Richards Barry Joyce Bolsters Brokerage Team

BOSTON-As Richards Barry Joyce & Partners begins its seventh year in business, the commercial real estate services firm has added two new brokers, beefing up coverage in the central Route 128 and Cambridge markets. Former Jones Lang LaSalle VP Jay Nugent will focus on the suburban territory, while Eric Smith is joining the Cambridge team led by Steve Purpura and RBJ president Robert Richards.

“We’re excited about it,” Richards tells GlobeSt.com of the additions, which were announced along with several promotions. Among those moving up the RBJ ladder are Kristin Connelly to director of national accounts and Brian Connelly to associate vice president, while Chris McCauley was named VP and Brendan Carroll has been appointed VP of research. Renee Twerago is now VP of finance and administration, Robert Byrne was named an associate and Samantha Bullock is the new manager of information technology.

The two brokerage hires are a bit out of character for RBJ’s typical recruitment philosophy, says Richards, having generally favored prospects inexperienced in real estate because the company wants to train them for a system that eschews commissions as a way of encouraging teamwork. Not only is RBJ now among the top commercial real estate firms in the region based on square footage represented, it was also recently ranked as the leader in productivity per broker. “It’s a proven formula,” maintains Richards, and Nugent embraces the RBJ model after being at commission shops Grubb & Ellis and most recently Jones Lang LaSalle.