Each year, PTK magazine — a publication of AZ Big Media — honors the talented people and compelling projects across Arizona’s commercial real estate landscape. Each day leading up to the PTK launch party, we will be spotlighting the influential professionals and projects featured in the 2027 edition of PTK. Today, meet the Arizona broker teams to know in 2027.
AZ Big Media will host a launch party to commemorate the 2027 edition of PTK in on Oct. 29, 2026. The Presenting Sponsors for the PTK 2027 edition magazine launch party are Lincoln and Harvard Investments; the Premier Sponsor is Wolverine Builders; the Event Sponsors are DFDG Architecture and Layton; the Photobooth Sponsor is Chasse Building Team; the Digital Sponsor is ModLogics Commercial Furniture Solutions; the Social Media Sponsor is Tempe Mechanical; the Red Carpet Sponsor is Concord General Contracting; the Entertainment Sponsor is Gensler; the Appetizer Sponsor is Stevens-Leinweber Construction; the Dessert Sponsor is Arizona Escrow & Financial; the Lanyard Sponsor is BPR Companies; the Beverage Sponsor is LGE Design Build; the Valet Sponsor is Clayco; the Interactive Champagne Wall Sponsor is PDO, a studio of RDC; the Floral Sponsor is Empire Paving; the Seating Sponsor is Corporate Interior Systems; the Champagne Sponsor is Milhaus; and the Floral Provider is PJs Flowers. For more information, click here.
Alex Bez
Chief operating officer
Creation
BACKGROUND: Bez has played a central role in launching and scaling Creation’s mixed-use and retail platform across the Southwest and leading its expansion into Texas, overcoming macro-market and project-level challenges.
SOURCE OF PRIDE: Bez has driven significant growth across Creation’s retail and mixed-use platform, delivering more than $100 million in new development, scaling the firm’s Texas portfolio with over $200 million in development, overseeing more than $200 million in successful exits and facilitating over 1 million square feet of leasing across the industrial and retail portfolio.
Brad Richardson
President
Ascent Companies
BACKGROUND: Richardson founded Ascent Companies in 2020 as an owner, developer and general contactor of multifamily and retail properties across Phoenix and Tucson. With more than 25 years of real estate investment, development and management experience, his track record includes over $3 billion of transactions and development across almost all asset classes in 23 states. Since 2020, Richardson has led Ascent in the development of seven multifamily projects across over 1,300 units.
SURPRISING FACT: “My first job in real estate was at a private golf course development in Scotland.”
Chris Janson
President
Mack Halo Vista
BACKGROUND: A senior development professional who has successfully handled large projects throughout Arizona and the Western U.S. for more than 25 years, Janson has led nearly $2 billion in land transactions and development.
SOURCE OF PRIDE: “Halo Vista is one of the most consequential developments in generations, and we are fortunate it is in Phoenix. Richard Mack offering me the opportunity to build and lead the team that is making Halo Vista a reality is easily my greatest professional accomplishment — to date.”
Dale Cavan
President and founder
Cavan Commercial
BACKGROUND: Cavan leads the firm’s strategic direction, investment decisions and development pipeline. He oversees site selection, acquisitions, capital structuring and project execution, with a focus on identifying high-value opportunities within Arizona’s emerging growth corridors.
SOURCE OF PRIDE: “Scaling and validating the neighborhood flex bay model as a repeatable development platform. Power Commerce Park achieved full occupancy shortly after completion and sold for $55 million, while Pecos 10 in Mesa reached 100% occupancy during construction and sold for just under $35 million, demonstrating strong demand and clear product-market fit.”
Keagan Huerta
Executive vice president of investments
P.B. Bell
BACKGROUND: Huerta heads the P.B. Bell multifamily fund, a $125 million platform dedicated to acquiring Class A and B properties across Arizona, primarily within Greater Phoenix.
SURPRISING FACT: “One of the more unexpected aspects of my background is the way my professional work is balanced by a hands-on, creative craft outside of the office. In my spare time, I enjoy leatherworking, blacksmithing and welding — working directly with raw materials to create something tangible. There’s something incredibly grounding about shaping steel or crafting something by hand, and that appreciation for craftsmanship has translated into how I approach my work.”
Lemelle Johnson
Director of development
Prologis
BACKGROUND: Known for his collaborative leadership style and strong technical expertise, Johnson works cross-functionally with Development, Capital Deployment, and Market Operations teams to successfully execute complex projects and advance Prologis’ regional development strategy.
SOURCE OF PRIDE: “Helping lead the AMP1 Phase II expansion at Lucid Motors in Casa Grande. As project controls lead, I oversaw schedule, cost, risk and reporting for a more than 3 million-square-foot manufacturing expansion with a budget exceeding $1 billion. I built the project controls team and helped drive strategic capital planning and project execution.”
Michael Monroe
Vice president of development
Lincoln Property Company
BACKGROUND: Serving as the primary point of contact and principal lead for the firm’s project management platform, Monroe oversees the full lifecycle of services, including entitlements, municipal approvals, permitting, bid evaluation, value-engineering, construction oversight and final project delivery.
SURPRISING FACT: “I once spent the night at Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert laboratory and the historic home in Scottsdale. Two amazing friends studied there, and thanks to them I had the rare chance to experience the campus in this unique way. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
Mike Gilbert
Director, Southwest region
Formation Interests
BACKGROUND: Leading the firm’s growth in Phoenix and the Southwest, Gilbert focuses on the development and acquisition of institutional quality assets.
SOURCE OF PRIDE: “Successfully closing on Metro Corporate Center via an off market sale. This was a seven-building, obsolete office campus on 28 acres in the heart of Phoenix along the I-17 corridor. It is currently being transformed into FORMATION17, a four-building industrial and manufacturing hub totaling 428,000 square feet, delivering in November 2026.”
SURPRISING FACT: “I am a huge Jimmy Buffett fan, a true Parrothead! I have attended more than 35 Buffett concerts in three different countries.”
