Left to Right: Evan Scroggs, Clinton Shepard, and Ryan Polito

June 1, 2023 (LAFAYETTE, LA) – Lee & Associates, the largest broker-owned commercial real estate firm in North America, announces the opening of a new office in Lafayette, LA, located in the River Ranch district. The office will specialize in industrial, office, retail, and investment sales, with plans to strategically recruit teams that will grow their capabilities across all commercial real estate asset classes.

Lee & Associates Lafayette will be led by Evan Scroggs, SIOR, CCIM as President. The founding team will consist of Clinton Shepard, CCIM as a Principal and Partner and Ryan Polito as an Associate.

Scroggs, who opened Lee & Associates Baton Rouge in January of this year, brings 13 years of experience in office and industrial sales and leasing and is an active member of the commercial real estate community.

“We’re extremely excited for Clinton to join Lee & Associates as a principal in the company. Clinton is a talented broker that fits in perfectly with the culture we are building. Having him as a leader in our Lafayette office is going to be a real benefit to the company,” said Scroggs. “We felt incorporating the Lafayette market into our territory was critical to providing service and market expertise to our clients that have an interest in doing business along the Interstate 10 corridor.”

Shepard specializes in site selection for national clients, as well as retail and industrial tenant and landlord representation. A West Monroe native, he began his commercial real estate career in 2015 at NAI Latter & Blum, where he earned their "Rookie of the Year" award in his first year. Shepard is actively involved with the Acadiana Realtors Commercial Alliance and CCIM.

“What drew me to opening the first Lee & Associates office in Louisiana earlier this year was the opportunity for ownership, exceptional value and support provided to brokers, and the extensive network Lee & Associates has across North America,” said Scroggs. Shepard continued with that “together we intend to build a brokerage that provides outstanding value and service to our clients by leveraging the national tools and resources provided by the company. This translates to better value and service to clients and creates a culture of collaboration and partnership within the company."

Polito, a native of Franklin, Louisiana, graduated from the University of Louisiana Lafayette in May 2021 with a B.S. in Finance. Having worked with Shepard for the last three years, he brings industry and transactional experience to the Lafayette office. “Ryan is an excellent addition to the company and will play a critical role in building our presence in the Lafayette market,” said Scroggs.

No longer just a hub for oil and gas, the collaboration across the Lafayette local government and private industry has fueled and diversified the local economy and opens opportunity for manufacturing and distribution. Lafayette has been aggressive with economic development and, as a result, has experienced an influx of growth over the last 18-months. Companies such as Amazon, Schlumberger, and Tides Medical have moved to the area or expanded their footprint in this growing market. Lee & Associates sees the opportunity to connect its clients throughout its 75+ offices to this market as many look to capitalize on opportunities in markets that have advantageous economic development policies.

Lee & Associates has established an emphasis on expansion. New office locations in the last five years include Lincoln, NE;  Western Pennsylvania; Central California; Kansas City, KS; Baton Rouge, LA; Calgary, AB; Nashville, TN; Los Angeles – Downtown, CA; San Francisco, CA; Omaha, NE; Naples, FL; Washington, DC; Boston, MA; Toronto, ON; Cincinnati, OH; Raleigh, NC; Miami, FL; and Seattle, WA.

The Lee & Associates Lafayette office will be located at 1700 Kaliste Saloom Road, Suite 301 in Lafayette, LA 70508. To contact Evan Scroggs, please email escroggs@lee-associates.com.

ABOUT LEE & ASSOCIATES
Lee & Associates offers an array of real estate services tailored to meet the needs of the company’s clients, including commercial real estate brokerage, integrated services, and construction services. Established in 1979, Lee & Associates is now an international firm with offices throughout the United States and Canada. Our professionals regularly collaborate to make sure they are providing their clients with the most advanced, up-to-date market technology and information. For the latest news from Lee & Associates, visit lee-associates.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Link, our company blog.

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