Hannum will team with Transwestern vice president Bobby Bull and associate Matt Lockin, focusing on sales of complexes with 100 or more units. Hannum rose to senior vice president and lead financial analyst for CB Richard Ellis in Phoenix, where he spent his entire 10-year career. He spent the past seven years as part of Tyler Anderson's and Sean Cunningham's team. CBRE did not return calls seeking comment by press time.

George Garfield, president of Transwestern's West region, says Hannum approached Transwestern. "It's been well known in Phoenix that we're a company committed to more growth," Garfield says. "We've brought a number of people on in the past 18 months and Jack is the latest."

Garfield tells GlobeSt.com that there have been six hires in 18 months and he's hoping to add as few as three and as many as 15 in the next year. He points out, however, that the goal isn't packing in personnel, but rather methodical and decisive growth. In addition to expanding the investment sales arena, there have been additions for support functions like marketing, graphics and production.

Garfield says the overall goal is to have an experienced team in place when the market turns around. When it comes to investment sales, he says, the recruitment will be mostly on a person-by-person basis rather than bringing teams on board.

"I still consider Phoenix to be a solid market," Garfield adds. "The market will turn. And when it does, we want people like Jack to be on board."