Up Close With Morgan Relyea And Reed Vestal

Take note of these two names, because you’ll be hearing them more. Cushman & Wakefield director Morgan Relyea and Lee & Associates senior director Reed Vestal were named NAIOP’s 2015 Rising Stars, so we sat down to learn more about the up-and-comers.

Morgan, NAIOP’s emerging office broker, tells us she’s driven to make an impact on Houston. That means long hours at Cushman & Wakefield, and she keeps her energy up with green tea and staying active. From her college days, Morgan swung between the energy and real estate industries by working for a mineral leasing company during the school year and interning at Cushman in the summer. She credits her father, Cushman & Wakefield executive vice chairman Tim Relyea, for allowing her to decide where she wanted to remain. She says working with him at Cushman is one of the best decisions she's ever made; she thrives on the pace and variety of her work.

Here’s Morgan with her father. Morgan hopes to mentor others and is involved in the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. She's big into traveling, hunting and windsurfing. Talking about her family, friends and two dogs brings a smile to her face, but when it comes down to doing her job, she's serious about her goal: to exceed client expectations and impact the community.

Reed, NAIOP’s industrial rising star, has come a long way from his roots working on ranches in west Texas. (He moved to Houston five years ago and says it's home now.) He tells us much of his drive is derived from watching his dad’s patience and dedication during countless stock shows. Reed approaches his career the same way and believes his creativity, work ethic and education (master's in real estate finance from A&M) have given him an edge. Incredibly adventurous and always seeking new challenges, Reed (pictured with his nephew, Knox) is just as animated when speaking about the many opportunities in the real estate industry as he is when describing the spontaneous trips he goes on with friends.

In an industry where age and experience are highly valuable assets, Reed and his business partner Taylor Schmidt (pictured, hunting together) have decided to turn their youth into a strength. To differentiate themselves, they focus on seeing things that others can't. For example, Reed believes the duo were the first in the Houston market to use drone imaging. One of his favorite deals: a 50k SF tilt-wall building on seven acres in a high-demand area. Every broker in town wanted the deal, and Reed and Taylor cold-called the property for four years and eventually landed the gig. As a result, they set the market high for a sale in the area.