MONTGOMERY, AL—In an effort expand their retail brokerage presence, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) has appointed Josh Burmeister and Buff Teague to further the Gulf Coast region including Alabama, Mississippi, the Florida Panhandle and Louisiana.

Burmeister will serve as executive vice president and Gulf Coast retail brokerage lead and Teague was hired as vice president.

The appointments are a part of JLL's national expansion of their retail services. JLL added more than 50 retail brokers across the country in the last two years.

"Josh's unmatched market knowledge, strong retail tenant relationships and project leasing background makes him ideally suited to lead our Gulf Coast brokerage platform, which will bolster our national rollout of local retail brokerage services throughout the United States," said Steve Yenser, national retail brokerage lead for JLL.

According to a national report, JLL predicts increasing retail growth across the Sun Belt in 2014. Retailers will chase the growing populations and could see growing rents in those areas noted the firm.

Both Burmeister and Teague join JLL from SRS Real Estate Partners in their Mobile, Alabama office.