Colliers International Recruits Industrial Leasing Team to its Torrance, Calif. Office

December 3, 2010

Torrance, CA – December 3, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Colliers International, the second largest real estate services organization globally, has recruited Jeff Smart, Josh May, Blake Tippett and Kyle Degener to its Torrance, Calif. office. Specializing in the representation of industrial landlords and tenants throughout the South Bay and Mid-Counties markets, the team will add additional strengths to Colliers’ industrial platform in Greater Los Angeles.

“The new team brings a combined 36 years of industrial leasing experience to Colliers,” said Martin Pupil, regional managing director for Colliers’ Greater Los Angeles operations. “With their extensive track record in the South Bay industrial market, the team will fill a strategic void.”

Smart will serve as executive vice president. Prior to joining Colliers, he was a top producer at Grubb & Ellis in the firm’s Los Angeles South Bay office. With more than 20 years of experience representing tenants and owners in the South Bay and Mid-Counties markets, he has ranked among the top five producers within Grubb & Ellis’ Los Angeles region every year since 2000, and has ranked as one of the top two industrial producers in the firm’s South Bay office every year since 1991.

“I was attracted to Colliers because of the organization’s powerful, global brand, coupled with its growing industrial platform and strong regional teams. Backed by a multi-service platform, I now have an opportunity to elevate the level of service that I can provide my clients,” said Smart.

John Hollingsworth, managing director for the Torrance office and Colliers’ industrial group for Greater Los Angeles echoed Smart’s sentiment stating, “The needs of our clients are really driving our recruiting efforts. The addition of these specialists strengthens our region’s industrial platform increasing our ability to deliver exceptional service to our clients in the South Bay.”

May will serve as associate vice president. Previously, he was a top producer for Grubb & Ellis’ Industrial Services Division in the firm’s Los Angeles South Bay office. With more than seven years of experience representing both tenants and landlords of multi-tenant industrial properties, he has ranked within Grubb & Ellis’ top 10 South Bay industrial producers every year from 2005 to 2008, and ranked within the firm’s top five producers in the Los Angeles Metro region in 2009.

May currently represents approximately one million square feet of industrial space in the South Bay market. Notable transactions include the representation of The Koll Company in its $12 million acquisition of the Torrance Commerce Center and representation of AutoCom Distribution Center in a $4.8 million transaction in Commerce, Calif.

Tippett will serve as senior associate. With more than six years of experience specializing in industrial land transactions, he was a recipient of Grubb & Ellis’ Rookie of the Year LA Metro Award in 2008.

Degener will serve as associate. He has represented investors, owners and tenants of industrial building and industrial land transactions throughout the South Bay market. Degener and May recently negotiated a ten-year lease, valued at $5.9 million, for a 229,495-square-foot building at 21222 S. Wilmington Ave. in Carson, Calif.

Heather Babcock-Castner also joined Colliers International’s Torrance office as marketing coordinator, where she will provide marketing and administrative support for the team.

About Colliers International
Colliers International is a global leader in real estate services with more than 15,000 professionals operating out of 480 offices in 61 countries. As a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation (NASDAQ: FSRV; TSX: FSV and FSV.PR.U), Colliers offers the stability of a strong financial partner and significant local ownership providing clients with accountability and enterprising real estate solutions. Colliers provides a full range of services to real estate users, owners and investors worldwide including: global corporate solutions; sales and lease brokerage; property and asset management; project management; hotel investment sales and consulting; property valuation and appraisal services; mortgage banking and insightful research. The Lipsey Company and National Real Estate Investor magazine ranked Colliers International as the world’s number two commercial real estate brand.

Since 1908, Colliers has stood at the forefront of the Los Angeles real estate industry. Today, Colliers operates seven offices throughout Greater Los Angeles, including Downtown Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire, South Bay, San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita and Commerce. Follow us at www.twitter.com/colliersgla.

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Regional Marketing Coordinator
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