Eric Kaufman and Avram Holzer, partners for seven years, previously headed the Collier ABR Investment Sales & Financing team in New York, a division they formed in September 2001. Also at Welbilt is Jason Hirsch, director of sales and acquisitions, who had joined the pair at Colliers in 2002.

Although based here, the firm has a satellite office in New York City, a placement that reflects the firm's focus. Welbilt will be involved in investment sales and real estate investment banking nationally; but the team's principal arm will initially concentrate on net-lease retail and industrial acquisitions in the Northeast. They anticipate deal sizes to range from $1 million to $50 million. "It is easier for us as a small firm to focus on the market we know best, which is the Northeast and especially the New York metro area," says Kaufman.

Currently the firm is marketing several deals, including two single-tenant net leased properties in Tennessee and Illinois, which just had a contract fall out at $21 million (10% return on 560,000 sf), according to Kaufman. Additionally, he says the firm is marketing several shopping centers in Florida totaling $31 million with 414,000 sf with a combination of value added and a stable 1031 tax-free exchange-type property.