Industry veteran Darrell Deshaw and up-and-comer Rachel Bliss grow retail brokerage
PHOENIX, November 7, 2023 – Phoenix-based retail specialist Western Retail Advisors (WRA) has expanded its Phoenix brokerage team, adding industry veteran Darrell Deshaw as Vice President and Rachel Bliss as Senior Associate.
Deshaw brings 18 years of commercial real estate experience spanning over $400 million in nationwide investment sales and acquisitions for developers, investors and national franchise tenants. He also enjoys a track record of site selection, land and lease transactions, including the representation of national Quick Serve Restaurant (QSR) operators seeking high-value locations in emerging metro Phoenix submarkets.
As Senior Associate, Bliss specializes in site selection, market expansion planning, relocation strategies and lease negotiations for regional and national tenants and landlords. Currently, she represents 7Brew, Fleet Feet, The Ballpark, Tillys and Zoom Room.
“Corporate culture is extremely important to us, particularly our commitment to respect, integrity, teamwork and the pursuit of excellence,” said Western Retail Advisors Founding Partner Eric Termansen. “Darrell and Rachel embody all of these characteristics. We are excited to grow and achieve alongside of them, as we work to serve our clients at a time of unprecedented Phoenix retail demand.”
Recognized as a top-performing broker, Deshaw’s career spans brokerage and sales roles for leading national commercial real estate groups such as Kidder Mathews, CBC Advisors, NAI Horizon and CoStar Group. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in International Business and International Marketing from Florida Atlantic University. He has been a member of ICSC since 2007.
Bliss joins WRA from Equity Retail Brokers, a highly regarded Philadelphia-based brokerage firm, where she covered retail markets in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Drexel University. She is an active member of ICSC, NAIOP and Urban Land Institute.