HOUSTON, Aug. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whitestone REIT (NYSE:WSR) (“Whitestone” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dennis Younes, a 26-year commercial real estate veteran, to the position of Director of Leasing - Houston. As Director of Leasing for the Houston market, Mr. Younes is responsible for leading the leasing team to source the right tenant mix to meet the needs of the community.
Mr. Younes has vast leasing experience with a strong track record of delivering value to tenants and profitability to owners. Prior to joining Whitestone, Mr. Younes had been Vice President/Director of Leasing for Hall Equities Group, where he was responsible for managing, marketing and leasing their retail portfolio. Mr. Younes started his career in commercial real estate as Project Manager for The Koll Company and later as Director of Real Estate for two national retail companies. Mr. Younes has also held real estate positions with well-known companies including Valley National Bank, Circle K Corp., CSK Auto, Inc. and GVA Landmark. Mr. Younes holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering and an MBA in Real Estate Finance.
Houston led the nation in population and job growth between 2000 and 2015. The nation's fourth most populous city has a diverse economic base, with 6 of the top 10 employers non-energy. The city is home to the world's largest concentration of health and research institutions and its port ranks first in the U.S. in international waterborne tonnage handled. As quoted from Bloomberg, "even the oil rout can't stop Houston's economic boom." With limited growth of new shopping centers in Houston over the last five years, and given its roster of "internet-resistant" tenants, Whitestone is well positioned to continue its strong performance in the Houston market.
About Whitestone REIT
Whitestone REIT (NYSE:WSR) is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (“REIT”) that acquires, owns, manages, develops and redevelops high quality “internet-resistant” neighborhood, community and lifestyle retail centers. Whitestone’s 69 properties are principally located in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Phoenix, which are among the fastest-growing markets in the country with highly educated workforces, high household incomes and strong job growth. The Company’s strategy is to target shifting consumer behavior and purchasing patterns by creating a complementary mix of grocery, dining, health and wellness, education, services, entertainment and specialty retail in its properties. Whitestone’s national, regional and local tenants provide daily necessities, needed services and convenience to the community which are not readily available online. For additional information about Whitestone, please visit www.whitestonereit.com.