Phoenix Business Momentum: Key Expansions Signal Growth

New hires and team expansions across the real estate and logistics sectors highlight a period of sustained growth and optimism. These strategic moves underscore a vibrant economic landscape, reflecting confidence in specific markets and broader industry trends.

The spirit of enterprise and strategic investment continues to shape Phoenix’s economic narrative. Businesses are making deliberate moves to expand their capabilities and leadership teams, signaling a robust environment where talent and capital converge to drive progress. Such developments are often the direct result of entrepreneurial foresight and a business climate that encourages growth, attracting skilled professionals and fostering innovation in key sectors.

In a dynamic market, the ability of firms to adapt and expand their specialized teams is crucial. These organizational enhancements not only create new opportunities but also reflect a positive outlook on future economic performance, encouraging further private sector engagement and strengthening the local economy.

Newmark Strengthens Industrial Presence in Phoenix

Newmark has significantly expanded its Southwest industrial brokerage practice by appointing Keri Scott as a senior managing director in Phoenix. Scott brings 17 years of industry experience and has brought a team with her, including senior associate Alex Kas-Marogi; associates Jack Kerkorian, Adam Pinard, and Warren Kelly; and broker services specialist Lindsay Davi. This expanded industrial team will focus on agency representation, occupier strategy, investments, and development consulting within the rapidly developing Phoenix region.

The industrial market in Phoenix is showing signs of stabilization, with the total vacancy rate decreasing for the second consecutive quarter, settling at 12.8% during the third quarter of 2025. Furthermore, net absorption in the first three quarters of 2025 reached an impressive 15.6 million square feet, ranking as the second-highest in the U.S. after Dallas. Analysts predict continued stabilization into 2026, driven by a reduction in sublease space and ongoing tenant interest in modern industrial facilities. This growth trajectory underscores Phoenix’s increasing importance as a logistical and distribution hub.

NAI Capital’s Strategic Retail Focus

NAI Capital Commercial has made a strategic hire to enhance its retail business, with Maurice Nieman joining as an executive vice president in the firm’s Orange County office in Irvine, California. Nieman is recognized nationwide as a veteran in net-leased retail properties, boasting over 35 years of experience. While this specific hire is for California, NAI Capital, headquartered in Southern California, provides a complete range of commercial real estate services and is a large member of NAI Global. A robust retail sector often indicates healthy consumer confidence and diverse business opportunities, contributing to the broader economic vitality that cities like Phoenix also experience. Phoenix-based NAI Horizon also offers dedicated retail brokerage services, reflecting strong local market engagement.

Harbor Logistics Expands Leadership Team

Harbor Logistics, a Charleston, South Carolina-based owner and operator of southeastern industrial properties, has enhanced its executive leadership by hiring Jason Essenberg as senior vice president of business development. Essenberg brings over two decades of experience in supply chain and logistics management to his new role. Harbor Logistics focuses on delivering end-to-end logistics solutions across the Southeast U.S. and beyond, recently combining with A&R Bulk-Pak and maintaining extensive warehouse space near the Port of Charleston. These expansions in the logistics sector demonstrate ongoing efforts to optimize supply chains and enhance operational efficiencies, a critical component of national economic infrastructure.

Nationwide Trends in Housing Finance and Commercial Real Estate Research

JPMorgan Chase has demonstrated a significant commitment to expanding housing finance nationwide, appointing Karen Purcell as the head of its community development banking team within the J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking division. Beginning in January, Purcell will lead a team dedicated to providing financing for the development and preservation of affordable workforce housing. In 2025, the community development banking team has already extended over $3 billion in debt financing, contributing to the creation or preservation of more than 15,000 affordable housing units across the nation. Furthermore, JPMorgan Chase has committed over $5 billion in debt and equity for affordable housing in the first three quarters of 2025 (Nationwide), projected to create and preserve nearly 39,000 affordable housing units across the U.S. This nationwide focus on housing finance plays a vital role in supporting housing markets and economic stability broadly, with local benefits in communities everywhere.

In other commercial real estate news, Transwestern Real Estate Services has appointed Jesse Tollison as a research manager for its Minneapolis office. Tollison will be responsible for overseeing research and data initiatives specifically in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, tracking various property types including office, industrial, retail, and healthcare. While this particular role is focused outside of Arizona, the emphasis on dedicated research management highlights the growing importance of data-driven insights in commercial real estate decision-making across the industry.

EYA’s Multifamily Focus in the D.C. Region

EYA, a developer of urban residential properties based in Rockville, Maryland, has named Robin Bettarel as its head of multifamily development. This appointment is aimed at expanding EYA’s project pipeline within the Washington, D.C., region. Bettarel brings more than two decades of industry experience to this role. The focus on strengthening multifamily development is a common strategy for firms operating in growing urban areas, addressing the demand for diverse housing options and contributing to regional economic development, even if this specific expansion is outside the Phoenix market.

Looking Ahead for Phoenix AZ Business

The latest executive hires and team expansions across various commercial sectors underscore a narrative of growth and strategic investment. While some of these developments span broader national or regional markets, they collectively contribute to an atmosphere of confidence in the commercial real estate landscape, which often reverberates positively in thriving centers like Phoenix. The city’s own industrial growth, fueled by entrepreneurial innovation and strategic expansions such as Newmark’s, exemplifies how targeted investment in Phoenix AZ business can lead to tangible economic benefits and job creation.

For Arizona AZ entrepreneurs and Phoenix small business owners, these industry movements can inspire continued resilience and innovative approaches. A business environment that reduces unnecessary regulatory burdens can further empower these local ventures, allowing them to capitalize on growth opportunities. As Phoenix economy continues its upward trajectory, remaining engaged and supportive of local business initiatives will be key to fostering a prosperous future for all residents.