The Dealmakers: Bisnow's Houston 2015 Top Office And Industrial Brokers
Looking for the heaviest hitters? We've got them. Welcome to Bisnow’s 2015 Top Dealmakers, the office and industrial brokers who closed the most deals and made a big impact on Houston’s real estate landscape. These brokers are the most productive within their companies; we did not compare across firms.
Transwestern
Top Office Broker: managing director of tenant advisory services Justin Leighton
Total 2015 Production: 50+ transactions totaling 1M SF
Justin completed deals in 27 cities globally with 15 different clients but tells us his favorite was the 50k SF Ecopetrol lease at Williams Tower, 2800 Post Oak. It began as a cold call by Transwestern associate Victor Valenzuela and ended up being the largest transaction Victor had worked on in his career. Justin enjoys spending time with his wife, 9-year-old triplets and 2-year-old daughter. Somehow he also manages to find time to compete nationally in both road and mountain bike races in the Pro 1 category.
Colvill Office Properties
Top Office Broker: EVP Michael Anderson
Total 2015 Production: 46 transactions totaling 828k SF
Michael’s favorite 2015 deal was a 62k SF lease for the top two and a half floors of 609 Main at Texas to Kirkland & Ellis. While this isn’t the largest deal closed by Michael in 2015 (earlier in the year he inked a 216k SF lease in the CBD) this is one of the most significant, since it’s the first lease signed at the 48-story, 1.1M SF office tower being developed by Hines. Michael and his wife have a rom-com love story: They attended the same summer camp as kids and the University of Texas at the same time, but didn’t meet until their early 30s.
JLL
Top Office Broker: EVP Garrold Parratt
Total 2015 Production: 33 transactions totaling 1.6M SF
While Garrold didn’t have a favorite deal, he tells us he feels fortunate to have been so busy throughout the year. His biggest deal was helping a client consolidate into new HQ space as a lead tenant in a recently completed office building. Garrold admits to being a cowboy at heart and loves riding horses in his spare time.
JLL
Top Industrial Broker: EVP Mark Nicholas
Total 2015 Production: 42 transactions totaling 1M SF
Mark’s favorite deal in 2015 was helping a client consolidate four locations into a two-building Houston HQ. Eight years in the making, the complex deal ultimately included a 95k SF building and a 111k SF building for a total of 206k SF of industrial space, in addition to approximately 20 acres of land. A self-proclaimed tennis junkie, Mark can often be found at the Galleria Tennis & Athletic Club with his family.
PMRG
Top Office Broker: EVP & managing director Wade Bowlin
Total 2015 Production: 40 transactions totaling 586k SF
Wade’s favorite deal was the UBS lease at 1000 Main. With the uncertainty of UBS’s future, including a possible consolidation and the sale of the building in the middle of the transaction, the deal took over a year to complete. But, Wade tells us it was friendly from start to finish thanks to Lucia Powers, Trey Strake and Tim Relyea. In his spare time, Wade enjoys life in the country. He recently moved from the center of Houston to 30 acres on the Brazos River outside of Sugar Land.
Cushman & Wakefield
Top Office Broker: vice chairman of office leasing Trey Strake
Total 2015 Production: 38 transactions
Trey was mum about his favorite 2015 transaction, telling us he’d rather talk about how much he enjoys working with his clients and enjoys partnering with some of the top people in the real estate industry. When he’s not closing deals, Trey spends time with his family and works with his favorite charities, Living Water and Bridges to Life.
Cushman & Wakefield
Top Industrial Broker: EVP John Nicholson
Total 2015 Production: Not disclosed
John moved over to Cushman & Wakefield from DTZ in last September’s merger, and quickly became the firm’s top industrial producer. One of John’s 2015 highlights is representing Modern Polymers in a long-term lease at 3005 Highway 225. The 300k SF rail-served building is a state-of-the-art plastic resin exporting facility that was occupied by Frontier Logistics. John had to negotiate a termination on behalf of Frontier, then a long-term lease for Modern Polymers. John enjoys being outdoors and can be found golfing, bird hunting or playing tennis on a sunny day.
NAI Partners
Top Office Broker: partner of office tenant rep Griff Bandy
Total 2015 Production: 39 transaction totaling 804k SF
Griff’s biggest deal in 2015 was 232k SF to Geico in Richardson. He tells us he earned the opportunity to assist it on its Dallas/Fort Worth assignment by successfully helping Geico expand/relocate various Houston operations into larger regional offices in Katy at a 135k SF, single-tenant office building in 2013. When he’s not working, Griff can be found spending time with his family and coaching his kids’ little league teams.
NAI Partners
Top Industrial Broker: principal and industrial division leader John Ferruzzo
Total 2015 Production: 46 transactions totaling 1.4M SF
John’s favorite 2015 deals were ones he closed at Cedar Port. He completed eight transactions in the park totaling 312k SF and over 200 acres in land deals. When he’s not busy at the office, John enjoys coaching baseball and softball teams for his 9-year-old, 11-year-old and 13-year-old kids.
Lee & Associates
Top Industrial Broker: principal Preston Yaggi
Total 2015 Production: 58 transactions totaling 744k SF
While Preston has been involved in deals throughout the Houston area, his main focuses are the Northwest and West submarkets. His biggest deal last year was 25k SF, totaling $3.8M at 8448 North Sam Houston Parkway West. In his spare time, Preston enjoys hunting, golfing and fishing.
