Gregory Smith was named Partner at Vela Wood, a boutique full-service law firm based in Dallas, Texas. He focuses on real estate, corporate finance, and general business transactions. He represents sellers and purchasers for any real estate transaction, conducts lease negotiations on behalf of landlords and tenants, and assists companies and financial institutions with financing and debt restructuring. He is a Texas Bar Foundation Fellow and a four-time Super Lawyers Rising Star recipient.

Ridgemont Commercial Construction is thrilled to announce Joey Johnson as our new President!

Since joining Ridgemont in 2005, he has been dedicated to delivering excellence. His experience in business development have played a crucial role in both Ridgemont’s growth and his own career progression. Now as President, he leads with a clear vision, focusing on impactful solutions. His strong leadership and collaborative approach drive our success, and we’re excited to see where he takes us next.

Ridgemont Commercial Construction is thrilled to announce Jason Lillard as our new Chief Executive Officer!

Since joining Ridgemont in 2000, he has been a driving force behind innovation and continuous improvement.

As CEO, Jason will continue to work closely with the leadership team to enhance efficiency, drive growth, and strengthen Ridgemont’s culture. His leadership will set high standards for performance while creating an environment where our team can thrive!

Colliers appointed Ted Brooks as Managing Director for Valuation & Advisory Services in the Dallas office.

With more than three decades of experience in real estate valuation, Brooks brings a wealth of expertise across a diverse range of property types and complex valuation assignments.

Brooks began his real estate valuation career in 1985 and has since worked on assignments involving hotels, office buildings, industrial properties, retail centers, multifamily complexes, medical office buildings, hospitals, self-storage facilities, and special-purpose properties. His unique experience includes appraising former military installations, including a bomb storage site, an Air Force base, and nuclear missile launch facilities in South Dakota and Missouri.

Prior to joining Colliers, Brooks served as Managing Director at JLL and as a Partner in the Dallas-Fort Worth offices of Integra Realty Resources, both national real estate appraisal firms. His extensive background also includes expert witness testimony in Federal Bankruptcy Courts, Commissioners Courts, and various depositions.

A proud Texas A&M alumnus, Brooks holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree specializing in Land Economics and Real Estate. He is a designated member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS).

HOUSTON –  Pfluger Architects, a premier Texas-based architecture firm with extensive experience in educational facility planning, design, and construction administration, welcomes licensed architect Christopher Laack as the firm’s higher education practice leader. He brings over 20 years of experience designing and managing projects in a range of market sectors and global locations. At Pfluger, he will be responsible for nurturing the firm’s client relationships and driving strategic growth in the firm’s work with higher education institutions across the state.

A versatile leader in architecture, urban design, and master planning with a focus on delivering complex projects for discerning clients, Laack has expansive global experience navigating clients and leading the design of multiple project types, including education, retail, office, hospitality, residential, mixed-use, civic, cultural, urban community development, and master planning. Based in Houston, he most recently served as Principal and Commercial Practice Leader for VLK Architects, developing and implementing growth strategies while also providing project leadership to teams across five Texas locations.

As Pfluger’s higher education practice leader, Laack will play a crucial role in leading the firm’s work with colleges, universities, community colleges, and vocational institutions across Texas, working with Pfluger’s teams in all five locations to create engaging learning environments, design campus communities, and inspire meaningful human experiences.

“Chris brings expertise to our higher education team, from planning campuses to designing facilities that work,” said Chris Lammers, Pfluger’s higher education practice director. “His genuine connection with people makes him a great fit for our team and the clients we serve.”

In addition to working with Pfluger’s clients on developing new projects, Laack will engage new clients throughout Texas and contribute to current Pfluger work, including San Jacinto College Biotechnology Center, Texas Lutheran University Lundquist Student Activities Center, Collin College campus renovations, and more.

A graduate of University of Detroit Mercy, where he earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree, Laack is a Licensed Architect in the State of Texas, NCARB Certified, and a member of the American Institute of Architects, Urban Land Institute, and Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects. Over the last 20 years he built his expertise as a principal and practice leader with some of the world’s noted firms, expanding and diversifying market sectors in each role and leading several high-profile, award-winning projects. A frequent presenter, jurist and guest lecturer at industry conferences, awards, and design schools, Laack encourages knowledge sharing, innovation, and connection to engage future generations of designers.

“I believe in pushing the boundaries of design to create inspiring, thoughtful buildings and places that contribute to the built environment and to communities,” said Laack. “As a firm dedicated to inspiring communities and creating a more meaningful human experience, Pfluger provides me with opportunities to engage with campus leaders and understand the needs that campuses have right now and in the future.”

Wilson Cribbs + Goren is pleased to announce Omar Izfar has been elevated to the position of Shareholder. Izfar is a leader of the Land Use & Zoning team and assists clients with complex land use, development, and entitlement issues across all types of commercial real estate projects.

Izfar obtained his B.A. from Emory University in 2000 and his J.D. from Rutgers-Camden School of Law in 2003.