Dan Smith is teaming with Staubach's Scott Schillings to beef up the ranks in Houston. Smith tells GlobeSt.com that he has hired one new broker, Jake Baker, and plans to hire five to seven more people over the next 12 to 18 months.

"Dan is a veteran of the Houston real estate market, whose extensive experience and leadership skills will serve our clients well," Clay Smith, vice president and managing principal of Dallas-based Staubach, said in a press release. "Adding Dan to our team will accelerate our efforts for continued success and expansion of our presence in the Houston market, as well as the rest of the southwest."

Smith was Transwestern's managing director of retail operations for development, acquisitions and project leasing. A comment from Transwestern executives about Smith's departure was not available prior to publication time.

During his career, Smith has worked with clients such as H-E-B, Lowe's Home Improvement, Pier I Imports, Michael's Arts & Crafts, Chili's, General Cinema and Radio Shack. He says the current client pool is a mix of clients he brought with him, existing Staubach clients and new prospects. In addition to retail services provided to clients, he says the plan is to identify potential retail acquisitions for financing via Staubach's Cypress Equities.