Cushman & Wakefield and Greystone Hire Premier Financing/Multifamily Team in Denver
Cushman & Wakefield and Greystone Servicing Company LLC recently announced that a veteran equity, debt and structured financing (EDSF) team led by Vice Chairman Craig Branton, M.S. has joined the firms in Denver. Branton has an extensive background in commercial real estate lending and is responsible for debt originations exceeding $1 billion during his career.
Previously with CBRE, the three-member EDSF team also includes Chris Bourgeois, director and Brett Brown, financial analyst. Working in a dual capacity at both Cushman & Wakefield and Greystone Servicing Company LLC, the team will specialize in multifamily loan originations, providing financing solutions for commercial real estate investors and owners. Branton and the team will also focus on helping to grow the joint venture. In December 2021, Cushman & Wakefield finalized its strategic investment of $500 million in Greystone, acquiring a 40% stake in Greystone’s Agency, FHA and Servicing businesses.
“We’re excited to welcome this high-performing team led by Craig, whose extensive financing experience and exceptional track record in the industry will enhance our robust EDSF and multifamily line of services. Cushman & Wakefield and Greystone’s strategic joint venture has created a best-in-class advisory services and capital solutions platform to fully support our client’s investment strategies,” said John O’Neill, President, U.S. Multifamily Capital Markets at Cushman & Wakefield.
“It is a pleasure to welcome this premier EDSF team to our offices in Denver. They are greatly respected in our market and will add terrific depth to the range and level of lending services we offer our clients,” added Steve Schwab, managing principal for Colorado and Utah at Cushman & Wakefield.
“This new team in Denver represents a key milestone in the growth of our joint effort with Cushman & Wakefield to provide a range of capital markets solutions to property investors, particularly in a core market where we can add value in the multifamily sector,” said Chip Hudson, executive vice president and head of Greystone’s Agency lending platform.
Along with his vast experience in the multifamily sector, Branton’s work in commercial real estate has included industrial, retail, office, self-storage, and parking properties. At CBRE, Branton was a top national producer in the field of lending, as well as one of the firm’s top overall producing professionals in the Americas. Prior to CBRE, Branton was a Principal with Terrix Financial in Denver where he was also a consistent top producer.
Craig Branton said, “Cushman & Wakefield offers a preeminent full-service platform and being part of this beneficial joint venture with Greystone will provide our clients with direct access to Greystone’s agency lending products and will also allow for equity and debt originations through life insurance companies, debt funds, regional and national banks and credit unions, and CMBS lenders.”
McWhinney Names New Vice President of Commercial and Mixed-Use Development
McWhinney, a national real estate investment, development and management firm with expertise in commercial, multifamily, hospitality, residential and mixed-use assets, has expanded its leadership team by naming Karen McShea, senior vice president of commercial and mixed-use development.
In her new role, McShea provides leadership and management for vertical real estate development teams and projects while working closely with members of the McWhinney acquisition, finance, design, construction and operations teams. Her responsibilities currently focus on McWhinney projects located in Colorado as well as Salt Lake City, Utah. McShea’s areas of specialty include site selection, complex and mixed-use project developments, real estate positioning, marketing strategy and analysis, in addition to public/private partnerships and develop implementation strategies.
Prior to joining McWhinney, McShea served as the senior vice president of Corporex in Colorado, successfully growing the Denver office and securing strong development opportunities for the company. With over 25 years of experience, McShea is globally recognized for her industry expertise and has advised clients on issues pertaining to the implementation of complex real estate projects; asset positioning and marketing strategies; market analysis; maximizing economic value for corporate and investor clients; public/private partnerships; development implementation strategies; RFP and developer selection processes. Throughout her career Karen has managed developments nationally and globally in such cities as Boston, San Francisco, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Cartagena, Colombia.
McShea exemplifies McWhinney’s commitment to creating sustainable communities that deliver a true sense of place, foster belonging, and enable connectivity for all. In Boston, she created an award-winning afterschool curriculum for Girls, Inc. of Lowell where she led several eight-week programs for girls aged 10-12 years on various aspects of commercial real estate development.
McShea reports to Krista Sprenger who was recently promoted to executive vice president of commercial and mixed-use development.
Andrew Steinmetz To Head Marketing Efforts for Transwestern’s West Region
Transwestern Real Estate Services (TRS) announced that Andrew Steinmetz has joined the firm as regional marketing manager for the west. Based in San Francisco, Steinmetz will lead marketing and communications initiatives across the region, which includes offices in Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Seattle, Las Vegas, and Phoenix.
Steinmetz will work with the region’s leadership and national marketing to develop and implement initiatives that promote the firm’s full-service commercial real estate platform and unique approach to service delivery. This includes raising brand awareness for Transwestern and its clients, as well as supporting business development activities through channels that include digital marketing, property campaigns, advertising, content marketing, creative collateral, events, and media relations.
“We’re excited to have Andrew on board to support and provide visibility to the tremendous work our teams do on behalf of our clients every day,” said Chip Clarke, Transwestern’s West Region president. “His exceptional industry experience makes him an excellent fit with our highly creative team, and his skills will help us effectively communicate Transwestern’s value proposition to clients across the region.”
Steinmetz joins Transwestern from Colliers International, where he served as the art director and marketing manager for the San Francisco East Bay & Peninsula markets. He managed teams across the Bay Area, collaborated with brokers, clients and design teams to develop print and digital collateral, and designed business development materials. Previously, he operated a freelance consultancy offering visual design, photography and art direction for clients in a variety of industries.
“I look forward to working with Transwestern teams around the region to highlight the firm’s many successes, while implementing strategies to establish best practices that will boost creativity and increase efficiencies,” said Steinmetz. “Transwestern’s size and organizational structure offer a unique opportunity to gain from a national marketing team while having the flexibility to focus on local opportunities and initiatives.”
