Former First Potomac Exec. Dawson Joins Verity Commercial

RESTON, VA—Former First Potomac Realty Trust executive James “Skip” Dawson has joined locally-based Verity Commercial LLC as a principal.

Dawson, who resigned from his post as chief operating officer at First Potomac last October, will join Verity co-founders Herman Diebler Jr. and Kenneth Traenkle to lead the brokerage's expansion that will include looking for acquisition opportunities for tenants and investors alike. Dawson is to provide operational and transactional support for Verity.

"It was just a situation where I wanted to take a look at the balance of my career," he says. "I've enjoyed real estate for a long time and I wanted to step back and take a look at my opportunities."

Dawson was a key player in taking First Potomac Realty public after five years of its inception. During his tenure at First Potomac Realty Trust, the company grew from 14 to 180 employees while generating over $100 million of annual leasing revenue.

"Skip is a well-known, respected individual in the greater Washington D.C. commercial real estate industry," says Ken Traenkle, co-founder and principal of Verity Commercial. "We are elated to have someone with Skip's background to help guide us through the next evolution of Verity Commercial."

Verity also reports that Sara Fletcher Lough and Kayla Barclay Hall have joined the firm as real estate advisor and marketing coordinator respectively. See story in the Washington Business Journal.