Brokerage firm SRS Real Estate Partners has named a new co-market leader in Dallas, where the firm was founded and has its headquarters.
Karla Smith, with two decades of retail real estate industry experience, is now the co-market leader of the firm's Dallas office. In this leadership role, Smith will team with Ryan Johnson in guiding the firm's operations in the Dallas-Fort Worth market and help strengthen its footprint in the Lone Star State.
"Dallas has always been a key part of SRS' story — it's where we were founded, and it remains one of the most dynamic and resilient retail markets in the country," Smith told CoStar News in an email. "The demand for well-located retail space remains strong, vacancy is low, and tenants continue to compete for space, especially in grocery-anchored centers and experiential retail environments.
"This level of market activity makes Dallas-Fort Worth a natural growth engine for the firm," she added.
The Dallas-Fort Worth region, the nation's fourth-largest metropolitan area with more than 8.3 million residents, has been one of the fastest-growing U.S. markets. By naming two co-leaders in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, Smith said it reflects the scale of the opportunity in the region and the firm's desire to accelerate that momentum.
"By combining leadership strengths, we're able to be more agile, more collaborative, and more intentional about our strategy — with our people internally and with our client impact," Smith said.
SRS Real Estate President Garrett Colburn said in a statement that in addition to being one of the most accomplished producers in North Texas, Smith is a "next-level leader whose performance consistently sets the standard across the industry."
Smith joined SRS Real Estate five years ago, consistently ranking among the firm's top performers during her tenure. She has earned the firm's top producer recognition and has served on its board of directors since 2021.
Smith also helped launch a platform at the firm devoted to developing and supporting women in the industry. Recently, Smith was a finalist for the Stemmons Service Award, one of the most prestigious awards in Dallas commercial real estate recognizing executives who exemplify the highest standards of a commercial real estate executive with a focus on business and community involvement.
Some of Smith's top clients include Target, Macy's, AT&T, At Home, Grain & Berry, Pacific Dental Services, Frost Bank and BJ's Wholesale Club.
"We're in hypergrowth mode across all three of our platforms — retail, industrial and capital markets — and Dallas is central to that expansion," Smith said. "By combining SRS' national capabilities with our deep local market expertise, we can deliver even more value to our clients and serve them better."