"Chris represents our vision for future ownership," said NBS president Clayton Hering in announcing the news. That vision has a lot to do with past success. A native of Portland, Johnson joined NBS in 1987 to specialize in office leasing and sales. Johnson has been a top producer for the company for 10 of the past 11 years, and for three of the past six years has been named the Portland Metropolitan Owners and Managers "Broker of the Year." Last year, he was named "Investment Broker of the Year" by the Commercial Association of Realtors for Oregon and Southwest Washington."

Johnson, a catch for any brokerage, tells GlobeSt. his commitment to NBS for the long term is due to "the entrepreneurial nature of the local ownership, which allows us to operate as a boutique and not have to report to New York or Wall Street or make decisions based on earnings."

Norris, Beggs & Simpson, in business for more than 68 years, is a regional real estate brokerage, asset and property management, and mortgage-financing firm with offices in major cities in Oregon and Washington. It is affiliated with the New America International.