Bill Yancey, principal of Yancey-Hausman tells GlobeSt.com that the firm may hire an additional three to four professionals this year. That will take Yancey-Hausman's Houston team to nearly 55 and bring the firm's total number to about 70. Yancey-Hausman also has offices in Austin.

According to Yancey, the new hires will enable the firm to broaden its scope and pursue additional business opportunities and clients. Additionally, he says, Yancey decided in part to expand the team because of the availability of experienced professionals who he says are "proven in the field."

The retail team has hired Rodney Lerner as a senior broker and Leon Zilberman as an associate. The industrial division has hired Wade Thompson and Clay Pritchett as leasing agents who will also assist with new business development. Finally Jack Henry and Jay Michals have joined the office leasing division as tenant representatives.

"Rodney brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and talent to the retail division," said Bill Rowell, executive vice president in the firm's retail division. "He is a successful broker who adds considerable depth to Yancey-Hausman."

Lerner was previously with SDI Realty where he directed retail sales and leasing in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. His responsibilities also included tenant representation and site selection for new developments.

Prior to joining Yancey-Hausman, Zilberman was a leasing representative for Weingarten Realty Investors and was responsible for leasing a portfolio totaling about 1.4 million sf of shopping centers in Houston and outlaying areas.

Thompson comes to Yancey-Hausman from a post as an outside sales representative for Minolta Business Solutions where he generated new business and maintained current customer accounts. For the last few years, Pritchett has been pursuing his business degree.

Henry was formerly an independent tenant representative and leasing manager. His experience includes the management of a portfolio of seven commercial office properties comprising approximately 600,000 sf.

With the exception of last year, Michals has spent the last several years in the energy sector and has a background in trading as well as asset and risk management. In 2002, he spent most of the year playing professional golf, competing on several different tours.