Lee Black, Jared Smits and Yvonne Ayala Join Los Angeles Office

Cassidy Turley Hires Top-producing Team

Published on November 15, 2012


LOS ANGELES – Cassidy Turley, a leading commercial real estate services provider in the U.S., announced that Lee Black, Jared Smits and Yvonne Ayala have joined the firm’s Los Angeles Metro office as Executive Managing Director, Principal; Vice President; and Senior Associate, respectively.

Cassidy Turley entered the Los Angeles market in the second quarter of 2012. With the addition of Mr. Black, Mr. Smits and Ms. Ayala, Cassidy Turley is well positioned to expand its client services platform into the San Fernando Valley.

Mr. Black brings more than 27 years of commercial real estate experience to Cassidy Turley, where he will work to grow its Corporate Services, Tenant Representation and Project Leasing platforms and capabilities in the Los Angeles region. Mr. Smits is among Southern California’s leading young brokerage professionals and joins Mr. Black in enhancing Cassidy Turley’s Corporate Services, Tenant Representation and Project Leasing presence in the region. Ms. Ayala’s responsibilities include project management of national and regional corporate accounts and implementing marketing initiatives for existing and new business.

“Lee, Jared and Yvonne are important additions to our Los Angeles Metro team, and they’ll help us expand project leasing regionally and be key contributors to our national corporate services team,” said Jonathan Larsen, Regional Managing Principal for Cassidy Turley in Los Angeles. “They exemplify our effort to attract top-caliber executives who provide best-of-class service to our clients locally, regionally and nationally.”

Mr. Black, Mr. Smits and Ms. Ayala join Cassidy Turley from NAI Capital.

Mr. Black was Executive Vice President at NAI Capital and the firm’s top producer in 2011. Prior experience includes serving as managing principal of Newmark Knight Frank’s Southern California Region and 12 years as an Executive Director at Cushman & Wakefield, where he was top producing broker in the firm’s L.A, North office from 1992 through 2002 and overall top producer for the Western Region for 2001. Over the course of his career, Mr. Black has closed transactions involving more than 12 million square feet of commercial real estate with such clients as Verizon, Amgen, Sears, LBA Realty and Adler Realty Investments. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California and a Trustee for the California State Parks Foundation, as well as a member of CoreNet Global, Los Angeles Rotary Club and the U.S. Green Building Council.

As a nine-year professional in commercial real estate, Mr. Smits most recently spent five years with NAI Capital as a Vice President specializing in landlord and tenant representation in the North Los Angeles submarket. At Cassidy Turley, Mr. Smits is responsible for continually developing new business and servicing existing clients in landlord representation, tenant representation, acquisitions/dispositions and corporate advisory services. His dedication and commitment to his clients earned him the NAI 2011-2012 Rookie of the Year Award and the 2012 San Fernando Valley Business Journal Rising Star Award for brokerage excellence. Previous experience includes positions with Studley, Colliers International and Walt Disney Corporate Operations & Real Estate.

Ms. Ayala previously served as Marketing Director for NAI Capital, overseeing marketing efforts for its 14 Southern California offices. She is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and a graduate of San Diego State University.

About Cassidy Turley
Cassidy Turley is a leading commercial real estate services provider with more than 3,700 professionals in more than 60 offices nationwide. The company represents a wide range of clients—from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, from local non-profits to major institutions. The firm completed transactions valued at $22 billion in 2011, manages 455 million square feet on behalf of institutional, corporate and private clients and supports more than 28,000 domestic corporate services locations. Cassidy Turley serves owners, investors and tenants with a full spectrum of integrated commercial real estate services—including capital markets, tenant representation, corporate services, project leasing, property management, project and development services, and research and consulting. Cassidy Turley enhances its global service delivery outside North America through a partnership with GVA, giving clients access to commercial real estate professionals in 65 international markets. Please visit www.cassidyturley.com for more information about Cassidy Turley.

Bailey Webb
404.682.3381


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