PHOENIX–As GlobeSt.com reported, RyanCompanies US Inc. recently promoted RickCollins to president of the Southwestregion. Collins was previously VP of development for theNorthCentral division. GlobeSt.com caught up withCollins to get his take on the Southwest market and what Ryan Cos.has in the works for the area.

GlobeSt.com: In your opinion what are the strengths andweaknesses of the Southwest market?

Collins: The Phoenix market benefits frompopulation growth at about twice the rate of the national average,resulting in market economic growth in all types of real estate,especially housing, retail and medical. Office and industrialgrowth is driven by job growth, which in part is also dependent onpopulation growth – so the influx of new residents is alsoappealing to employers who are looking for labor supply. Job growthdrives commercial development, which is part of the reason thatPhoenix tends to recover more quickly from economic downturns thanthe northern markets like Minneapolis/St. Paul.