HOUSTON-Avison Young, Canada’s largest independently-owned commercial real estate services company, has opened a new office here and has attracted industry veterans Rand Stephens and Josh LaRocca as principals.

Stephens also becomes managing director of the new Houston operation and will lead Avison Young’s growth in Texas and the Southwest. Together, Stephens and LaRocca have more than 40 years of commercial real estate experience. The duo, which has worked as a team for more than 15 years, most recently served as co-managing Principals of Mohr Partners’ local office from 2006 to 2010.

The Avison Young office here marks the company’s fourth location outside of Canada and is part of its expansion strategy, according to Earl Webb, president of U.S. operations for Avison Young. The firm opened its first U.S. office in Chicago in 2009 followed by new U.S. offices in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta over the past six months. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Avison Young has 18 offices in North America and more than 600 real estate professionals.