TORRANCE, CA-The team of Jeff Smart, Josh May, Blake Tippett and Kyle Degener has joined Colliers International to specialize in representing inudstrial landlords and tenants throughout the South Bay and Mid-Counties markets. The new team brings a combined 36 years of industrial leasing experience to Colliers, noted Martin Pupil, regional managing director for Colliers’ Greater Los Angeles operations. “With their extensive track record in the South Bay industrial market, the team will fill a strategic void,” Pupil said.

Smart, who will serve as executive vice president, was a top producer in the South Bay office of Grubb & Ellis Co. before joining Colliers. He has more than 20 years of experience representing tenants and owners in the South Bay and Mid-Counties markets, has ranked among the top five producers within Grubb & Ellis’ Los Angeles region every year since 2000 and as one of the top two industrial producers in the firm’s South Bay office every year since 1991.

May will serve as associate vice president. Previously, he was a top producer for Grubb & Ellis’ Industrial Services Division in the firm’s South Bay office. With more than seven years of experience representing both tenants and landlords of multi-tenant industrial properties, he has ranked within Grubb & Ellis’ top 10 South Bay industrial producers every year from 2005 to 2008, and within the firm’s top five producers in the Los Angeles Metro region in 2009.

Tippett, who will serve as senior associate, has more than six years of experience and was a recipient of Grubb & Ellis’ Rookie of the Year L.A. Metro Award in 2008. Degener, who will serve as associate, has represented investors, owners and tenants of industrial buildings and industrial land transactions throughout the South Bay market. Heather Babcock-Castner also joined Colliers International’s Torrance office as marketing coordinator, where she will provide marketing and administrative support for the team.