Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Forum

Stewart Morris III, President & CEO– Stewart Security Capital (Moderator)

Stewart Morris III is President of Stewart Security Capital, a private investment company where his family have grown a balanced portfolio of CRE assets, consisting of multi-family, industrial, office, rail, and retail.  Prior to joining Stewart Security Capital, Stewart was a Commercial Real Estate agent at Marcus & Millichap.  A native Houstonian, Stewart received his BBA from Baylor University.  Outside of work, Stewart coaches the Rice University Rugby team, continuing to put his rugby skills to use, after competing for a National Rugby Championship at Baylor.  He also serves on HCU’s Dunham College of Business Advisory Board. Stewart married Haylee Williams in 2025.

Ashley Byrd, Managing Director, Healthcare Advisory Services – Transwestern

Ashley has been a driving force within Transwestern’s Healthcare Advisory Services group since 2012. As Managing Director, she leads a high-performing team of healthcare real estate professionals responsible for leasing over 3 million square feet of medical office building portfolio across greater Houston. Clients include Healthpeak, Texas Children’s Pediatrics, Texas Children’s Hospital, Welltower, Memorial Hermann, HCA, Ventas, Lillibridge, MD Anderson, Vital Heart & Vein, and Complete Dermatology. Her leadership spans day-to-day operations and long-term strategy, ensuring clients receive best-in-class service and market insight. Ashley is an innovator in marketing, and several of her creative initiatives have become national standards within Transwestern. She also specializes in Tenant Representation for hospitals, healthcare groups, and individual physicians.

Bill McGrath, Founding Partner & President- LandPark

Active in commercial real estate for over 30 years, Mr. McGrath possesses extensive experience in asset management, leasing, dispositions, corporate real estate, and property management. Prior to joining LandPark, Mr. McGrath served as President of a publicly traded real estate company, overseeing the Asset Management, Property Management, and Leasing Operations for over 120 properties nationwide. Mr. McGrath also co-founded Right Move Storage, LLC. Through marketing efforts, hard work, and years of experience, the Right Move team has repeatedly turned underperforming assets into the most successful facilities in their communities. Mr. McGrath currently holds a Texas Real Estate License and has held the CCIM designation since 1993. Mr. McGrath currently serves as a National Advisor on the Houston Advisory Board through the International Leadership Foundation and previously served on the Board of Directors of the Houston Association of Realtors’ Commercial Services Division.

Frank Ortiz, Chief Operating Officer – MetroNational

Frank Ortiz has been Chief Operating Officer at MetroNational since January 2025, and has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience on an international, national, and local scale. MetroNational is a Houston-based real estate investment, development, and management company, with a diverse portfolio of office, retail, restaurant, medical, hospitality, multifamily, and mixed-use properties. Prior to his current role, Frank joined MetroNational in 2021, where he served as the Head of the Asset Management department. Over that time, he successfully oversaw asset management and developed an asset management team that was responsible for a diverse portfolio of office, medical, multifamily, hospitality, and retail assets within Memorial City.

Frank has an undergraduate degree in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin, and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

Clay Trozzo, Real Estate Broker – Property Commerce

Clay joined Property Commerce in 1996. He graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Arts and Science and later earned his MBA in Finance from Houston Baptist University.

He has been involved in developing over 7.5 million sq ft of retail space. His responsibilities include developing, marketing, and leasing shopping centers in Texas, Mississippi, and Missouri.

Clay is currently a City Council Member in Hedwig Village where he is the liaison to the Planning and Zoning Commission that he previously chaired. He is a member of several associations including: Miracle Farm Development Council, Baylor “B” Association, Baylor Bear Foundation, Dean’s Advisory Board – Archie W. Dunham College of Business at HCU. He is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.