Joining the company are Cliff H. Johnston, senior vice president with the retail group and David Fogler, senior vice president, and Steven A. Nicoluzakis, senior associate, both with the multi housing investment group.

Insignia/ESG did not return telephone calls for comment prior to publication time, but Grubb & Ellis/BRE insider says the trio wasn't plucked from the fold and switched affiliations in light of the I/ESG and CB Richard Ellis merger plan. She said another five will join the firm next week.

Johnston, with more than 17 years of commercial real estate experience in the Valley, is a specialist in the leasing and sale of commercial properties. A former broker with Insignia/ESG, Koll Development Co. and CB Commercial, he was the top producer in the retail division of Insignia/ESG in 1997, 2001, 2002 and a Top Five award winner in 2002.

Folger, a specialist in marketing large apartment communities and multifamily development sites, has in excess of 15 years' experience, selling more than 12,000 units with a value in excess of $400 million. A former employee of Rand Commercial Brokers, he also worked for Koll where he was named the top investment broker and a Top Five award winner for 1995 and 1996. In his six years with Insignia/ESG, he was a Top Five winner in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2003 and was also the top capital group producer in 1998 and 2001.

Nicoluzakis has nine years of experience in the sales and marketing of multifamily properties in Arizona with Colliers International, JPI Apartment Development and Insignia/ESG where he was the Rookie of the Year in 2000.