Industry leaders Harry Holmes and Rob Neblett join Avison Young in Houston

Top tenant-representation specialists join Avison Young as Principals; will serve energy sector, help grow firm's Texas region

HOUSTON, Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Rand Stephens, Avison Young Principal and Managing Director of the company's Houston office, announced today that commercial real estate industry veterans Harry Holmes and Rob Neblett have joined Avison Young's brokerage operations in Houston.

Effective immediately, Holmes and Neblett join Avison Young as Principals. They will focus on tenant representation and corporate services for Houston-based companies engaged in energy; legal and accounting; and financial services. Holmes and Neblett have also been appointed to Avison Young's Texas Executive Committee and will work closely with Stephens to develop the company's Texas region.

"Harry and Rob are two of the top tenant representatives in Houston. We are thrilled to have them join us and to be part of our leadership team for Texas," comments Stephens. "In addition to having a tremendous client list in Houston, their expertise in representing energy companies is exceptional. And in conjunction with our Calgary and Edmonton offices in Western Canada, the addition of Harry and Rob will really bolster our North American service platform, enhance our cross-border services, and strengthen our foothold in the global energy market."

Holmes and Neblett join Avison Young from Newmark, Knight, Frank (NKF), where they served as co-Managing Principals of the firm's Houston office. Each has more than three decades of industry experience while serving primarily as tenant-representation specialists.

"The addition of Harry and Rob in Texas represents a critical step in the ongoing growth of Avison Young's U.S. operations," says Earl Webb, Avison Young's President, U.S. Operations. "Their outstanding tenant-representation service and relationships with oil and gas firms will help Avison Young integrate its North American services for energy companies, thus furthering our client-centric focus. These services for North American energy companies will also enable us to serve the oil and gas industry globally as we continue our expansion to Europe and Asia in the future."

Over the past two and a half years, Avison Young has grown from 11 to 25 offices and from 300 to more than 800 real estate professionals across Canada and the U.S.

"I am very excited about joining Avison Young and being part of a great organization that is primed to be a leader in our industry," says Holmes. "The culture and people were the two biggest factors in my decision to join Avison Young. It is amazing how fast the company is growing, and I am very impressed with the number of high-quality people who are attracted to the company."

"Avison Young's growth in Houston and in North America is very impressive," adds Neblett. "This is a unique opportunity for Harry and me - to use our background and experience to work with the other Principals in helping to build the Texas region. Furthermore, Avison Young has leading offices in Calgary and Edmonton, which will provide our Houston-based energy clients with a valuable service platform."

Harry Holmes
A 31-year real estate industry veteran, Holmes was responsible for real estate services in Houston, San Antonio and Austin at NKF. Prior to joining NKF, he was President of Houston Office Leasing Management Estate Services, a privately-held commercial real estate brokerage and management firm that he established in 1992. Holmes began his real estate career with Coldwell Banker where he was a consistent top producer before leaving to establish a Western U.S. tenant-representation division for Rubloff Inc.

Earlier this year, Holmes received Houston Business Journal's Peer Choice MVP award. He is a member of the Houston Association of Realtors, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, C Club, Garwood Hunting Club, Spring Woods Mentoring Program, Houston Realty Business Coalition, and Bayou City Breakfast Club. In addition, Holmes has served as a board or committee member for Bo's Place, River Oaks Country Club, American Red Cross, Yellowstone Academy, Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School, Texas Christian University Chancellor's Advisory Council, and Houston Leasing Brokers Association (HOLBA). Holmes is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where he majored in finance. He has been a Certified Commercial Investment Member since 1984.

Rob Neblett
Neblett brings to Avison Young 32 years of real estate industry experience. Before joining NKF in 2005, Neblett served as Managing Director, Corporate Advisory Services for Transwestern Commercial Services in Houston. He had previously owned and operated R.K. Neblett Interests Inc. (NEBCO), working as a sole-practitioner in the tenant-representation market.

In 2007, Neblett was named NKF's National Broker of the Year. He is an active member of the Board of Directors for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and Neuhaus Education Center, and Past President of HOLBA. Neblett holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance from Texas A&M University.

Founded in 1978, Avison Young is Canada's largest independently-owned commercial real estate services company and the only national, Canadian-owned, principal-managed real estate brokerage firm in the country. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and ranked among Canada's leading national commercial real estate organizations, Avison Young is a full-service commercial real estate company comprising more than 800 real estate professionals in 25 offices across Canada and the U.S. The company provides value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management, financing and mortgage placement services to owners and occupiers of office, retail, industrial and multi-residential properties.

• Editors/Reporters: please click on links to view and download photos of Harry Holmes and Rob Neblett
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SOURCE Avison Young (Canada) Inc.