Highside Companies Announces Promotions
National real estate firm Highside Companies has announced four promotions as it continues to expand, with over $1 billion in active and completed projects across the U.S. and Canada.
Matt Shannon has been promoted from senior vice president of development to executive vice president of development and operations. With the advancement, he will now oversee both the investment and asset management teams, in addition to Highside’s development team. Shannon joined Highside nearly three years ago, in early 2023. Meanwhile, Ellesse DesMarteau, who since joining the company in late 2021 has quickly moved up the ranks from development manager to director of development, will step into the role of vice president of development.
Additionally, Patrick Tyson, who joined the Highside team in late 2022, has been promoted from vice president to senior vice president of investments, taking on a broader leadership role within the company. Finally, Terry Waldick, controller at Highside Companies since mid-2024, steps into the role of vice president of accounting and finance.
“As our portfolio continues to grow, so do our team members,” said Justin Roberts, CEO of Highside Companies. “We’re elated to not only keep adding to our team, but elevating those within it who continue to demonstrate excellence in their roles. These promotions reflect both the enormous effort and the outstanding results of Matt, Ellesse, Patrick, and Terry, and I’m excited to see each one of them grow into their new roles.”
Headquartered in Denver, Highside focuses on multiple fully integrated real estate verticals, including real estate development, investments and fund management.
Cushman & Wakefield Expands Occupier Advisory Capabilities with Top Industrial Brokers Joe Howell and Brett Spitzer
Cushman & Wakefield announced that leading industrial advisors Joe Howell and Brett Spitzer have joined the firm as vice chairs within Occupier Advisory Services. Based in Denver, Howell and Spitzer will support occupier clients and foster collaboration with teams across the globe on complex, multi-market strategy and execution. Their arrival comes amid sustained growth momentum and significant demand for advisory-led insight at Cushman & Wakefield.
Howell and Spitzer are widely recognized for advising global industrial occupiers on portfolio strategy, site selection, transaction execution, international expansion and asset monetization. Their leadership and experience will accelerate the firm’s industrial platform, enabling the delivery of sophisticated, multi-market guidance that meets rising client expectations both nationally and globally.
“Joe and Brett’s proficiency in delivering creative, multi-market solutions for complex real estate challenges is unparalleled,” said Jason Tolliver, President, Americas Logistics & Industrial. “Their deep expertise and occupier-centric approach are critical as we enhance our advisory-led services and accelerate the growth of our industrial platform.”
Howell brings more than 20 years of commercial real estate experience to his new role, with expertise in multi-market account and relationship management, incentive procurement, development and transaction management. Previously Executive Vice President and Managing Director for North America at NAI Global and co-lead of the Corporate Solutions Council, Howell has executed more than $3 billion in aggregate transactional value. He is renowned for managing large, multi-disciplinary engagements for national and international occupiers, and was previously named a top industry leader under 40.
Spitzer joins with approximately two decades of experience in international finance and real estate, most recently as Executive Vice President and Managing Director for North America at NAI Global, while co-leading the Corporate Solutions Council and advising the Industrial Council. Having led corporate and industrial advisory efforts and completing more than $3 billion in aggregate transactional value, Spitzer’s analytical expertise and global perspective are rooted in extensive on-site project work across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America, as well as financial auditing for a Fortune 150 company. His skillset has been instrumental in helping clients with portfolio planning, negotiations and strategic market entry.
“The addition of Joe and Brett immediately bolsters our occupier advisory platform,” said Matt Chatham, president, Occupier Advisory Services. “Their leadership and proven ability to maximize client value directly align with our commitment to exceptional service and our advisory-led approach. This is another example of a strategic investment that enhances the reach of our services. For our clients, it means deepening our ability to deliver solutions to support their business objectives around the world.”
Leveraging Cushman & Wakefield’s global platform, Howell and Spitzer will deliver comprehensive real estate solutions while further strengthening the firm’s national and international industrial capabilities.
