"The addition of Joel, Steve and their team significantly elevates our Capital Markets capabilities and gives Grubb & Ellis a best-in-class, comprehensive ownership services platform at a time when our ability to provide our clients with financing solutions and advice has never been more important," Shawn Mobley, EVP and Midwest market leader, says. "In today's environment of limited debt capital, the relationships Joel and Steve have with debt providers, mezzanine funds and equity investors offer tremendous value and have the potential to be the decisive factor in successfully completing disposition assignments."

The team will work with the company's investment sales professionals to provide debt solutions, such as commercial mortgage brokerage and debt restructuring, to clients nationwide. Simmons and Roth both bring 25 years of experience to their work at Grubb. Combined, the two have arranged more than $10 billion in capital for more than 1,350 commercial real estate transactions in their careers.

"Over the past 18 months, Grubb & Ellis has built one of the most formidable investment sales divisions in the industry," Simmons says. "It was a natural marriage to combine this investment sales expertise with our debt and equity capital markets experience. We believe that as part of a unified team we can provide unparalleled service quality to clients looking to maximize the value of their real estate holdings."