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 managers 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.
Cory Shepard
Executive managing principal and market leader
Cresa
BACKGROUND: Shepard oversees project and development services for the Phoenix office, leading a team of 21 project managers while supporting operations for more than 35 brokers and administrative professionals.
FAVORITE PROJECT: The new Dutch Bros Coffee headquarters. Since completion, Shepard has seen countless employees enjoying the new headquarters across social media, reinforcing that the project achieved far more than just delivering office space, it created an environment that reflects the company’s energy and identity.
James DeCremer
Principal and Phoenix market leader
Avison Young
BACKGROUND: With more than 20 years in the commercial real estate industry, DeCremer is responsible for overseeing the project leasing and pad sales of multiple power centers, grocery-anchored shopping centers, mixed-use projects and other retail properties throughout Arizona.
SURPRISING FACT: “I played college baseball at a small school, and now my son pitches for the University of Arkansas. It surprises people to know that at 48 years old, I still willingly stand 60 feet, 6 inches away from a Division I pitcher and catch his flatground bullpens.”
Lane Neville
CEO and designated broker
NAI Horizon
BACKGROUND: Throughout his career, Neville has held several senior real estate executive positions with national property and brokerage companies. He started as a high-rise office leasing agent with CBS Property Services and has since completed more than 1,500 sale and lease transactions valued in excess of $1.65 billion.
Mike Baumgardner
President
LevRose Commercial Real Estate
BACKGROUND: Baumgardner sets the vision for the firm, ensuring the company remains competitive in a evolving commercial real estate environment.
SOURCE OF PRIDE: “Mentoring individuals within our organization who started in junior roles and have since grown into leaders and partners within the company. Watching them develop through coaching, hard work and their own commitment to growth has been incredibly rewarding.”
Vanessa Williams
Arizona market leader and senior managing director
CBRE
BACKGROUND: As a collaborative leader, Williams manages a high-performance team, providing mentorship and development opportunities to professionals across the organization while driving initiatives to expand market presence.
SURPRISING FACT: “I earned a Bachelor of Arts in graphic design from a small liberal arts school. I originally wanted to design movie title sequences before discovering my passion for real estate, which quickly became my true calling.”
