Scott Byrne, 42, has quietly replaced Philip Ola, who had beenlet go Dec. 12. Byrne, like Ola, has been signed to a one-yearcontract, with a renewal option. Byrne took over the executive vicepresidency just four days ago after spending a two-month internshipwith Dallas-based Bradford & Cos. to learn the ropes of thecommercial real estate industry.

Byrne readily admits he is a novice to the industry, but not tofund-raising or the business community. He says his relationshipwith people in the industry led to the job offer. He most recentlyhad been in the ministry for a non-denominational church that ispart of the Willow Creek Association of Churches. And, he says hisyears with his father's business, Byrne Directional Drilling Co., amajor offshore operation in Lafayette, LA, has given him the skillsnecessary to do what needs done for NTCAR.

"There are tremendous parallels between what I've left and whatI'm coming into," Byrne tells GlobeSt.com. What he is planning todo is pump up NTCAR's corporate sponsorship, membership andvisibility in the commercial real estate sector.