The Fort Worth-based REIT isn't ready to openly discuss the research department's future, but is making it known that it's snagged Jeanette I. Rice as the newest vice president for the Crescent team. Rice, a member of GlobeSt.com's Think Tank, will provide investment strategy, comparative market analysis, portfolio and transaction support and other key elements for Crescent's capital markets activities.

"Jeanette brings extensive expertise in both Crescent's markets as well as all major national markets," John C. Goff, Crescent's vice chairman and CEO, said in a press release about the VP of market research who started Monday. "She will be a tremendous addition to both our strategic analysis and institutional funds management initiatives."

Rice, an acknowledged expert on real estate market economics, has spent 21 years analyzing US and regional property data, capital markets and economies. Prior to her tenure at Lend Lease, she was a senior managing director of research for Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP.

In addition to the GlobeSt.com role, Rice is on the NMHC Research Advisory Board and editorial advisory board of the quarterly, CMBS World. She is the 2003 chair of the CRE Business Issues committee and this year's secretary-treasurer for CRE-DFW.