HOUSTON--NAI Partners has made two recent high-profile hires in its Houston office. Lisa Hankamer has joined the firm as vice president in investment sales with a focus on hospitality and Ami Figg has been hired as a leasing agent in the office project leasing division.

"Lisa is a trailblazer in this industry," Elke Laughlin, executive vice president of corporate development at NAI Partners, told GlobeSt.com. 

Laughlin says Hankamer's expertise is in boutique hotels, and that her extensive background in the small niche will greatly benefit the company. Most recently, Hankamer was managing principal of Uniquity Real Estate Partners, a boutique hotel brokerage firm that provides transactional and advisory services for owners of unique/select boutique, historic, resort and lifestyle hotel properties.

Hankamer has worked with the hotel industry for more than 25 years, and she has assisted clients in successfully transacting more than $260 million in hotel real estate sales within the past several years.

“We are thrilled to have the caliber of talent that Lisa brings to the firm,” says Jon Silberman, managing partner of NAI Partners.

Silberman adds that Hankamer will be charged with building a new line of business for the firm across three markets – Austin, San Antonio and Houston.

Figg comes to NAI Partners from Hartman Income REIT, where she had direct leasing responsibilities for over one million square feet of commercial office space. She managed a diverse portfolio, including high-rise office buildings, retail centers and warehouse-industrial leasing in various submarkets including the Westchase District, Galleria, Energy Corridor and Greenway Plaza.

"Ami's high-energy and dynamic," Laughlin says. "She's a strategic thinker which will bode well for our clients."

Doug Pack, executive vice president of NAI Partners' office project leasing team, concurs.

“Ami brings a collaborative approach to her business and I think she will be a great fit for our team. As we continue to grow, Ami's talents will be of tremendous value.”