Avison Young expands DC tenant representation team; JLL hire targets Atlanta office business; Gilbane promotes Southeast executive
Avison Young appointed Max Forrest as a senior vice president in its Washington, D.C., office, as the brokerage seeks to expand its tenant representation practice in the region. Forrest joins Avison Young from Savills, where he served as corporate managing director. Before that, he worked at The Tenant Agency and Newmark.
Avison Young said Forrest brings more than a decade of experience in the D.C. area, where he's advised nonprofit groups and companies in technology, government contracting and professional services on their office requirements.
Melanie Garlock Wolfe joined JLL as vice president of office agency leasing in Atlanta. The firm said Wolfe will focus on office leasing, project marketing and client investment strategies. Wolfe worked most recently as vice president in the Atlanta office of Partners Real Estate. Her five years in real estate started at CBRE, where she managed global corporate client accounts such as EY, Truist Bank and energy technology company Baker Hughes. She also worked at Cushman & Wakefield.
Global construction services firm Gilbane Building promoted Ryan Sitnik to the role of senior director of business development in the Southeast. The firm said Sitnik will focus on increasing project work across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Richmond, Virginia. Based in Jacksonville, he has been with Gilbane for 16 years and most recently served as its business development director for Florida.
New hires, promotions and other personnel changes
Multifamily and commercial property management firm Drucker + Falk promoted Chief Financial Officer Guy Buck to president, effective Jan. 1. The Newport News, Virginia-based company said Buck will succeed Jim Ledbetter, who is retiring Dec. 31 and will remain on the board of directors. Buck has served as the firm's CFO since 2004.
Brennan Investment Group promoted Andrew Mazey to senior vice president for Atlanta and Nashville, Tennessee. The Chicago-based company that focuses on industrial properties, said Mazey is based in Nashville and previously served as senior vice president for that region only. He joined Brennan in 2023 after working as director of real estate development at Merus.
Construction services firm HPM hired Hector Arvizo as director of project controls. The Birmingham, Alabama, firm said Arvizo, based in its Dallas office, will oversee services for the entire company. He previously held project management roles at Jacobs, Worley, TritenIAG and South Korea's SK Engineering & Construction.
National construction firm Skender said it promoted three senior vice presidents as part of efforts to expand services in categories such as multifamily, healthcare, office and interiors. The Chicago-based company elevated Andy Halik to president, Brian Bukowski to chief operating officer, and Brian Simons to president of its Indiana operations. Project executive Ashlee Pforr was promoted to vice president. These moves followed the earlier transition of Jerry Ball from president and CEO to the sole role of chief executive officer.
Andrew Markey joined Iselin, New Jersey-financial institution Provident Bank as senior vice president and team leader for commercial real estate. Markey has over 30 years of commercial property lending and management experience. He joined Provident from Valley Bank, where he was senior vice president of commercial real estate.