[IMGCAP(2)]Unlike a majority of other companies in the US, Studley seems to have weathered the economic crisis. In fact, it is in the midst of expanding its presence in Chicago and elsewhere.

"We have not been hammered by the slingshot impact of heavy debt burden that is fine when things are good and really, really bad when things are bad," EVP Richard Schuham tells GlobeSt.com. "While many of our competitors spent the last 18 months focusing on their lenders and outside stakeholders, we focused on recruiting strategically and most importantly squarely on our clients who need our undivided attention. Studley attracts professional who are entrepreneurs and who want to further their business and the office as whole by taking on leadership roles."

Heyes is returning to Studley, where he worked in the late 1990s. At that time he helped starts the company's first Midwest Accounts Group. Between stints at Studley, Heyes founded Patriot Capital Advisors, a boutique real estate investment bank, and was employed at CSFB Realty Corp.

David is an 11-year veteran, working at both First Industrial Real Trust and Trizec Properties. Over the years he has focused on consulting to corporations regarding their real estate holdings and investment sales of institutional-quality real estate, andproviding buy-side advice to foreign investors seeking opportunities in the US.

Edgerton worked as a litigation attorney for a Chicago-based law firm before joining Studley.

"Even though each might have a slightly different focus, we see their disciplines as complementary. All three will help further our mission to help tenants achieve optimal real estate solutions," Schuham says. "Users of real estate face unprecedented opportunities today for lowering occupancy costs, whether it involves leasing space, acquiring the real estate that they previously leased and raising capital through that vehicle in a time where access to capital is difficult. Our newly hired professionals cater to all of those constituents as well as the investor community."

Studley's new hires don't stop there. Schuham tells GlobeSt.com the company is actively looking to add more personnel throughout the US. "2009 was an incredibly opportunistic year for us, adding key personnel nationwide. We expect to see more of this as those who work for very large firms tire of the bureaucracy and reduced resources. We expect to add a leader in industrial services for Chicago and the Midwest. We are looking for that person now."