Owen Hutchison serves as Executive Vice President of Retailer Services at X Team Retail Advisors, a national alliance of retail real estate firms. With a BBA in Accounting from Texas Christian University, Hutchison has cultivated a career that bridges financial acumen with strategic retail development. His professional journey includes roles such as Analyst at L&B Realty Advisors, LLP, Real Estate Manager at RadioShack, Director of Store Development at Starbucks, and Vice President of Retail Operations and Development at Black Rifle Coffee Company .
In his current role at X Team Retail Advisors, Hutchison focuses on connecting retailers and companies with brokers to expand, manage, or optimize their real estate portfolios. His extensive experience in retail operations and development positions him as a key player in facilitating growth and efficiency for clients in the competitive retail landscape. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Hutchison continues to leverage his expertise to drive success in the dynamic field of retail real estate.
Paul Bartlett is a seasoned retail real estate professional with over 25 years of experience in corporate retail real estate and brokerage. As a principal at Axiom Retail Advisors, based in Irvine, California, he specializes in strategic planning, site selection, quantitative analysis, and transaction services for national and regional retailers and restaurants across seven western states. His expertise encompasses data analytics, financial analysis, and modeling, enabling him to provide state-of-the-art brokerage and consulting services to clients. Bartlett has represented notable retailers and restaurants such as Barnes & Noble, Hobby Lobby, Main Event, Hibbett Sports, Office Depot, Grocery Outlet, BevMo!, Famous Dave’s BBQ, Buffalo Wild Wings, Wendy’s, and Del Taco.
Before co-founding Axiom Retail Advisors, Bartlett was a co-founder and partner at Edge Realty Partners, where he spent a decade servicing the needs of multiple restaurant, retail, and private equity groups in strategic planning and real estate acquisition from the Rocky Mountains west to Hawaii. His prior experience includes roles as Corporate Managing Director at Studley, where he served on the Irvine-based retail tenant representation team, and as a member of the National Retail Steering Committee at Colliers International. Bartlett began his career at Ross Stores in 1989, playing an integral role in the company’s growth of more than 150 stores. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Santa Clara University and an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Steve Edwards is the founder and president of The Edwards Company, a boutique retail real estate brokerage based in Sacramento, California. With over 35 years of industry experience, Steve has consistently been recognized as a top producer in Northern California. His firm specializes in retail tenant and landlord representation, emphasizing quality over quantity to serve a select group of clients. Steve’s portfolio includes over 200 mid- and big-box transactions for national brands such as Walmart, Ross Stores, Trader Joe’s, Topgolf, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lowe’s, and Kohl’s. Additionally, he has leased more than 4 million square feet on behalf of landlords across the region .
Beyond brokerage, Steve brings deep expertise in entitlements, land use, site planning, and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance, helping clients navigate complex development challenges. He has been a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) for over 25 years and serves on the Real Estate Advisory Board at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business. In 2024, The Edwards Company joined forces with fellow X Team Retail Advisors affiliates John Cumbelich & Associates and The Econic Company to form the largest retail brokerage alliance in Northern California, enhancing their collective reach and capabilities in the competitive retail landscape .
Darren Pitts is Executive Vice President and Principal at Velocity Retail Group, a Phoenix-based commercial real estate firm specializing in retail leasing, tenant representation, and development services. With over 17 years of experience, Darren is recognized as an elite performer in the retail real estate industry. His expertise spans market rollouts and expansion strategies for national retailers such as Lowe’s Home Improvement, JC Penney, Old Navy, Mattress Firm, and Chase Bank. Before co-founding Velocity Retail Group in 2005, Darren held leadership roles at CBRE and The Staubach Company, where he honed his skills in retail brokerage and tenant strategy.
In addition to his role at Velocity, Darren co-founded Accelerated Development Services, an affiliate company focused on identifying and developing retail sites to support client growth in emerging markets. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Millikin University and earned his MBA in Finance, graduating magna cum laude from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School. Darren’s strategic insight and commitment to client success have earned him multiple accolades, including recognition from NAIOP as Retail Broker of the Year. His leadership continues to shape the retail landscape across the Western U.S., guiding brands through complex expansions and market evolutions.
Dave Cheatham is an accomplished authority on retail real estate in the disciplines of brokerage, project leasing, development, consulting, and advisory services. He is a senior advisor to merchants, entrepreneurs, investors, and senior retail executives throughout the industry. He has helped shape the corporate real estate policy for many of the nation's top brands. His extensive client list includes leading companies like JC Penney, Hobby Lobby, Aldo, Gap, Inc., Darden, Signet, and CVS Pharmacy. Additionally, he is known to excel in executing multi-store roll-outs for retailers who are making an initial market entrance.
With more than three decades of experience, is sphere of work has endured multiple growth cycles and several severe declines. Dave has transacted more than $3 billion of retail transactions and has been the mainstay for leading negotiation techniques that support the strategy for a retailer's store distribution.
Beyond his unique combination of corporate experience as a Senior Vice President at CB Richard Ellis and his entrepreneurial experience as Managing Principal at Staubach Retail for the Western states, Dave has been nationally recognized for his award-winning innovations in strength-based teaming and the application of technology to manage transactions. He was recognized on the cover of Shopping Centers Today Magazine for his commitment to mentoring and growing younger leaders in the industry. He is frequently asked to provide insightful commentary for industry groups, forecast events, and present specifics about the retail market to corporate executives of various industries.
Tim Miller is a Principal at GreatStreet Realty Partners, a Chicago-based retail real estate brokerage firm and member of the X Team Retail Advisors network. Since joining GreatStreet in 2005, Miller has specialized in tenant representation and master brokerage, leveraging his extensive experience in market strategy, site selection, and lease negotiation to support national and regional retail clients. His strategic approach and deep understanding of the retail landscape have made him a trusted advisor for retailers seeking to expand or optimize their presence across various markets .
Originally from Minneapolis, Miller has been a resident of the Chicago area since 2000 and currently lives in Glenview, Illinois, with his wife and four children. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Colorado State University. Outside of his professional endeavors, Miller enjoys fly fishing, skiing, and spending time outdoors, reflecting his appreciation for nature and adventure .
Steve Pilafas is a Principal at GreatStreet Realty Partners, a Chicago-based retail real estate brokerage and member of the X Team Retail Advisors network. Since joining the firm in 2011, he has specialized in tenant and landlord representation, offering services such as regional brokerage, site selection analysis, lease negotiations, and lease restructuring. Pilafas has worked with a diverse range of clients, including Goodwill, Office Depot/Max, F21 Red, Five Below, Heartland Dental, Metro PCS Corporate, Pep Boys, EZ Corp, and The Barre Code. He is also the listing broker for several properties in the greater Chicagoland area, suburbs, and Northwest Indiana.
Originally from Mount Prospect, Illinois, Pilafas earned a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Communications from Northern Illinois University. Before transitioning into commercial real estate, he gained experience in account management within the IT staffing industry. He is a licensed real estate broker in both Illinois and Indiana and is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Pilafas currently resides in the northern suburbs of Chicago with his family and enjoys Chicago sports, attending concerts, and spending time outdoors.
Bryan Cornelius is a Principal at RetailUnion, a Dallas-based retail real estate advisory firm and member of the X Team Retail Advisors network. With over 26 years of experience in commercial real estate, Bryan specializes in tenant representation and the implementation of retailers’ market strategies for expansion both in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and nationally. His client portfolio includes prominent brands such as Starbucks, rue21, Payless ShoeSource, GNC, Foot Locker, Sola Salon Studios, and Sprouts Farmers Market. Prior to joining RetailUnion in June 2019, Bryan spent a decade in corporate real estate roles at companies like RadioShack, Payless ShoeSource, and FedEx Kinko’s, where he honed his expertise in site selection, strategic market planning, and lease negotiations.
In addition to his role at RetailUnion, Bryan served as the South Central Regional Director for X Team Retail Advisors from 2022 to 2024, contributing to the organization’s strategic initiatives across multiple markets. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Real Estate from Baylor University. Bryan’s comprehensive approach to market analysis and his ability to tailor expansion strategies to the unique needs of each client have made him a trusted advisor in the retail real estate industry. His insights have been featured in industry publications, including X Team Insights 2023, where he discussed trends in large-format retail spaces and the evolving role of entertainment venues in retail centers.
Clay Mote is a Principal at RetailUnion Partners, a Dallas-based retail real estate advisory firm and member of the X Team Retail Advisors network. With a career spanning over two decades, Clay has established himself as a leading expert in national tenant representation and large-format retail leasing. He began his real estate career at The Weitzman Group, earning Rookie of the Year honors in 1996. In 2000, he co-founded Venture Commercial Real Estate, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the firm’s tenant representation services.
Throughout his career, Clay has led significant rollout strategies for major retailers, including serving as the master broker for Gander Mountain across eight states, Orchard Supply in Florida, and Northern Tool + Equipment nationwide for over a decade. He has also managed large and junior box dispositions for brands like Albertsons, Office Depot, Toys “R” Us, and Sears across Texas . Recognized for his contributions to the industry, Clay was named among D Magazine’s 2024 Power Brokers, highlighting his influence in the Dallas-Fort Worth commercial real estate market.
Born in London England, Darren moved to the USA in 1996 after starting his career in commercial retail real estate in the UK with Donaldsons based in London. He graduated from South Bank University, London, with a BSC (HONS) in Real Estate. Darren joined the Providence Group as a partner in 2003 after previously working with Trammell Crow Company and CB Commercial in Charlotte, NC.
Darren started his career in retail leasing and moved towards Tenant Representation for Aldi Foods (200+ stores in 15 States), Marshalls, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Home Depot, Advance Auto, Skechers, Raising Cane’s, Painted Tree Boutiques, Lane Bryant, Discount Tire Co, Burger King, The Shed and Royal Farms. Darren is currently involved in advising clients in NC, SC, GA, VA, and TN in various capacities.