Cushman & Wakefield has expanded its valuation and advisory team with the addition of Petra Latch, Erica L. Smith and Jimmy Schuster. Latch is the former owner of the Criterion Group, an appraisal advisory firm. She joins Cushman as executive managing director, while Smith joins the firm as associate director and Schuster joins as a financial analyst.

“After 20 years in this industry, I wanted to spend less time running a small business and more time working on assignments and connecting with clients and other industry professionals,” Latch tells GlobeSt.com about her decision to join the firm. “I found myself limited by time and resources, and missing out on opportunities. I also realized that if I wanted to continue my professional journey and also have time for my growing gaggle of grandbabies, I needed to find a better work-life balance.”

Latch brought Smith, who is a certified general appraiser, and Schuster with her from Criterion Group, and notes that they have been an integral part of her success. “My Criterion Group team consisted of a small but mighty work force of stellar professionals with whom I have worked for 10 to 20 years,” she says. “I knew that any move I made had to include them, and Cushman & Wakefield embraced that without hesitation. I wanted us all to benefit from being part of a larger collaborative group of professionals, and Cushman & Wakefield was the perfect fit.”

Latch is an expert in appraisal and related services for residential subdivisions, commercial and industrial real estate for acquisition and development, and plans to leverage her 20-plus years of experience to grow the platform. “My goals for the next 12 months are to acclimate and accelerate. The Cushman & Wakefield group here in Las Vegas and our regional partners have been very welcoming,” she says. “We are also very lucky to associate with great clients who have worked with us long enough to know this move will benefit them as well. I also want to develop some education programs, complete my CCIM designation in the first quarter of 2020 and continue serving on the board of CALV.”

She has hit the ground running. “The Las Vegas office with Christina Rousch and the rest of the brokerage and property management team are dynamic and have welcomed us into their home,” says Latch. “John Kirby and Michele Kauffman with the SW region Valuation & Advisory group worked patiently and diligently with us to make this move happen. We are very grateful to have this level of support on all fronts.”

Instant Insights /

Cushman Las Vegas Expands Valuation & Advisory Team

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