Mohr Partners, Hughes Supply Broker Alliance for 10-MSF Portfolio

Bob Mohr, president of Mohr Partners, tells GlobeSt.com that the plan for the 600 sites attempts to "create a consistency in the agreements" as well see what can go and what can stay. About 40% of the locations are owned. Mohr, a Dallas powerbroker, and Daniel Rudd negotiated the deal with Hughes. Until now, Hughes' diversified divisions have been handling real estate on an individual basis, but corporate now wants to get "proactive" with more of a hands-on approach, according to Mohr.

Senior account managers Jeff Bulejcik and Mindy Pierce from Mohr's Orlando office are on site at Hughes' headquarters site, also in Orlando, to oversee the real estate. The team will report to Dallas-based Paula Nodwell, Mohr's director of national accounts. Mohr Partners, which has 15 offices in the US and Europe, will provide portfolio management services as well as relocations and lease negotiations.

Hughes, as others in the major leagues have done, has been outsourcing operational facets through "strategic relationships." In a prepared statement, John Steele, Hughes' corporate services director, said "a strategic real estate partnership was a natural part of that corporate evolution."

Hughes Supply, founded in 1928, generates in excess of $3 billion annually. The company distributes more than 240,000 products to about 440 wholesale outlets in 34 states and Mexico. The family-owned building materials company is one of the nation's Top 10 construction industry suppliers.