Dils, who also becomes a principal of the firm, previously served as executive vice president and managing director of Grubb & Ellis' Atlanta office. In his new role, he will supervise daily operations in the local market along with Avison Young's Southeastern expansion.

"When you have market dynamics like we have now, there is opportunity," Dils tells GlobeSt.com. He adds that Avison Young is well-capitalized without any debt, and does not have some of the "legacy issues" that other commercial real estate services have in the Atlanta market.

Avison Young, established in 1978, specializes in real estate brokerage and property management and is the largest independently owned commercial real estate services company based in Canada. The company is in acquisition and growth mode, and expanded into the US last year.

"Steve has a vision for building a business in the Southeast US that is consistent with Avison Young's overall vision of growth in other key markets," Mark Rose, Avison Young chairman and CEO, stated in a release. "A solution-oriented, highly effective leader with strong values, he is committed to providing clients with superior advisory services."

Dils says he has known Rose since they worked together at Grubb & Ellis. He points out that he was happy in his previous position, but the chance to work with Rose again at a different company was enough of an incentive to join Avison Young.

Furthermore, Dils says Avison Young's business model gives its brokers principal status, allowing a financial stake in the performance of the firm. Avison Young has more than 500 personnel in 16 offices throughout North America.

Dils has more than 25 years of commercial real estate experience, dating back to his 10-year career in the National Football League as a quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles (now St. Louis) Rams and Atlanta Falcons. After retiring from the NFL in 1988, he went to work in real estate full time, starting as director of leasing and marketing with PC Associates, then as senior vice president and regional manager with PM Realty Group.

A native of Seattle, Dils has a bachelor's degree in economics from Stanford University, where he also played football. He is a past president of the Atlanta chapter of NAIOP.