2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
Holly Buchanan of Katz & Associates is our 2027 editorial #1 retail tenant broker for a planned expansion in the Nashville region. Her current role and clearly stated site-selection specialty provide the strongest fit for that brief among the people compared here. Jennifer Annello, Declan McGarry and Priscilla Smith offer different relevant approaches. This guide applies the nine individual criteria; a brokerage’s size is not a substitute for evidence that the named person does the work the retailer needs.
How we rank individual commercial real estate brokers in Nashville–Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN
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 in retail tenant representation. 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 — Holly Buchanan
For 2027, Holly Buchanan is our #1 editorial recommendation among individual commercial real estate brokers for retail tenant representation in Nashville–Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN.
Best fit: Retail expansion and site-selection assignments
Our editorial #1 retail tenant broker for expansion because her current Nashville practice specifically centers on retailer site selection and regional expansion, with her 2026 role verified.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Holly Buchanan | Retail expansion and site-selection assignments | Her current Nashville specialty and 2026 promotion are documented by the employer. |
| Jennifer Annello | Local sites within a broader retail portfolio | Her current personal practice explicitly includes national tenant and portfolio strategy. |
| Declan McGarry | A dedicated Nashville retail tenant engagement | His employer biography expressly identifies retail tenant representation. |
| Priscilla Smith | Murfreesboro retail tenant searches | A dated announcement identifies her on the tenant side of a local lease. |
#1 — Holly Buchanan: a defined retail expansion specialty
Buchanan’s current employer profile identifies her Nashville retail-expansion practice, and Katz’s January 2026 announcement confirms her Senior Vice President role. Katz & Associates: Holly Buchanan, CCIM Katz: January 9, 2026 promotions That alignment of current position and specific service drives our #1. Ask her to explain the proposed territory, the retailer’s decision criteria and how the search would address differences between Nashville, Franklin and Murfreesboro. A regional practice does not itself establish which person will inspect each candidate site or negotiate each lease.
Jennifer Annello: connecting a location with portfolio strategy
Annello’s current CBRE biography identifies national tenant representation and site-selection/portfolio work from Nashville. CBRE: Jennifer Annello retail tenant practice We would interview her when the local opening must align with a broader expansion program. Ask how she would separate a repeatable store standard from a requirement that needs local adjustment. Her previous in-house experience is useful background, but it should not be attributed to CBRE or treated as proof of a current appointment by those former employers.
Declan McGarry: a dedicated Nashville tenant representative
TSCG identifies McGarry as a Nashville vice president specializing in retail tenant representation and holding the CCIM designation. TSCG: Declan McGarry, CCIM He merits a comparison for a retailer seeking an explicitly tenant-focused adviser. Ask for a recent assignment of similar complexity and a demonstration of how competing sites are assessed. A professional designation provides context about preparation; it does not establish future negotiating results, available inventory or a particular level of client satisfaction.
Priscilla Smith: a concrete Murfreesboro tenant assignment
NAI’s Graze Craze announcement expressly places Smith on the tenant side at The Fountains at Gateway. Its November 2026 update confirms her current Senior Vice President position. NAI: Graze Craze tenant assignment in Murfreesboro, April 13, 2026 NAI: Priscilla Smith promotion, November 3, 2026 That evidence makes her a particularly relevant comparison when Murfreesboro is the target. Ask her to distinguish the factors that made the cited location suitable for that tenant from the factors that matter for this business. One case does not establish a universal site formula.
Use the interview to test judgment
Provide a realistic format, budget and opening schedule, then ask each person what they would verify first. The answer should identify information capable of changing the location decision. Request a sample site comparison that distinguishes observations, landlord representations and unconfirmed assumptions. Agree on how unsuitable options will be rejected, who tracks revised requirements and what the tenant must approve before negotiations advance. The broker’s role should remain clear alongside contractors, design advisers and other specialists.
Why there is one #1 and several useful alternatives
Buchanan leads for the stated expansion assignment because her documented personal specialty is directly aligned with it. Annello offers a portfolio lens, McGarry a dedicated tenant practice, and Smith a specific Rutherford County case. We did not find comparable audited personal savings or store-performance figures. The nine criteria therefore retain gaps in analytical-tool testing, service quality and outcome measurement. Confirm present capacity and representation conflicts before relying on any recommendation.