Jimmy Grisham, Drexel Realty's owner and founder, will lead CNL Commercial's local office, and the company also recruited industry veteran, Jim Wells, a former senior managing director of CB Richard Ellis. Paul Ellis, president of CNL Commercial Real Estate, first met the two men in the 1990s, when all three were working at Trammell Crow Co.

Orlando-based CNL Commercial Real Estate was formed by a team of 12 principals (including Paul Ellis) that worked together at Trammell Crow Co. The firm has grown to more than 60 associates with offices in Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville. The Dallas office is the first CNL Commercial Real Estate outside of Florida, and Ellis says the new Dallas office is only the beginning of the firm's expansion plans.

CNL Commercial Real Estate offers tenant representation and leasing and property management services to institutional property owners. Currently, it has brokerage assignments in more than 30 states. Additionally, the company provides acquisition services to CNL Macquarie Global Growth Trust and Macquarie CNL Global Income Trust, which companies that also are under the CNL Financial Group umbrella.