Annabelle Morris Joins Griffin Capital Securities as Managing Director of National Accounts

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Dec 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Griffin Capital Securities announced today that Annabelle Morris has joined the company as managing director of National Accounts, responsible for leadership of the firm's relationships with independent broker-dealers throughout the United States. 

Morris joins the firm from Behringer Harvard, where she served as vice president, senior key accounts manager for the past four years.  She brings more than 10 years of experience in national accounts to Griffin Capital Securities, having previously served in senior roles with Wells Fargo Investments, John Hancock, The Kelmoore Investment Company and State Farm Insurance. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire.

"Annabelle is a true professional with an extensive history of success in building meaningful relationships throughout the independent broker-dealer community," said Kevin Shields, chief executive officer of Griffin Capital Corporation.  "She enjoys a fine reputation in the securities industry and is an exceptional addition to the Griffin family."

Jonathan Dease and Omar Limon have also joined the Griffin Capital Securities National Accounts team as key account associates.  The duo most recently served as National Accounts managers with Grubb & Ellis Capital Corporation, where they were responsible for providing day-to-day support to the back offices of broker-dealer firms in the Western and Eastern United States, respectively.  They will serve in identical roles with Griffin Capital Securities, supporting Morris and Joe Laganza, who joined the company in 2010 as national accounts director.

Prior to joining Grubb & Ellis Capital Corporation in 2009, Dease served as a senior internal wholesaler and customer support specialist with Pacific Life Insurance Company for nearly 10 years.  Limon also served as a senior internal wholesaler and customer support specialist with Pacific Life for nearly six years before joining Grubb & Ellis Capital Corporation in 2009.  Dease earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Irvine; Limon is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach.  

"Jonathan and Omar are talented and experienced professionals who have developed strong relationships with many of the leading broker-dealer firms in the country," said Shields.  "Their specialized experience with Grubb & Ellis Healthcare REIT II and their relationships with broker-dealers in the REIT's selling group provides continuity of coverage, and makes them valuable additions to our team."

Earlier this year, Griffin Capital Corporation was selected, along with Newport Beach-based American Healthcare Investors, to serve as co-sponsor of Grubb & Ellis Healthcare REIT II by the independent members of its board of directors.  At that time, Griffin Capital Securities was selected to serve as the dealer manager of the REIT's offering.  Upon completion of its transition on January 7, 2012, the REIT will be renamed Griffin-American Healthcare REIT II.

Annabelle Morris can be reached at: 415-860-4547 and [email protected].
Joe Laganza can be reached at: 203-980-7680 and [email protected].
Jonathan Dease can be reached at: 949-413-6603 and [email protected].
Omar Limon can be reached at: 714-478-4007 and [email protected].

About Griffin Capital
Los Angeles-based Griffin Capital Corporation ("Griffin") is the sponsor of the Griffin Capital Net Lease REIT, Inc. (the "REIT"), a publicly-registered, non-traded real estate investment trust focused on providing individual investors dependable monthly income through the ownership of a diversified portfolio of 'business essential' office and industrial properties net leased on a long term basis to creditworthy corporate tenants. The REIT, distributed by Griffin Capital Securities, Inc. through leading independent broker-dealers, seeks to raise $750 million in equity.  Manifesting keen alignment of shareholder interest, the principals and certain affiliates of Griffin Capital invested over $26 million of capital into the REIT.  Griffin Capital has a sixteen-year track record sponsoring real estate investment vehicles and managing institutional capital. Led by senior executives, each with more than two decades of real estate experience who have collectively closed more than 400 transactions representing over $14.0 billion in transaction value, Griffin Capital has acquired or constructed over 11 million square feet of space since 1996, and currently manages a portfolio of more than 8.5 million square feet located in 13 states, representing approximately $1 billion in asset value.  For more information regarding Griffin Capital, please visit www.griffincapital.com.

About American Healthcare Investors
American Healthcare Investors, LLC is an investment management firm that specializes in the acquisition and management of healthcare-related real estate, including medical office buildings, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and hospitals.  The company was founded by nationally recognized real estate investment executives Jeff Hanson, Danny Prosky and Mathieu Streiff, who have completed in excess of $15 billion in aggregate acquisition and disposition transactions during their careers, $5.0 billion of which has been healthcare-related real estate transactions.  Approximately $8.0 billion of the $15 billion was completed as a team while they led Grubb & Ellis' investment management subsidiary for more than half a decade. American Healthcare Investors is committed to providing investors with access to the potential benefits that healthcare-related real estate ownership can provide. For more information regarding American Healthcare Investors, please visit www.AmericanHealthcareInvestors.com.

About Grubb & Ellis Healthcare REIT II, Inc.   (to be re-named Griffin-American Healthcare REIT II)
Grubb & Ellis Healthcare REIT II, Inc. is a real estate investment trust that seeks to preserve, protect and return investors' capital contributions, pay regular cash distributions, and realize growth in the value of its investments upon the ultimate sale of such investments.  Grubb & Ellis Healthcare REIT II is a non-traded public REIT with a current nationwide diversified portfolio valued in excess of $430 million which focuses primarily on medical office buildings and other healthcare-related facilities.  For more information regarding Grubb & Ellis Healthcare REIT II, please visit www.gbe-reits.com/healthcare2.

Lee Allan
Vice President, New Media
Griffin Capital Corporation
[email protected]
Office Phone: 310-606-5900
Cell Phone: 310-621-1601

SOURCE Griffin Capital