Newmark Knight Frank (NKF) announced the launch of the Valuation & Advisory group, landing 11 leading-industry professionals and specialists. NKF hired Senior Managing Director Gavin McPhie, MAI, MRICS, formerly with CBRE, to serve as the market leader for its U.S. Southwest Valuation & Advisory group based in Phoenix.

Tasked with growing the platform in Arizona, as well as Nevada and New Mexico, McPhie will focus on expanding client relationships, spearheading business development and aggressively recruiting top appraisal professionals. Joining McPhie in NKF’s SW Valuation & Advisory group in the Phoenix office are Executive Vice President Randy Schneider, MAI, Senior Vice President Chad Eschmeyer and First Vice President Chris McCook, MAI from Colliers; Senior Vice Presidents John Rucker, MAI and Nick Graves, also from CBRE; and Vice President Ryan Melzer from KS Appraisal. “This team of professionals are all highly experienced and include four members with the prestigious MAI designation,” added McPhie. “Together, the new Valuation & Advisory team offers 128 years of collective experience.” The team also includes Analysts Avarey Wu from BDO, Zachery O’Callaghan from CBRE, and Kammy Harding from Colliers, with Clara Holland as administrative assistant.

Senior Vice President Benjamin Gregg, MAI has joined the group from CBRE and is based in Reno, expanding its Nevada presence beyond its existing Las Vegas office. 

“NKF, a rapidly growing company with a global platform of services and industry experts, offered an amazing opportunity to build my “dream team” of professional and knowledgeable appraisal and valuation experts,” added McPhie. “My goal is to create the most reputable, trusted and resourceful valuation advisory team in the region, able to service our clients’ appraisal needs across Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico, as well as nationally. The addition of this hand-picked, dedicated in-house valuation and advisory team allows for the provision of thorough market comps and deal analysis, supplementing the quality of information available to our clients and colleagues, with specialists in all commercial property types and niche markets.”

Several of the Southwest team members participate in NKF Valuation & Advisory national specialty practice groups including multihousing, hospitality, gaming and leisure, self-storage, retail/regional malls, senior housing, healthcare, data centers, mission critical environments and property tax. Other unique valuation experience that this team of professionals offers is convenience stores/gas stations, quick service restaurants, and HUD multifamily market studies and valuations.

“The addition of this team adds a crucial element of service for our clients and colleagues,” commented Executive Managing Director Helene Jacobson, who co-heads NKF Valuation & Advisory Services with Steve DuPlantis nationally. “Gavin and his selected team of area professionals further amplifies NKF’s ability to expand coverage in key markets and bolster service offerings to provide an unparalleled platform to clients throughout the region.”

“The Southwest, in general, is growing with strong economic climates, population and job growth in most of the major markets, along with its relatively low cost of living and high living standards,” concluded NKF Regional Managing Director Greg May. “In fact, Phoenix was recently named the third top market for growth in tech jobs year-over-year. The area’s robust economy will continue to outpace the national average for some time to come, providing opportunities for ownership of all property types. NKF’s SW Valuation & Advisory group is a value add for our local, regional and national clients.”