Garrison
Group, a Springfield-based commercial real estate brokerage firm, has joined
Keller Williams Capital.
“We’ve
been an independent brokerage since Glen (Garrison) started Garrison Group in
the early 90s,” said David Plake, president and CEO of Garrison Group. Plake
purchased the business from Garrison in 2022, but the company’s namesake
remains active in day-to-day operations.
“I’ve
looked at what opportunities we have for growth, for new commercial real estate
practitioners,” Plake said, noting the challenge of recruiting younger agents
to work in commercial real estate. “Keller Williams has training available that
I can provide to new brokers at no additional cost.”
Garrison
Group has focused strictly on commercial real estate and property management,
but Plake said Keller Williams’ residential practice will prove to be an asset.
“We can
take an individual who wants to be in real estate, and they can start doing
residential sales while they are growing their connections and customer skills.
But then we can train them in commercial real estate and put them alongside our
legacy brokers who know commercial well,” Plake said. “We can now offer them a
practical way to onboard into the commercial real estate market.”
In
addition, Plake said the expanded footprint of Keller Williams will help
Garrison Group work with clients who have a presence outside central Illinois.
“Five or
six years ago, Keller Williams made an intentional effort to develop their
commercial division, and there are now more than 2,500 Keller Williams Commercial
agents nationwide,” Plake said. “This connection allows us to serve our clients
in a more powerful manner.”
Plake
noted that Garrison Group already works with clients, such as Heartland Bank
and Trust Company and Hospital Sisters Health System, who have locations
outside Sangamon County and may need real estate services elsewhere.
“If we
have a client who is wanting to expand and be in Kansas City, for example, we
can now connect them with commercial brokers in other areas,” he said.
The
Garrison Group team will continue to operate out of their headquarters at 739
S. Fifth St. Keller Williams Capital has a Springfield office at 3171 Robbins
Road.
