A significant accomplishment in Valley commercial real estate happened this quarter: The completion of The Learning Journey corporate office/distribution center in Deer Valley. This 40,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility features many unique architectural treatments. Plus, it’s the only build to suite facility built in the Deer Valley Airport area in 2010.

For fifteen years The Learning Journey has been designing and manufacturing an exclusive line of award-winning children’s interactive educational products. All products at The Learning Journey encourage learning and develop confidence as they enhance a child’s potential. All products build on the skills necessary for children to be prepared for school and beyond.

NAI Brokers Andrea Davis and Josh Landers worked with their client from the beginning showing them existing buildings that they could convert to meet their needs as well as shell buildings. After reviewing all of their options (and quite a few tours and number crunching) it became clear that they could build their dream building for less than they could purchase a shell warehouse space or retrofit an existing warehouse building.

Davis/Landers represented the Buyer in the land purchase and worked through the build to suite process with them. They also worked hand in hand to make sure that their building not only works for them today, yet will have a second generation value if they choose to sell in the future.

Congratulations to The Learning Journey on their exciting new facility and to Andrea Davis and Josh Landers for showing their client the many options that were available and choosing the best one.

NAI Global, headquartered in Princeton, NJ held a national corporate real estate solutions symposium designed to evaluate NAI’s worldwide corporate services strategy. Working to develop NAI’s Global commitment to a seamless platform of corporate real estate consulting and advisory. A group of 40 NAI professionals from around the country and Europe spent three days evaluating, planning and developing the NAI Global Corporate Services Strategies for the next five years.

Laurel Lewis of NAI Horizon, Phoenix, Arizona was part of this hand picked group of real estate professionals. Lewis reported, “The strategy meeting was attended by top corporate real estate consultants from around the NAI system and provided a terrific opportunity for those involved in providing corporate solutions to help mold the Global platform and shape future strategies.” Lewis recently joined NAI Horizon and will be part of NAI Horizon’s Corporate Solutions Team.

With 18 years of experience in office leasing and sales this new corporate solutions role fits well with Laurel’s experience and her professional business strategy going forward.

NAI Horizon welcomes Rick Foss to its Industrial Properties Group. He has spent the past 10 years representing a wide range of industries in the acquisition of their real estate facilities. “Rick brings a strong, ‘customer first’ approach to our company,” said Thad Seligman, President of NAI Horizon. “He is a great fit for our company philosophy and our approach to business.”

Prior to joining NAI, Rick developed his skills at Insignia ESG, Grubb & Ellis and Cassidy Turley/BRE Commercial in Phoenix. Rick is a graduate of the University of Miami (Ohio) where he earned his BS Degree. Prior to entering the commercial real estate industry in 2000, he spent the previous 15 years in sales management in the medical & surgical supply industry.

Rick has a strong presence in key industrial sectors that allows NAI to further develop their relationships with owners and tenants in those areas. “Focusing on the Sky Harbor, Central Phoenix and Tempe markets, Rick brings a solid expertise in acquisition and disposition of industrial properties,” said Seligman. “As an added bonus, he brings an expertise by having worked with the Gila River Indian Community and is considered one of the foremost experts in handling real estate matters on community lands.”

Rick is married with two children, both who attend Arizona State University. Rick’s leisure activities include lots of family time, tennis and, of course, golf. Rick is also active in his church.