Henry S. Miller Alums: Where Are They Now?
So many of today's top Dallas commercial real estate firms can trace their roots back to the Henry S. Miller Cos that it's become known as an incubator of talent, as well as transactions. Today, we take a look at a few of illustrious Miller veterans and the companies they created.
The 100-year-old company created by Henry S. Miller Sr (seated, with his son, Henry S. Miller Jr) is one of the largest independent full service commercial real estate firms in Texas. The firm is known for iconic deals like the country’s largest sale in 1976: the $100M sale of Pennzoil Place in Houston to Deutsche Bank. The family-operated firm turned around one of the nation's first shopping centers, Highland Park Village, before selling it for $164M. The Miller Cos have owned and developed some of the highest profile projects in DFW including Prestonwood Country Club and Preston Royal shopping center (with another icon, Trammell Crow). Miller also inked the lease for Neiman Marcus in Downtown.
Spinoff: The Swearingen Co.
Evolution: Wayne Swearingen (left, with David Little Real Estate’s David Little), David Arnold and Gordon Davis left HSM and started The Swearingen Co in 1972.
Spinoff from the spinoff: Jackson & Cooksey formed in 1981 when Herb Jackson left to join former Dallas County planner Jim Cooksey.
Today: The Swearingen Co is still going strong as Swearingen Realty Group under the leadership of Dan Paterson, James Buddrus and Bruce Hecht. Wayne now works at Glacier Commercial Realty.
Spinoff: Holloway/Staubach
Evolution: Roger Staubach and Robert Holloway left HSM in 1978 to form Holloway/Staubach. Just four years later, Roger bought out his partner to create The Staubach Co, which Roger sold to JLL in 2008.
Spinoff of the spinoff: Susan Arledge left HSM to join Roger when he launched the Staubach Co. She joined Swearingen in 1990 and left there in 1993 to form Arledge Partners Real Estate Group. Today, she is the managing partner for Cresa Dallas.
Today: Roger is the JLL executive chairman of the Americas. Pictured here between Toyota Motor North America CEO Jim Lentz and JLL's Brad Selner.
Spinoff: Candace Rubin Real Estate
Evolution: Candace was the first female broker at HSM and was the only female broker until 1982, when she left to start her own business.
Today: She still leads the company. Pictured at Fort Hood, far left with fellow volunteers who cook meals for US military troops.
Spinoffs: The Weitzman Group and Cencor Realty Services
Evolution: Herb Weitzman left in 1989 to form the two companies. That’s Herb on the left, with Henry Miller III; his wife, Donna Weitzman; and Miller family member Michael Miller.
Spinoffs of the spinoff: In 2000, Mike Geisler and Ken Reimer left TWG to start Venture Commercial Real Estate. In 2004, Steve Lieberman left TWG to partner with Zale Corp’s Alan Shor in the creation of The Retail Connection.
Today: Herb is now executive chairman of TWG/Cencor. Mike and Ken still lead Venture with other partners and Steve and Alan still lead TRC.
Hat tip to NTCAR's Dallas/Fort Worth Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame's The Book for timeline info.
