David Fournier is partnering with Bill Miller, director of investment sales, to expand the firm's multifamily sales practice from its existing staff of five. Fournier was director of I/ESG's Capital Advisors Group, where he specialized in multifamily sales. An I/ESG spokeswoman in Boston tells GlobeSt.com that they wished him well because he was such an asset to the firm. Fournier's career highlights include direct involvement in the sale of $350 million in investment properties, including $200 million in apartments transaction.

According to Miller, Holliday Fenoglio Fowler's Houston team sold about $350 million in assets, representing 5,000 units, in 2002, of which 3,000 were in Texas. Fournier is well versed in "the marketing of affordable apartments including those with HUD or state assisted financing, Section 8 rental assistance, tax-exempt bonds and tax credits," Miller said.

Fournier tells GlobeSt.com that the plan is to become one of the major players in the multifamily market in Houston and the southeastern United States as Miller noted there are a lot of investors chasing multifamily deals in Houston. The city's multifamily market, he admitted, is feeling the impact of a slowed national economy, but it's still faring better than most other cities.