2027 edition · Research reviewed November 8, 2026
Mark J. Duclos is our 2027 editorial #1 individual commercial broker for a Greater Hartford industrial client seeking both transaction guidance and a broader property strategy. John McCormick Jr. and David Richard are the comparison candidates. We applied the nine individual-broker criteria to current roles, specialties and geography. The selection is strongest for an industrial advisory brief; a business focused on office occupancy or a retail property should weigh the relevant specialist more heavily.
How we rank individual commercial real estate brokers in Hartford–West Hartford–East Hartford, CT
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 — Mark J. Duclos
For 2027, Mark J. Duclos is our #1 editorial recommendation among individual commercial real estate brokers in Hartford–West Hartford–East Hartford, CT.
Best fit: Industrial decisions requiring transaction and corporate advisory work
Our editorial #1 individual broker for a Greater Hartford industrial advisory assignment because his current corporate consulting and transaction scope is reinforced by a separately documented Hartford industrial practice in the SIOR directory.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Mark J. Duclos | Industrial decisions requiring transaction and corporate advisory work | Current employer and SIOR sources establish a Hartford industrial advisory practice. |
| John McCormick Jr. | Office occupancy, agency and investment decisions | His current Hartford profile documents an office-focused practice. |
| David Richard | Industrial and retail owner transactions | A current Hartford biography explicitly identifies industrial/retail leasing and landlord services. |
#1 — Mark J. Duclos: industrial advisory with a current Hartford practice
Sentry identifies Duclos as its president and co-founder with industrial brokerage and corporate consulting responsibilities. Sentry Commercial: Mark J. Duclos current practice His SIOR directory entry independently identifies a Hartford industrial practice and advisory specialties. SIOR: Mark Duclos Hartford industrial and advisory practice The combination supports our first-choice interview for a client whose decision is larger than one listing. Professional recognition is relevant credibility evidence, but it is not a substitute for a property-specific analysis or a record of comparable client outcomes.
Ask for a decision process before a property tour
Have Duclos describe how he would establish the operating requirements, compare existing premises with alternatives and identify information needing technical review. An industrial decision can hinge on whether the building accommodates the business at all. The broker’s proposal should explain how unverified specifications are recorded and who resolves them. Agree on the point at which a promising property should be rejected because its physical or delivery requirements do not fit the client’s needs.
John McCormick Jr.: the office-specialist alternative
McCormick’s current CBRE biography places him in Hartford with agency leasing, tenant representation and investment sales experience. CBRE: John McCormick Jr. current Hartford office practice He is our selected comparison for an office client deciding between occupancy paths or considering ownership. Ask for examples in which he personally led a similar brief, and establish the contributions of the wider team. An employer’s historical transaction roster should not be read as a list of current client commitments or exclusively personal achievements.
David Richard: industrial and retail owner work
Richard is currently a Colliers senior associate in Hartford and identifies industrial/retail sales and leasing, including landlord representation. Colliers: David Richard current Hartford industrial and retail practice We include him when an owner needs a practitioner whose scope spans those commercial uses. Confirm the intended tenant profile and whether the proposed property should compete as industrial, flex or retail space. The useful distinction is the actual operating use; an online category label does not establish permissible use or the right leasing strategy.
Test personal involvement and the evidence presented
Ask each candidate to walk through a short decision memorandum, including an option they would not recommend. Establish who checks assumptions, updates the client and negotiates when the lead broker is unavailable. Request references who can describe that individual’s work. Connections and analytical resources are useful, but a client needs to know which parts of the process the chosen person will perform and what will be delegated to colleagues or outside specialists.
Why Duclos receives the first interview
His current industrial consulting scope and separately documented professional practice provide the closest match to the strategic industrial brief used here. McCormick is the more focused office comparison; Richard offers a useful owner-side industrial/retail alternative. We do not attribute every Sentry transaction to Duclos or infer performance from a senior title. Technology use, availability, client communication and assignment conflicts require direct verification before the appointment is made.