At the end of March, CBRE's long-time executive, Richard Pogue, tells GlobeSt.com that he is stepping down to form an investment company with his brother and friends to focus on industrial and office acquisitions and repositioning in Houston and Dallas. Pogue is in the process of shifting power to H. Mark Fewin, previously TCC's managing director in Dallas/Fort Worth.

Pogue and Fewin say the first operating week went smoothly. Open houses, changed telephone messages, new business cards and new e-mails highlighted the start of the transition as it did elsewhere in the US. Pogue says CBRE signs will be up on all properties within "four or five days."

"Of all the communities, it is the most dramatic here due to the size of the change," Pogue assesses. "It's Trammell Crow's headquarters and the Trammell Crow heritage is so dominant in this market."

The TCC business group totals 455 professionals, with their primary office at 2100 Ross Ave. CBRE has 220 employees, with its administrative hub in Lincoln Centre III at 5430 LBJ Freeway in North Dallas. Fewin is splitting his time between the two offices. Pogue says a plan is being worked out to keep offices in Downtown Dallas and North Dallas. The Fort Worth office, which opened last fall, will remain intact.

"What I am impressed with is there is a great well thought-out plan of action to minimize the disruption and lack of focus that this could have caused," Fewin says. "What I have observed over the last three or four days has been a true general excitement, the renewal and refreshing of old relationships and the possibilities of this new relationship. What's amazing is it was business as usual."

Fewin says the team's still totaling the leasing and management contracts for the combined company. "I am confident that it will prove to be a good testimonial to the high level of service," he says. "Customers are really, really excited about the increased depth of the platform and talent that will reside in management and brokerage of their properties. The mission is still clear: provide great services to our customers."

Pogue says the team is quickly addressing clients' concerns when they do surface. "It's a service business," he points out. "You earn your contracts every day."

Fewin, like others at the top, says the goal is to complete the transition quickly and methodically. And, he adds, he's "thankful" for being able to work "shoulder to shoulder" with Pogue during the transition.

Pogue started in the business with Coldwell Banker. His first assignment was a TCC office building in San Jose. In 1970 he, joined CBRE. His 36-year career includes helping to open and build CBRE's Dallas office in 1978, opening Florida offices, leading Atlanta as its regional manager and rising to chairman of the Canadian group. After a 12-year hiatus with the Koll Co. in California, he returned to Dallas in 2002 to lead the CBRE office once again.

"I've gone full circle," Pogue says. "It's been a nice ride. I love this company and what it has grown into."

Pogue says the biggest hurdle in the months ahead is for professionals and clients to "understand just how powerful this company can be." He echoes CBRE president and CEO Brett White's sentiments. "It's not just about being big. It's about being the best," Pogue says. "That's the hurdle. It didn't change on Dec. 20th. It's not going to change tomorrow. It's going to be a process. My hope is it's going to be stronger every day."

The merged company started the week with a PR blitz. Press releases went out coast to coast and border to border--all touting the "enhanced service offerings." In San Francisco, Michael Smith rose to regional managing director from senior managing director. In Portland, Mark Fitkin remained leader of Oregon and Southwest Washington while Steve Wells, a 16-year exec for TCC, was made managing director of development operations for the two states. John Stirek, based in Portland and a 20-year TCC executive, was named president of the Western US for development and investment, which will continue to bear the TCC name as a CBRE wholly owned subsidiary led by Dallas-based Robert Sulentic.

In Chicago, George Kohl, previously TCC's Midwest area director, is now one of five CBRE managing directors for six Chicagoland offices. Jack Durburg, senior managing director for the region, says Kohl is a great pick-up. "We knew going in that we wouldn't be able to retain all the professionals. Some just didn't fit into joining us," he says.

Durburg says some Trammell offices, like Schaumburg, will be absorbed into CBRE's locations. "We don't have a solid plan yet for how we will merge the Downtown offices," he tells GlobeSt.com. "That's a little more complicated." But, he emphasizes, the teams complement each other well because CBRE is more brokerage-heavy firm in his area and TCC has specialized skills like a healthcare division.

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CBRE-TCC Internal Changes Swing Into Action

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