SVN | J. Beard Real Estate welcomes Stephens and Noack

The Woodlands, Texas – Jeff Beard, CCIM, Managing Director of SVN | J. Beard Real Estate, has announced the recent addition of two Senior Advisors, Karyn Jackson Stephens and Robert Noack.

A Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), Karyn Jackson Stephens possesses over 25 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. With varied experience in the sales and leasing of all asset classes, she specializes in the acquisition and disposition of multi-family and investment assets. Leveraging her extensive experience and market knowledge, Stephens is dedicated to adding value to her clients’ portfolios. She is known for her hands-on approach and client-centric philosophy, as she goes above and beyond the role of a traditional broker. 

With a decade of experience and a deep connection to the city of Houston, Robert Noack is a distinguished figure in Houston’s industrial commercial brokerage scene. He is dedicated to assisting his clients with the development and sustainability of industrial business parks through innovation, integrity, and positive transformation. As a key player in both the local and regional real estate markets, Noack’s contributions far exceed his niche and reflect his commitment to the growth and prosperity of both his clients and the entire Greater Houston area.

“We welcome the addition of both Karyn and Robert to our team of talented professionals,” said Beard. “Their skill sets and proven experience make them incredible assets to our team, as their contributions further enhance our capabilities for our clientele and fill a need in our firm’s growing and expanding business.”

Award winning commercial real estate developer, Tanya Ragan, attending exclusive top brass event in NYC on April 25th

Tanya Ragan left her first career in the fashion industry in New York City over 19 years ago to pursue the Barnett Shale boom in Texas. Years later, she returns as a commercial real estate trailblazer and luminary. 

Ms. Ragan receives the equivalent of a Golden Ticket to join select industry power players from all across the country for an evening with the best of the best gathered in one room. Known for her glass-shattering bravado as a female entrepreneur, Ms. Ragan consistently defies limitations and rewrites the script, which earned her this elite invitation. Whether it’s moving a building brick by brick to a new location in the interest of historic preservation, revitalizing entire sectors of an urban core economically and socially, or quietly amassing the largest tract of land in a booming suburb, she doesn’t take no for an answer and raises the bar for all who follow in her path.

Out of 3000 ticket requests, Ms. Ragan is one of only 175 CRE professionals to be invited to this red-carpet, black-tie event—the Real Estate X Gala. This epic evening is hosted by New York real estate legends Don Tepman and Bob Knakal. The details are secretive and not available to the public.

Introducing the phenomenal #Retwit group, born from the popular X community and transforming the commercial real estate landscape! With a following of the industry’s top movers and shakers across the country, this group is making waves. Recently, its members have been featured in high-profile profiles, garnering attention from notable publications, including The New York Times and The Real Deal. Keep an eye on this explosive growth – the #Retwit community is taking the commercial real estate world by storm!

Organizations and media outlets can interview Ms. Ragan or invite her to speak during her time in NYC, April 23rd – 30th. Her brass-tack professional advice, bold and pioneering entrepreneurial influence, or even ‘how-to-dress to command a room” makes her a crowd favorite.

Among countless other awards, Ms. Ragan is a three-time Globe Street Women of Influence winner. She is a sought-after public speaker, a frequent podcast guest, and a renowned influencer both in CRE and for women and entrepreneurs. Some of her projects have been featured in Architectural Digest, The Business Journals, Buildings Magazine, Business Insider, Dallas Morning News, DCEO, ICSC, CBS Evening News, and many other media outlets. Her thousands of social media followers look to her for inspiration and guidance on how to succeed, particularly in areas that are in need of greater diverse representation.

Cushman & Wakefield hires Kristie Luby to lead Houston property management business

HOUSTON – Cushman & Wakefield announced today that the commercial real estate services firm has hired Kristie Luby as Managing Director and leader of property management efforts in Houston. Luby will be responsible for overseeing a team of 45 professionals across a portfolio of 28 million square feet. 

“We are excited for Kristie to join us in Houston as our new city leader for property management. Since 2021, we have been hyper focused on growing this market and have more than tripled our portfolio during that time.Kristie’s knowledge and experience will lend itself to continuing to expand our presence locally,” said Brett Williams, Executive Managing Director and Central Region Lead for Property Management at Cushman & Wakefield. 

Luby has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience where her focus has been on leading property management teams to provide the highest level of service and value to their clients. Throughout her career, she has earned the trust and confidence of clients through her integrity, ownership mindset, and dedication. She has also been recognized consistently as being a leader who motivates and improves team performance and prides herself on operational excellence. Prior to joining Cushman & Wakefield, she was in a regional leadership role for the property management business across Texas for Avison Young.

“Kristie is an incredible addition to our group in Houston. Her proven ability to effectively serve clients and their properties will blend well with our existing approach to property management, and she will play a key role in ushering this business platform forward,” added Clint Bawcom, Managing Principal of Cushman & Wakefield’s Houston office. 

Luby earned her Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). During 2021 and 2022, she was on the IREM Education Committee where she played a key role in transforming the coursework for their Property Management 101 course. Today, she is still involved with IREM and a member of other industry organizations including the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). 

“I am very honored and excited to join the Cushman & Wakefield team and to work with some of the best leaders in the industry. Cushman & Wakefield’s Houston property management business has had amazing growth under the leadership of Brett Williams. I am honored to step into this role and do my part to help continue the upward growth and to support our clients and our property management professionals,” noted Luby.

Vision Commercial Real Estate closes key purchase, several lease negotiations for retail strip in Saginaw

Vision Commercial Real Estate vice president Barrett England completed a purchase and several lease negotiations at 1005 N. Saginaw Blvd., in Saginaw, Texas.

England assisted developer Blazing Hospitality in the purchase of a .98-acre tract that was home to a run-down metal building. The developer worked with the city to take advantage of a Chapter 380 Economic Development Agreement to aid with the demolition of the previous building to make way for a new 8,000-square-foot commercial strip that is already leased to several new tenants. Construction is expected to be completed in early Q3 2024.

After the purchase, Vision Commercial’s England and  Director Jack Sclafani took over leasing efforts and quickly inked deals with Tim Hortons Coffee, Bakery, and Café, Firehouse Subs and LiquorLand. There’s one opportunity left to join these name brand tenants in an in-line, 1,250 SF space.

In lease negotiations, Kendall Graff with Woodmont represented Firehouse Subs. Tim Hortons was represented by Max Keffer and Alden Harris of SHOP Companies.

Cushman & Wakefield brings Singapore-based restaurant group to Houston, Carrollton

Cushman & Wakefieldrepresented Shoo Loong Kan, a Singapore-based restaurant group specializing in Chongqing/Sichuan hot pot cuisine, in its lease at West on West shopping center in Houston and at Carrollton Town Center in Carrollton, Texas.

In Houston, Shoo Loong Kan plans to open its 6,213-square-foot space at West on West, 12220 Westheimer Road, the restaurant’s first Texas location, and will follow with a 6,330-square-foot Carrollton restaurant.

Cushman & Wakefield’s Michael Pittman II, Michael Burgower, and Rachel Granstrom represented Shoo Loong Kan in lease negotiations with West on West owner NewQuest Properties, which also owns the Carrollton location.

Adolfson & Peterson Construction wraps construction on two projects at University of North Texas

Adolfson & Peterson Construction completed two projects with the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.

The Jazz Lab renovation included updating 3,932 square feet of space within the Music Building. The project encompassed acoustical performance improvements, interior renovations, the addition of instructional technology with recording/webcasting capabilities and new furnishings, along with HVAC and ADA compliance modifications. The area serves as rehearsal space for the university’s nine jazz lab bands, including the seven-time Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band®, as well as four vocal jazz ensembles.

AP also constructed UNT’s Advanced Air Mobility (UAAM) Test Center, a 120′ length x 300′ width x 80′ height netted facility supporting research in unmanned air systems and ground autonomous vehicles. A contained facility, the Air Mobility Lab creates all-weather conditions with full FAA compliance, enabling testing and analysis of Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle (UAV) physical robustness and safety criteria including hard-ground impact, collisions, and effects of high-speed maneuvers on flight dynamics and controls.

This facility is part of UNT’s Center for Integrated Intelligent Mobility Systems (CIIMS), which was established in 2020. CIIMS brings together various expertise, including engineering and business, around intelligent mobility, such as autonomous flight, ground vehicles and the systems that enable their deployment.

Smith Group is the Music Lab project architect, while Walter P Moore serves as the architect for the Air Mobility Lab.