Boston-based NAI Hunneman has created a new retail services group to expand its leasing and investment sales reach throughout New England and added a new data division director to support its brokers.

The retail team is led by Mark Doherty, who most recently ran his own retail brokerage, Mercury Properties. Doherty said he’s looking to hire up to five experienced brokers over the next year.

“What we’re really looking for right now is for brokers with a book of business in either tenant or landlord representation and help them grow the business,” Doherty said.

Doherty will focus on the investment sales business. He sees opportunities to represent owners of middle market of retail properties. The retail division also will provide tenant representation and in-house property management.

“If you’re selling a $25 million shopping center, you’re not going to get the attention of the big shops. There’s a void in the market, especially for the smaller strips, and we can provide better service,” he said.

A 20-year commercial real estate veteran, Doherty represented Starbucks in its selection of over 50 locations for its initial New England expansion. He also represented retailers including Office Depot, Brinker International and Grossman’s Lumber in property dispositions.

Elizabeth Berthelette

Elizabeth Berthelette has made the jump from Colliers to NAI Hunneman as its new director of research as the division expands to three employees.

At Colliers, Berthelette helped created demographic profiles for clients looking to expand into new markets, using GIS mapping software. In her new post, she’ll build a brand-new proprietary database on the office, industrial, retail and lab markets, and provide trade area research to brokers on all commercial property types.

“My main focus through the end of the year is to get that up and running to produce a whole new branded, different look for our new data,” she said.

Bethelette was assistant director of market strategy and research at Colliers and earlier worked as an economist at Costar’s Property & Portfolio Research.