san antonio AND RIO GRANDE VALLEY TEXAS COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Will Collins is the Co-CEO of Merit Commercial Real Estate. Will has served in various capacities of leadership, management and transactional work in the real estate and finance industries over the past 22 years. His experience includes investing, developing and managing more than 2,500,000 square feet and $750 million in commercial real estate assets. 

Will is also a Director and investor in Vantage Bank Texas, a $5 billion state-wide bank. He has been actively involved in the acquisitions, restructuring and growth of the bank. 

Active in community affairs, Will also serves Director of the Texas Business Hall of Fame, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees for St. Luke’s Episcopal School in San Antonio,  former member of the Diocesan Development Committee for the Episcopal Dioceses of West Texas and Founder of the Friends for Hope Children’s Cancer Foundation.

Ryan Harrison serves as Co-CEO of Merit Commercial Real Estate. After launching his career at Brass Funds in 2003, he joined Stream Realty Partners in 2011 and led more than $120 million of transactions spanning project leasing, investment sales and land sales. Promoted in 2014 to co-lead Stream’s San Antonio office, Ryan drove the firm’s leasing, sales and property management services—propelling the office to double its revenue and expand its team significantly over five years. In 2020, Ryan and Will Collins founded Merit, focusing on creative, client-driven solutions in the office, medical-office, retail and industrial sectors. Ryan is committed to community growth and is actively involved in local civic groups and activities.

Brian Oley serves as Chief Investment Officer at Merit Commercial Real Estate. With 20 years of real estate leadership experience spanning brokerage, acquisitions, development, and investments, Brian has consummated $5 billion in global real estate transactions.

His impressive career includes co-creating a specialty practice group at a Fortune 100 company focused on data center real estate across the Americas, Asia Pacific, and EMEA. He later served as director of real estate at a global data center developer, helping scale the firm from a domestic boutique to a global developer partnering with a $25 billion institutional investor. Most recently, he created a real estate acquisitions platform for a family office, delivering a track record of 60% IRR and 1.7x realized returns across multiple investments, establishing a portfolio valued at $1 billion across more than 45 investments.

Brian holds a BBA with a Japanese minor from TCU, an MBA from ASU, and an MA in International Economics and Policy from SMU. He currently serves on the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas property committee, having previously chaired the committee and served as a board member.

Blake Rosenthal is a Senior Capital Markets Associate at Merit Commercial Real Estate. Since joining in January 2022, Blake manages financial analysis for Merit pursuits, secures financing for developments and acquisitions, and contributes to the development of capitalization strategies tailored to each individual deal. He has secured over $100 million in loans and led the capital markets department overseeing financing for multiple major projects.

Previously at Weston Urban, he managed portfolio operating budgets and financial reporting while contributing to leasing efforts. Blake holds a master’s degree in finance and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

He is an active member of the University of Texas Real Estate Finance & Investment Center and the Real Estate Council San Antonio. An avid sports fan of the Spurs and Longhorns, Blake enjoys golf and spending time with his wife and new baby daughter.

Pete Broderick is the General Counsel at Merit Commercial Real Estate. Pete serves as Chief Legal Officer responsible for overseeing legal functions and risk mitigation since joining the company in 2022.

Prior to Merit, Pete was a partner at Jackson & Walker, and previously with Cox & Smith and Dykema. Listed in the Best Lawyers in America since 2009, he was named Lawyer of the Year for Real Estate Law in San Antonio in 2022 and received an Outstanding Lawyer Award from the San Antonio Business Journal in 2018.

Pete graduated cum laude from Trinity University and received his Juris Doctorate from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law. During his 37-year career, he has led legal teams on transformative projects including Toyota's San Antonio Manufacturing Plant and the Frost Bank Tower.

A graduate of Leadership San Antonio, he serves on the board of Centro San Antonio. Pete and his wife Laura have two children and enjoys Texas country music and watching sports.

Leah Smith Sanchez is a lawyer and a creative problem solver with extensive experience in
a variety of real estate transactions. Leah joined Merit Commercial Real Estate as Senior
Counsel in 2024 where she handles a wide range of Merit’s real estate needs including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, development, incentive agreements, and finance transactions.

Prior to joining Merit, Leah spent nearly 5 years in the San Antonio office of Jackson Walker. There, she provided end-to-end legal counsel to family office clients and real estate expertise on a variety of portfolio transactions representing national retail clients in the construction, commercial retail, oil and gas, and healthcare industries. Prior to Jackson Walker, Leah worked at a boutique firm in Austin, Texas representing owners and operators in the long-term care industry in multi-million-dollar, multi-facility portfolio acquisitions and dispositions and HUD-insured financing transactions.

Leah graduated from Baylor Law School in 2016 with a concentration in Real Estate and Natural Resources law. During her time at Baylor Law School, she was a member of the Order of the Barristers, the Dean's List, the Immigration Law Moot Court Team where she won 1st place overall and winner of best brief in The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law Immigration Law Moot Court Tournament, and was 2nd place overall in the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law Entertainment Law Moot Court Team. Leah is a San Antonio native and graduated in 2013 with a B.A. in Government and Art History from the University of the Incarnate Word. 

Leah’s unparalleled diligence, work ethic, and attention to detail make her a valued member of the Merit legal team.

Britney Christy joined Merit Commercial Real Estate as a Development Manager in 2019. Britney oversees development projects, managing due diligence, programming, design, entitlements, construction, and project turnover. Britney holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Texas State University and is a 2024 graduate of the Real Estate Council San Antonio Leadership Development Program.

Active in the community, she currently serves on the Board of Directors and Community Project Committee for the Real Estate Council of San Antonio and formerly sat on the City of San

Antonio’s Planning Commission. Outside work, Britney enjoys competition BBQ cook-offs, Astros baseball games, and coastal fishing with her husband.

Yen W. Lai, P.E. serves as Development Manager at Merit Commercial Real Estate, where he manages due diligence, programming, design, entitlements, construction, and project turnover processes. Yen applies his engineering expertise to optimize project workflows and technical outcomes.

As a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas, Arizona, Nebraska, and New Mexico, Yen brings specialized technical knowledge to Merit's development team. Prior to joining Merit, he worked as a Project Manager with Westwood, where he managed civil engineering design, permitting, and entitlements for commercial projects nationwide. Throughout his career, he has overseen development of more than 700,000 square feet of commercial space.

Yen earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the Real Estate Council San Antonio (RECSA).

Outside of work, Yen is a devoted husband and father of three who enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, cooking, and exploring music and culture.

Michael E. Sawtelle is the Executive Vice President of Merit Commercial Real Estate and serves as the firm’s lead Office Tenant Representation broker. With over 36 years of exclusive focus in this specialty, Mike remains one of the most experienced and respected brokers in the San Antonio market.

Mike began his career in 1986 with Cushman & Wakefield, and in 1993 co-founded The Pinnacle Group, which quickly grew to become the leading tenant representation firm in the region. In 2005, Pinnacle was acquired by CBRE, where Mike went on to lead high-profile assignments for the next 15 years before joining Merit in 2019.

Throughout his career, Mike has represented more than 10 million square feet of corporate office transactions, including lease negotiations, restructures, purchases, and build-to-suit assignments. His thoughtful, data-driven approach and market knowledge have made him a trusted advisor to companies navigating complex real estate decisions.

Mike holds a B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin and is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Texas. He is an active member of the Texas Real Estate Commission and the San Antonio Board of Realtors.

Outside of the office, Mike enjoys hunting native wildlife in South Texas, fishing along the Texas coastline, and reading about Texas and American history. He values time spent with his family, including his five grandchildren.

Sherri Fesperman is the Director of Tenant Representation at Merit Commercial Real Estate, where she helps clients secure office space that aligns with their business needs and long-term goals. Sherri joined the firm in 2019 and brings more than 23 years of tenant representation experience to the team.

Before joining Merit, Sherri spent 15 years at CBRE, serving as a core member of San Antonio’s tenant representation group. Her career has been defined by representing a broad range of local, regional, and national firms, managing transactions across a portfolio exceeding 10 million square feet of office product.

She holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland and is a licensed real estate agent in Texas. A strong advocate for strategic representation, Sherri credits the longevity and cohesion of her team as a key differentiator in the market.

Sherri is a member of the Texas Real Estate Commission and the San Antonio Board of Realtors. She and her husband, Dean, have been married for over 40 years and have two sons and one grandson. They enjoy traveling together, discovering new destinations, and spending time outdoors—especially hiking, biking, and playing pickleball.

Brian Smith is a Senior Vice President at Merit Commercial Real Estate and oversees all leasing activities for Merit’s retail portfolio. Brian leads site selection strategy for the firm’s retail tenant representation accounts across South and West Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, and Oklahoma. Prior to joining Merit, he worked with DuWest Realty, specializing in shopping center leasing and tenant representation. Brian began his professional career in 2011 at Scottish Rite Hospital, managing oil and gas operations on the Rocker b Ranch. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Brian brings a broad perspective and disciplined work ethic to each assignment.

Ty West is a Senior Vice President at Merit Commercial Real Estate, specializing in land and tenant representation. Ty brings more than 24 years of commercial real estate experience with expertise in leasing, development, sales, and tenant representation. Prior to joining Merit, he served as Vice President with JLL, where he was responsible for retail leasing and numerous land sales transactions throughout San Antonio and South Texas.

His notable transactions include a 137-acre land sale for McCombs Family Partners, a 3,000-acre land sale for Quintanilla Management Company, and leases for major clients including PGA Super Store and Bio Life.

Ty earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University. He is active in professional organizations including the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and is a past president of the CCIM San Antonio Chapter. His community involvement includes serving on the Advisory Board for SA Life Academy, as a board member of The Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas for seven years, and as a graduate of Leadership San Antonio Class 43.

Brian Young is Vice President at Merit Commercial Real Estate. Brian specializes in landlord and tenant representation with a focus on Office, Industrial/Flex, and Medical space since joining the company in 2020. During his career, he has closed over 2 million square feet of lease and sale transactions.

Prior to joining Merit, Brian served as Vice President at Stream Realty Partners, managing a portfolio of nearly 1 million square feet of office space for various clients throughout San Antonio. Previously, he worked for Toyota/Lexus Financial Services corporate division for over 12 years in various positions across Southern California and Texas.

Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Pepperdine University. He is actively involved with local and overseas church ministries and serves as an advisor to the board of Gloria Deo Christian Academy.

Brian has a wife and 4 children and enjoys traveling and outdoor activities including swimming, tennis, camping, and snowboarding.

Tommy Tyng is an Associate at Merit Commercial Real Estate specializing in tenant representation and retail leasing, with a market focus on San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley. Prior to joining Merit in 2022, he worked with Medsharps and Marshall Shredding in Dallas, where he was responsible for expanding market presence across the DFW region. Mr. Tyng holds an MBA with a concentration in Real Estate and a master’s in finance from Southern Methodist University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin. Outside the office, he enjoys golf, hunting, fly fishing, and staying loyal to Texas Longhorn football.

Gabriel Ximenez is an Associate at Merit Commercial Real Estate. Gabe specializes in tenant representation with a focus on industrial properties since joining the company in 2021. He holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Criminal Justice from Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

Active in community service, Gabe serves as a Board Member for Young Life San Antonio and leads an outreach group for at-risk youth, making a positive impact in the lives of young people throughout the San Antonio area. Gabe and his wife Angie have five children.

Terri McVey is a dynamic communications specialist with over three decades of experience leading creative teams and driving innovative marketing strategies. She joined Merit Commercial Real Estate in 2024 as Marketing Manager and leads communications efforts for the company. 

Terri’s career spans roles from graphic design and creative direction to retail store owner and agency operations. Terri has a proven track record analyzing performance KPIs and adjusting priorities and tactics to enhance campaign effectiveness and achieve organizational objectives.

Her entrepreneurial spirit was honed early in her career, laying a strong foundation for leading creative teams and managing large-scale marketing projects. Terri holds a bachelor's degree in advertising with a minor in graphic design from the University of Alabama.

Throughout her career, she has contributed to local organizations and advocacy groups. Terri relocated to San Antonio in 2023 from Birmingham, Alabama, and enjoys western horseback riding and exploring Texas culture with her husband.

Amanda Ramirez is the Co-Director of Property Management at Merit Commercial Real Estate. Since joining Merit in 2023, Amanda oversees day-to-day operations of properties, focusing on maintaining and enhancing long-term asset value while leveraging technology to streamline operations.
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Previously Director of Property Management at a local San Antonio real estate office, she has developed strong leadership skills in managing teams, vendors, and service providers. Amanda has honed budgeting and cost control strategies optimizing expenses while maintaining property values.

Amanda holds both Certified Property Manager (CPM) and Real Property Administrator (RPA) designations. She is recognized for successfully transitioning new developments into fully operational assets through strategic management plans and seamless tenant onboarding.

Active in professional organizations, Amanda is a member of both BOMA and IREM. She is married with one child in high school and enjoys golf, traveling, and reading.

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Erica Gold is the Director of Property Management at Merit Commercial Real Estate. Erica manages Merit's properties in the Rio Grande Valley since joining the company in 2024. She brings twenty-six years of property management experience from a local real estate investment company, where she managed 1.7 million square feet of retail property in Ohio, Michigan, and Texas.

Erica holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Real Estate Management from Peirce College, graduating summa cum laude. She is also a Certified Property Manager (CPM) with IREM, received in 2006.

Active in professional organizations, Erica currently serves as co-chair for IREM's annual bowling fundraiser and has previously served on numerous IREM committees and its board.

Erica’s family includes her partner Mike, 11-year-old son Ian, and their two cats Mulligan and Heidi Belle. She enjoys playing games, refinishing wood furniture, crafting, and gardening.

Wes Michalec serves as Chief Operations Officer at Merit General Contractors. With extensive experience in construction management, Wes has led over half a billion dollars in commercial construction projects throughout his career.

Prior to joining Merit in 2023, Wes held superintendent positions with several construction firms including Search Construction and Bartlett Cocke LLP. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to start, own, build, and successfully sell a multi-million-dollar commercial construction company.

Wes earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology with a major in Construction. He is affiliated with the Associated General Contractors and the National Association of Home Building. Throughout his career, Wes has mentored, taught, and trained over 10 new construction superintendents, demonstrating his commitment to developing talent in the industry.

Married for 7 years, Wes is a devoted family man raising two young children. His personal interests include hunting, welding, home improvements, and raising cattle.

Robert Gonzalez serves as Regional Vice President of Construction at Merit General Contractors, heading the Rio Grande Valley office. With over 34 years of experience in construction and design, Robert brings valuable practical knowledge and leadership to Merit's construction operations.

One of his career highlights includes heading the local office for a $135 million courthouse project in his county, demonstrating his ability to manage complex, high-profile developments. His extensive background encompasses all aspects of the construction process, from initial concept to project completion.

Robert is actively involved in local youth sports programs, contributing to community development beyond his professional work. He has been married to his wife Mary for 23 years and is the proud father of four daughters. When not overseeing construction projects, he enjoys building Legos, racing RC cars, and applying his creativity to his small business ventures.

Gabby Sullivan-Vollmer serves as Construction Operations Manager at Merit General Contractors, handling day-to-day office management and accounting for the construction division. Gabby brings 35 years of office management and accounting experience, with the last 18 years focused specifically on the construction industry.

Her notable achievements include recovering $300,000 in past-due receivables from a large multinational oilfield service company and managing all accounting functions for two multi-million-dollar family-owned construction companies that contributed significantly to San Antonio's development.

Gabby earned her degree in social work from Texas A&M Kingsville (formerly Texas A&I University). She is actively involved with Grace Community Church's women's events and small groups, participates in the City of San Antonio Fitness in the Park program, and is a member of the Headstrong team, which participates in an annual 5K for Head for the Cure.

Outside of work, she enjoys fitness activities, running monthly 5K events, yard work, and spending time with her husband, two grown children, and four grandchildren.

Leticia Lafuente is a Project Coordinator at Merit General Contractors, where she is responsible for coordinating the schedule, subcontractors, and project work for Schertz Station. Leticia joined the Merit team in 2024, bringing over a decade of construction experience and a strong background in operations and project management.

Leticia began her career with Search Construction in 2013 as an Office Manager and quickly moved into project management on a tilt-wall building—an exciting pivot from her previous work in the oil and gas industry. That project sparked a passion for construction that continues to drive her work today. 

She holds an OSHA 10 certification and remains committed to safety, quality, and schedule integrity across every project she touches.

Leticia actively volunteers at the San Antonio Food Bank and spends much of her personal time enjoying the outdoors. She has three children, one grandson, and two dogs, who she fondly calls her “babies.” When she’s not on a job site, you’ll likely find her at the dog park, hiking local trails, or riding her bike across San Antonio.

Dylan Mann serves as Project Manager at Merit General Contractors. Prior to joining Merit in 2024, Dylan spent seven years as a Project Manager for a site and utility contractor in Tampa Bay, where he managed over $50 million in site, utility, and infrastructure construction projects. Under his leadership, the company increased year-over-year revenues by $8 million while improving margins by 75%.

Dylan earned his bachelor's degree in Maritime Administration with a minor in Economics from Texas A&M University His industry involvement includes serving as a Contractor Board member for the Suncoast Utility Contractors Association, part of the national NUCA Organization, for two years while in Florida.

Beyond his professional achievements, Dylan is a devoted husband and father who enjoys time spent outdoors and considers himself a jack of many trades.

Shelly Winsor joined Merit Commercial Real Estate in April 2022 as Chief of Staff. Shelly is responsible for human resources management, business operations, recruiting, office management, and serves as Executive Assistant to the CEOs.
Before joining Merit, Shelly spent almost 20 years in the senior living industry, including 10 years in executive leadership roles specializing in team building, recruitment, budgeting, finance, and policies & procedures. Her broad knowledge of business operations and human resources brings valuable perspective to Merit's leadership team.

Shelly holds an Associate Degree in Accounting from Ozarks Technical Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Studies from Mission University. She has also completed master’s level coursework in Counseling and is working toward her SHRM certification.

Originally from Missouri, Shelly moved to San Antonio in 2017 to be close to family. She is actively involved with her church, Wayside Chapel, and is involved in their missions and music ministries. She enjoys the outdoors, theater, travel, and cheering for the KC Chiefs and St. Louis Cardinals.

Dorian Patrick is the Controller at Merit Commercial Real Estate. Ms. Patrick joined Merit in June 2024, bringing over 20 years of general accounting experience, including 11 years in property accounting. She oversees all aspects of financial accounting and reporting.

A San Antonio native, Dorian returned to her hometown after serving in the Army to further her education. She earned her bachelor’s degree from St. Edward's University in Austin and her Master of Accountancy from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Dorian enjoys defying the stereotype of accountants. Beyond her structured, numbers-focused work, she is creative and unique. Her love for art and live music keeps her well-rounded and engaged in the vibrant cultural scene.

Iryna Galahity is the Senior Property Accountant at Merit Commercial Real Estate. Iryna joined the company in October 2023 and manages financial accounts for Merit's office, multi-use, and retail projects.

Originally from Belarus, Iryna worked for six years at one of the biggest banks in Belarus before moving to the United States. She then worked for over five years in Dallas for a diversified firm handling law, coffee shop business, and property management operations.

Iryna holds a Specialist Degree in Finance and Credit from Belarusian State Economic University. Active in her community, she volunteers in the children's ministry of Oakwood Church in New Braunfels, TX.

An avid traveler, Iryna has visited 16 different countries and enjoys exploring new places, discovering different cuisines, and participating in various outdoor activities.

Cheyenne Tillman is a Junior Property Accountant at Merit Commercial Real Estate. Cheyenne joined the team in December 2022. She manages financial operations across her own property portfolio, processing accounts payable and receivable, and assisting with financial closings.

Prior to Merit, Cheyenne dedicated 5 years to multi-family real estate at the Lynd Company as an AP/Vendor Specialist, managing financial transactions and providing system training. Her attention to detail helped streamline operations and created processes now used at Merit, earning her Accountant of the Year recognition.

Outside the office, she enjoys time with her two dogs, movie marathons, gaming, antique shopping, oddity collecting, and hiking trails.

Tony Sibilla joined Merit Commercial Real Estate as an AP Clerk, bringing extensive experience in accounts payable operations. Prior to Merit, Tony served as an accounts payable associate with Calendar Holdings LLC for 9.5 years, developing comprehensive knowledge of financial processing systems and vendor management.

Tony earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Texas State University. His commitment to professional growth led him to join Merit after commuting approximately 150 miles daily to his previous position, demonstrating his dedication to finding the right professional environment.

When not managing financial operations, Tony enjoys attending live events including music and sports, taking nature walks, and spending quality time with his family.