Leading the Southwest office from Dallas is Cooper Stuart, whospent the past six years as an E&Y executive vice president andwas accorded a senior vice president's title for DTZ. Manning theSoutheast as managing director in Atlanta is Scott Evans, who had18 years invested into E&Y as a partner and leader of the SouthZone Real Estate Advisory Services practice before making thechange. Both professionals quietly joined the New York City-basedDTZ Rockwood about two months ago to lay the groundwork to launchthe offices. In Dallas, Stuart has hired Richard Robson as anassociate while Evans' assistant starts Monday so his name is beingkept under wraps for now.

DTZ Rockwood's marketing director Mitch Breindel says the firmwanted to expand into both markets for awhile. "Given their depthof experience, depth of relationships in their respective markets,"he says, "it was really a question of getting the right people" toput the plan into play. And, he adds, it was just "a nicecoincidence" that they both came from the same camp.

Breindel says the historical deal flow in both regions isunderwriting the initiative. In 2005-06, he says DTZ Rockwoodclosed $280 million in six transactions in Texas, Oklahoma andArkansas. Deal volume in the Southeast is equally brisk, he says,citing a strong enough demand to warrant three offices just inFlorida.