1. David Marshall
Executive managing director, ARA, A Newmark Co.
Marshall closed 25 deals totaling $118.47 million in 2015. He led the team at ARA in representing the King family for the sale of 34.4 acres near Cinco Ranch in Katy. The land was bought by NewQuest Properties and will be developed into a Kroger-anchored shopping center with other retail and services.
Age: 36
Years in the business: 12
What’s been your biggest challenge this year? The capital markets. Developers are having a difficult time getting construction loans.
Who’s been a coach to you in your career? David Oelfke and Matt Rotan.
What was your grand slam moment of 2015? I marketed and sold 2.3 acres on Westcreek in 2015 for the highest price-per-square-foot ever paid on Westcreek in spite of low oil prices.
When you’re not on the field, what do you do in your spare time? I enjoy hanging out with my wife and three daughters, and playing golf.
What’s been the game changer for CRE? In the last 18 months, it has been the oil and gas downturn. If you weren’t a broker, what would you be doing? Real estate developer.
2. Keith Edwards
Senior vice president, brokerage services, Caldwell Cos.
Edwards closed 53 deals for a total of $110.76 million, representing 1,105 acres.
Age: 59
Years in the business: 38
What’s been your biggest challenge this year? Lack of supply of large tracts with utilities in place ready to develop.
Who’s been a coach to you in your career? Lou Nimmons, my mentor for the first 11 years in the business. She taught me customer service is always the priority.
What was your grand slam moment of 2015? Closed on 100 acres I had listed for over 14 years.
When you’re not on the field, what do you do in your spare time? Spending time with my family, travel and fishing.
If you were a baseball player, what position would you play and why? Catcher — I like to control the game.
What’s been the game changer for CRE? Once I started specializing in land, staying with one field and not selling all types of real estate.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when before you went pro in CRE? Stay focused on your area and your specialty.
If you weren’t a broker, what would you be doing? Brokerage is my life, but I would love to be a fishing guide and fish every day with new people.
3. Dave Ramsey
Vice president, NewQuest Properties
Ramsey completed $94.17 million worth of deals in 2015, representing 3,774 acres. Among his largest deals was the sale of 470 acres off the Grand Parkway for the construction of an 800,000-square-foot facility for a FedEx hub.
Age: 60
Years in the business: 37
What’s been your biggest challenge this year? Finding buyers with access to capital.
Who’s been a coach to you in your career? My dad has always been the best coach and adviser. He taught me that your reputation is all you have in this world, and you better work hard to maintain that reputation.
When you’re not on the field, what do you do in your spare time? Travel and spend time with friends and family. What’s been the game changer for CRE? The access to information we now enjoy.
4. David Cook
Executive vice president, Cushman & Wakefield of Texas Inc.
Cook closed 57 deals for a total of $60.33 million in 2015.
Age: 73
Years in the business: 49
What’s been your biggest challenge this year? Putting to use the lessons learned in previous downturns.
Who’s been a coach to you in your career? Howard Horne and my father, Roy E. Cook
What was your grand slam moment of 2015? Seeing my associates become my partners.
When you’re not on the field, what do you do in your spare time? Five grandchildren
What’s been the game changer for CRE? Corporate CRE professionals being recognized for their importance to the corporate bottom line.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when before you went pro in CRE? Nothing very good or very bad lasts very long.
If you weren’t a broker, what would you be doing? Teaching.
5. Jeff Peden
Executive vice president, Cushman & Wakefield of Texas Inc.
Peden closed 57 deals for a total of $54.29 million in 2015.
Age: 47
Years in the business: 21
What’s been your biggest challenge this year? Getting deals actually closed.
Who’s been a coach to you in your career? My business partner, David Cook.
When you’re not on the field, what do you do in your spare time? Try to keep up with my 3- and 5-year-old sons, which is great fun.
What’s been the game changer for CRE? Office sublease growth and a lack of multifamily financing. But Houston remains resilient through it all.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when before you went pro in CRE? That there really is no single path to CRE success. Every story is different.
If you weren’t a broker, what would you be doing? Ice sculpting.
6. Jeff Lokey
Executive vice president, NewQuest Properties
In 2015, Lokey was involved in 468 acres-worth of deals, for a total of $51.75 million. Among his biggest deals was the sale of 53.98 acres in Humble to H-E-B.
Age: 55
Years in the business: 31
What’s been your biggest challenge this year? Handling client expectations with the current market conditions.
When you’re not on the field, what do you do in your spare time? Family time in the Hill Country.
What’s been the game changer for CRE? Overcoming yourself and going outside of your comfort zone.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when before you went pro in CRE? How great a career this really is.
If you weren’t a broker, what would you be doing? Motivational speaker.
Houston Business Journal
May 20, 2016
