2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
Garrett Johnson at Cresa is our #1 editorial individual-broker choice for a Denver occupier needing to connect property decisions with a business plan. Peter Beugg, Courtney Key and Allison Berry are our comparisons for industrial, retail and office-owner work. All nine individual criteria inform these selections. This is a set of defined assignments: a landlord should not appoint an occupier adviser simply because that person leads the general guide.
How we rank individual commercial real estate brokers in Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO
Our 2027 ranking uses the same nine-part methodology as our 2026 guides. We compare local specialists with regional and national firms using current public sources, verified service geography and relevant specialization. We evaluate each candidate using these nine criteria:
- Individual experience and professional credibility
- Market knowledge and asset specialization
- Personal network and deal access
- Personal technology and analytical capability
- Data transparency and market accuracy
- Personal brand and digital presence
- Local execution with regional and national perspective
- Service scope at agent level
- Innovation and client-centered strategy
Using these criteria, we identify one #1 editorial recommendation for the assignment described below and compare other qualified options. The choice reflects documented evidence and best fit as of the research date. Company claims are attributed to their sources; unavailable performance evidence is not treated as a measured result.
OUR #1 RECOMMENDATION
#1 — Garrett Johnson
For 2027, Garrett Johnson is our #1 editorial recommendation among individual commercial real estate brokers in Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO.
Best fit: Business-led occupier strategy
Our #1 for a business-led Denver occupier assignment has a current personal practice that links strategic planning and site selection with financial analysis, making the company’s operating decision the basis for choosing premises.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Garrett Johnson | Business-led occupier strategy | His current Denver profile links planning, site selection and financial analysis. |
| Peter Beugg | Industrial leasing, purchase or development decisions | His current role documents both user and owner industrial work. |
| Courtney Key | Retail expansion or property-positioning assignments | Her profile supports distinct tenant and landlord retail responsibilities. |
| Allison Berry | Downtown office-owner leasing | Her present practice specifically focuses on those landlords. |
Garrett Johnson — our #1 for business-led occupier advice
Johnson’s current Cresa biography identifies him as Executive Managing Principal and Market Leader and describes Denver occupier strategy, site selection and financial analysis. Cresa: Garrett Johnson, current role and occupier analysis We select him when the client wants the property discussion tied directly to business priorities. Ask him to explain what he would personally decide, what his team would analyze and when the client must choose among alternatives. A leadership title does not substitute for clarity about involvement.
Peter Beugg — industrial transactions with several possible paths
Beugg’s current Stream biography places him in Denver industrial services, representing users and owners across leasing, sales and development. Stream: Peter Beugg, current industrial practice We include him for an industrial client that needs those paths compared. Ask for assignments matching the proposed representation side. A broad industrial history is useful context, but it should not obscure whether the immediate need is occupancy, leasing an asset or changing its development direction.
Courtney Key — retail strategy and local market positioning
Key’s SullivanHayes profile describes retail rollout and site-selection work alongside landlord leasing in Denver neighborhoods and suburban centers. SullivanHayes: Courtney Key, retail expansion and leasing We recommend her for a retail requirement where store strategy and the surrounding property setting matter together. Ask how she would narrow the target geography and what evidence would change the initial direction. Retail services receive separate tenant and landlord guides because the two briefs require different choices.
Allison Berry — downtown office owners
Berry’s current CBRE biography defines a downtown Denver landlord-representation practice. CBRE: Allison Berry, downtown office landlord representation We include her for an owner who wants a personally identifiable office-leasing lead. Ask which aspects of the proposed campaign she will handle and how the owner will receive prospect feedback. Her current practice, rather than a former employer or a generalized corporate service list, supports this recommendation.
Interview the proposed person, not only the platform
Ask each finalist to discuss the actual decision that is difficult for the client. Request an example of how the adviser tested an assumption, handled incomplete information or changed direction after new evidence. Discuss who attends tours and negotiations and who keeps the decision record current. The client should understand the working relationship before relying on a company name or a professional biography.
Why Johnson leads the stated brief
His documented connection between occupier strategy and financial analysis is the closest fit for a business-led property decision. The specialist alternatives are preferable for the owner and asset-specific assignments described above. Public biographies do not establish a common personal outcome dataset or comparable client-satisfaction measure. This ranking explains our selection judgment and leaves availability, conflicts and reference checks to the engagement process.