As division president, Koll is expected to generate new business in the Southeast for the Texas firm. "KDC is currently developing projects in the region and we've wanted to establish a Southeastern office for some time now," says Koll CEO Steve Van Amburgh. O'Brien's "strong ties to the Southeast and his extensive transaction experience make him an ideal fit."

Koll is bidding for more than 1.5 million sf of new projects in the Southeast. Besides his corporate development leads, Koll is looking to O'Brien to find 'green building' development, redevelopment and acquisitions, Van Amburgh says. O'Brien is the first broker/developer in Atlanta to be accredited by the US Green Building Council as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design professional.

O'Brien is a board member of the locally based chapter of CoreNet and has also served in leadership positions with the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, International Association of Corporate Real Estate Executives and the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors.