and founder and co-chairman of the 80-member group.
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Cole Adds 30-Year Veteran
PHOENIX – Kim Kundrak has joined Cole Real Estate Investments as a senior vice president and chief acquisitions officer. The 30-year veteran most recently led the acquisitions department for the publicly traded Realty Income Corp.
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Wells Joins CresaPartners
PORTLAND, Ore. – CresaPartners has added Mike Wells, a LEED-accredited professional to oversee industrial tenant advisory and development management business in Greater Portland. He was co-founder of Wells Oits Development LLC, which developed nearly 1.8 million sf of commercial space since 2000.
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JLL Promotes 25 in Boston
BOSTON – Jones Lang LaSalle has promoted 25 professionals in the Greater Boston office. Named as managing director was Alex Dauria and national director titles went to Ben Breslau and John Schena.
The firm's new associate directors are Chris Beeson, Stephen Flint, David Girard, Dana Griffin and Mark Jolly.
Also promoted were Bruce Clifford and Amy Forman to senior vice president; Jeff Burke, Bill DiPippo and Chris Hardiman, all earning vice president titles; and Nat Heald, assistant vice president. JLL's new senior project managers are Kevin Byrne, Scott Dean, Danielle McLaughlin and Patrick Triggs.
Additional promotions included Jennifer Mauren, property manager; Rebekah Dix, operations manager; Jenna Scaccia, human resources business partner; Abby Kruchten, senior analyst; Charlotte Railton, senior marketing associate; Lorena Hawkins, senior proposal manager; and Kelly Lockberg, operations associate.
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Dr. Kim Kobriger Joins
Lewis Realty Advisors
HOUSTON - Lewis Realty Advisors, one of the nation’s leading real estate consulting firms, has announced that Dr. Kim M. Kobriger, MAI, has joined the company as senior valuation analyst.
“Dr. Kim Kobriger is one of the foremost valuation authorities in the governmental context, in the banking industry and in litigation circumstances. His demonstrated leadership ability in government circles, on state legislative committees, and as regional president of the Appraisal Institute, dovetails perfectly with strengths and expertise offered by Lewis Realty Advisors,” said David M. Lewis, chief executive officer of Houston-based Lewis Realty Advisors.
Dr. Kobriger has been an executive with several financial institutions, including Bank One/JP Morgan Chase, Fifth Third Bank and Wells Fargo/Norwest Bank. Dr. Kobriger served as former manager of internal audits at Maricopa County Assessor’s Office.
He has held a variety of leadership positions and was elected president of the Phoenix Chapter of the Appraisal Institute and led that organization’s government relations committee. Dr. Kobriger earned a doctoral degree from the University of Wisconsin and he holds the prestigious MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute, the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation and is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
Founded in 1961, Lewis Realty Advisors has handled a wide variety of appraisal and consulting assignments for private property owners and governmental entities. The company provides eminent domain counseling, property tax consulting, estate and investment analysis, as well as other counseling and appraisal services.
Lewis Realty Advisors has handled thousands of eminent domain cases, working with private property owners and scores of governmental entities, municipalities and school districts.
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The People Blog |
RealtyNewsReport.com Wins
Major Journalism Award
RealtyNewsReport.com has been named a winner in the Best Web Site category in the 56th Annual Journalism Awards competition of the National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE).
RealtyNewsReport.Com was founded by veteran journalist Ralph Bivins, who worked at Texas newspapers for a number of years before launching the popular web site in 2004.
The NAREE award winners were selected by a panel of expert judges from the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. Commenting on RealtyNewsReport.Com, the judges said: "This is a truly entrepreneurial site, which provides a newsy, chatty report with a friendly interface. Bivins has extensive print journalism experience in the real estate field, and it shows.”
RealtyNewsReport.com was a second place winner in the Best Web Site category with RealEstateJournal.com, a Dow Jones product, winning first place.
"It is an honor to receive this prestigious award," Bivins said. "The NAREE contest attracts entries from many outstanding journalists around the country."
NAREE, founded in 1929, is the nation's largest organization of journalists who cover residential and commercial real estate, real estate finance, investments, construction and design.
Houston-based RealtyNewsReport.Com focuses on national and regional real estate news and economics coverage. This blend of information has proved to be a winning combination that attracts thousands of readers and information seekers.
"I also want to thank our outstanding webmaster, Analee Micheletti, who deserves a great deal of credit. Her talent has made the site attractive and keeps people tuned-in to RealtyNewsReport.com," Bivins said.
Journalism Award Received
Ralph Bivins accepts Web Site award
on behalf of RealtyNewsReport.com
from Al Heavens, president of the
National Association of Real Estate
Editors (NAREE). The journalism
awards ceremony was held at
the NAREE conference in
Charlotte, NC. Bivins is editor of
RealtyNewsReport.com. Heavens,
who covers real estate for the
Philadelphia Inquirer, is the author
of "What No One Ever Tells You
Abour Remodeling Your
Home.""
***
| Realty News Report is hosted by award winning journalist Ralph Bivins. Please contact Ralph at realtynewsreport@aol.com |