Karla Smith joins SRS’ Dallas/Ft. Worth team as senior vice president and principal

SRS Real Estate Partners is pleased to welcome Karla Smith as senior vice president and principal in the Dallas/Ft. Worth office. She specializes in big box and grocery tenant representation throughout the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas, as well as rollouts for various national retailers.

Most recently with CBRE, Karla has 17 years of experience in retail real estate. She was a partner at UCR prior to its merger with CBRE in 2015, and has accumulated an impressive list of clients as well as accolades for her work in the industry. Karla currently manages new store site selection for many national and regional accounts such as Target, At Home, Macy's, Pacific Dental Services, AT&T, Frost Bank and Luna Grill. She has also worked on an extensive rollout strategy for north Texas since 2004 with Sprouts Farmers Market, and expansions for Cabela's, Pet Supplies Plus, Lifetime Fitness, Planet Fitness, Blockbuster, Fuddruckers, Core Power Yoga, and Aaron's Rent to Own.

Karla is highly regarded in the industry, and her advice is sought after by many professionals. She is a contributor in the book Winning Ways in Commercial Real Estate: 18 Successful Women Unveil the Tips of the Trade in the Real Estate World, and is an often-quoted resource for publications such as D CEO and the Dallas Business Journal. Locally, Karla has been selected as one of the Dallas Business Journal's Heavy Hitters three times and was recognized as D CEO's Best Commercial Real Estate Broker five times. Her lease for Target in Preston Center in Dallas, a particularly complex location with unique issues, won the 2018 Best Retail Deal in D Magazine, and she has additionally been regularly recognized in the Top 10 by CBRE and UCR during her tenure and as a Power Broker by Real Estate Forum.

Karla is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas and is involved with many industry organizations. She has served as the Texas Programs Committee Chair for ICSC, and as the Retail Committee Chair and on the executive board for NTCAR. She is a member of CREW and a founding member of Deals in Heels, a local networking group of professional women in retail real estate that educates and encourages the growth of women in the industry. In her free time, she enjoys spending time at the lake with family and friends and giving back to the community through organizations such as The Stewpot, the Salvation Army, Our Friends Place, and Our Calling.

"Without a doubt, Karla is one of those great brokers in our industry that you would always like to work with if given the chance," said Ryan Johnson, managing principal in the Dallas/Ft. Worth office. "We are more than excited that she has joined our Dallas team and we know she is going to be an incredible addition who will improve our entire team."

“Karla seems to be everywhere, representing her clients at the highest level, holding high profile positions in leading retail organizations, and all the while keeping her priorities in order," said Mark Reeder, managing principal in the Dallas/Ft. Worth office. "It has been a pleasure co-brokering transactions with her and now we will have the opportunity to work side by side."

About SRS Real Estate Partners

SRS Real Estate Partners is the largest real estate company in North America exclusively dedicated to retail services. Headquartered in Dallas with more than 25 offices worldwide, SRS’ strong reach and international presence provide the company with unparalleled knowledge both globally and domestically. As a result, clients of SRS have a competitive edge through a full range of offerings including brokerage services, corporate services, development services, and investment services. Since its inception in 1986, SRS has built a strong foundation in the retail real estate world and grown into one of the industry’s most influential and respected leaders. Our success is measured in the achievement of our clients’ objectives, satisfaction and trust. For more information, please visit www.srsre.com.