BURNS COMMERCIAL - Key Persons
Aaron Uncapher was born and raised right here in Tyler, graduating from Robert E. Lee High School and the University of Texas at Tyler with a B.B.A. in Finance. Additionally, he has had brief stops in New Iberia, LA, Angel Fire, NM and has worked in Dallas and Fort Worth.
The majority of Aaron's work experience has been selling television advertising in the Tyler and Dallas markets. He's comfortable discussing marketing strategies in addition to your real estate needs. Aaron has been Chairman of Festival on the Square numerous times with the Heart of Tyler and has also served as Chairman and President of the UT Tyler Suddenlink Million Dollar Hole in One Contest.
When not in the office, Aaron is most likely found on an area golf course or on the lake bass fishing. He loves to travel, especially to Europe, and has visited many cities including Paris, Rome, Venice, Florence, Madrid, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Berlin, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague.
Aaron joined Burns Commercial Properties in May of 2016 and is excited to help you with your real estate needs.
Blair Swaim grew up in Tyler and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where he competed as a Division I track and field middle distance runner and team captain. Upon graduation, he served as a Surface Warfare Naval Officer for over 6 years, including sea tours on the USS ESSEX (LHD 2) and the USS MCCLUSKY (FFG 41) in San Diego, CA. He concluded his active duty service as a Military Science Instructor at Texas A&M University where he was awarded the NROTC Instructor of the Year award.
In 2008, he joined Burns Commercial Properties. His broad knowledge of the East Texas market allows him to carefully evaluate opportunities for clients desiring to sell, lease, or buy commercial properties. He has developed a reputation of focusing on proven winning strategies of integrity, organization, and proactive follow-up and follow through. His expertise ranges from sales and leasing of office, medical, retail, and industrial properties to land transactions and development consultation.
Blair enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, serving as a leader at Grace Community Church, running, reading, hunting, and playing golf. He mentors Naval Academy candidates as a Blue and Gold Officer and serves on Congressman Louie Gohmert's annual Service Academy Review Board. He is a Leadership Tyler Class 23 graduate, member of the Tyler Association of Realtors, and serves on the City of Tyler Planning and Zoning Board.
Job Titles:
- Maintenance Technician III
Job Titles:
- Member of the Accounting & Support Staff
- Administrative Professional
Prior to joining our company, Dana worked in cash management for a large retail chain for 4 years. In 1997 she joined the former Burns & Noble, now Burns Commercial Properties as the receptionist, but after two years was promoted to Accounting Clerk where she handled over 35 retail and office properties in Burns Commercial Properties management portfolio. Currently, Dana works with the Property Managers and her knowledge, skills and willingness to help are a valuable asset to our company.
Glenn Eikner, a lifelong resident of Tyler, Texas graduated Cum Laude from Texas A & M University with a B.B.A. degree in Marketing.
Glenn began his commercial real estate career in 1985 with a Dallas based office building development company at its local branch as the leasing agent for the largest professional office park in Tyler. During his 26 year career, Glenn has been involved in many aspects of the commercial real estate business, including:
Project leasing
Tenant representation
Commercial retail site selection assignments
Office and retail income property brokerage
Industrial property leasing and sales
Most recently, marketing East Texas' first two mixed-use master planned developments
Glenn joined Burns Commercial Properties (formerly Burns & Noble) in 1993 and has been an active member of the Greater Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Tyler Association of Realtors, Texas and National Association of Realtors, and the International Council of Shopping Centers. He is also a Rotarian. Glenn's wide range of experience, integrity, and strong work ethic allow him to provide exceptional service to his clients.
Heather Cress joins Burns Commercial Properties, as a new resident to East Texas, having recently moved from California. She has worked in the commercial property real estate industry for many years, managing investor portfolios, including retail shopping centers, medical office properties and professional business complexes. She is licensed to practice real estate in the state of California.
Janine Kanady joined the former Burns & Noble, now Burns Commercial Properties, in May of 2001. Janine's career in Commercial Property Management began in the Woodlands and Houston area market in 1983. She was formerly with Hettig Management in Houston where she managed portfolios under a variety of ownerships, including company owned, institutional, joint venture and third party properties. Janine later instituted a new concept of legal office executive suites, which she leased and managed in the Woodlands Texas. She currently manages ten properties consisting of office, retail and industrial properties
Job Titles:
- Maintenance Technician II
Javier jointed the team at Burns Commercial Properties in the fall of 2019. Originally from El Salvador, Javier moved to Texas at the age of seventeen and worked for several years as a cook for Sadler's Smokehouse before moving to Pennsylvania and furthering his career with the Hanover Food Corporation. Marriage brought Javier back to East Texas where he returned to Sadler's Smokehouse as a supervisor. Eager to sharpen his skills, he went to work for the Brookshire's Grocery Company as a maintenance technician and a commercial truck driver for sixteen years. Still eager to learn more, Javier returned to school to obtain his HVAC certification and worked as an apprentice plumber.
Job Titles:
- Accounting Assistant
- Member of the Accounting & Support Staff
Prior to joining the former Burns & Noble team in 2004, Karen served in various positions in the banking industry for over 20 years and, as her career moved upward, she worked in the brokerage field for 5 years. Her first position was as the front desk receptionist but after a year of excellent work, she was promoted to the accounting department as an Accounting Clerk/Assistant. Karen continues in that position with Burns Commercial Properties, currently handling 12 properties within our Real Estate Management portfolio. She excels at client relations and is a valuable member of our accounting team.
Job Titles:
- Accounting Assistant
- Member of the Accounting & Support Staff
Job Titles:
- Brokerage Department Administration Professional
- Marketing & Brokerage Admin Professional
Kimberly originally joined the Burns Commercial Properties team in January 2017 as the Downtown Administrative Assistant. She's also worked as an assistant to the Property Managers before settling into her current role as the Administrative Professional within the Brokerage department.
Kimberly worked for several years within Procurement and Human Resources for Mercy Ships, an international, non-profit based out of North East Texas. Kimberly has also enjoyed volunteering with At-Risk Teenagers through a religious, non-profit organization. She is currently working towards her degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resources. Kimberly brings a high level of professional customer service, while focusing on detail-oriented projects for Burns Commercial Properties.
Luke was born and raised in Tyler. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School and went on to attend Liberty University, where he graduated with honors and received a degree in Political Science. Following graduation, Luke and his wife moved back to Tyler, where he spent six years (2016-2022) working as a Student Pastor for Grace Community Church. Luke loves spending time with his wife and three girls, and he enjoys all things sports and outdoors.
Luke came on with Burns in the Spring of 2022. He is excited to deliver exceptional customer service to his clients by combining his love for both people and real estate. Growing up in Tyler provides Luke with extensive knowledge of the community and surrounding areas, and he is excited to positively contribute to its future growth through hard work, loyalty, and creativity.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the BURNS COMMERCIAL LEADERSHIP Team
- Owner
- President
Mark Whatley, CCIM, a native of East Texas, holds an Associates Degree in Real Estate from Trinity Valley Community College (1980) and a B.S. from Texas Tech University (1983). Mark completed and received his CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation in 2004 and maintains memberships in the Texas Associations of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors, CCIM, and ICSC.
Mark is the owner of Burns Commercial Properties, LLC and during the past 31 years Mark has been involved in all aspects of the East Texas real estate market, from title insurance to real estate development. Since joining Burns Commercial Properties (formerly Burns & Noble) in 1992, Mark has completed numerous brokerage and leasing transactions including site selection for large scale retail developments (Village at Cumberland Park), leasing assignments on all of the Tyler area retail centers and office buildings, brokerage of many of the retail shopping centers, office buildings, multi-family properties, industrial buildings and development sites in the Tyler/East Texas area. Over the past 15 years he has averaged over 100 commercial transactions per year.
Locally, Mark has served on the City of Tyler Planning and Zoning Board (2004-2009), the Tyler Retail Development Task Force, member of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and Tyler Economic Development Corporation, City of Tyler Councilman for District 5 (2009-present), Chairman of the Half Cent Sales Tax Board for the City of Tyler (2014 to present), Grace Community School Board, East Texas Crisis Center Board, and local bank board. Mark's background and experience allows him to provide his clients with a full range of high level of service necessary for them to be successful in the local commercial real estate market.
Job Titles:
- Maintenance Technician II
Philip Humber is a native of East Texas, having grown up in Carthage and lived in Tyler for more than ten years. Philip attended Rice University on a baseball scholarship and enjoyed a highly-decorated collegiate career during which he was a three-time All-America pitcher. In 2003, Philip pitched all nine innings of the Owls' College World Series championship game, earning the school its first ever national championship. After being selected with the third overall pick in the 2004 draft by the New York Mets, Philip embarked on an 11-year professional career highlighted by the 21 st perfect game in Major League history.
Upon retirement from his playing career, Philip finished his B.A. at Rice University and began his commercial real estate career with a developer based in College Station. Philip brings a broad range of experience, from sales and leasing, to development and construction. His clients can expect tireless work ethic and integrity when they trust him with their real estate needs.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Accounting & Support Staff
- Office Manager
Rebecca joined the Burns Commercial Properties team in July of 2016 as Administrative Professional at the Plaza Tower office. After several months downtown, she transitioned to the Brokerage and Leasing Department as Administrative Professional. She will again be transitioning to the role of Office Manager in January 2022. Rebecca previously had a twenty year career in the hospitality industry as the General Manager of a timeshare resort.
Prior to moving to Tyler, Rebecca studied Science and English at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, then furthered her studies at The University of Texas at Tyler. Rebecca possesses exceptional customer service skills and is always eager to assist our clients. She is currently studying American Sign Language with the goal of being able to interpret. Aside from family time with her husband and two boys, Rebecca enjoys volunteering with the SPCA of East Texas and spending time at Cross Brand Cowboy Church.
Job Titles:
- Accounting Manager
- Member of the Accounting & Support Staff
Tammy Birdsong joined the Burns Commercial Properties team in July 2010. Prior to settling in East Texas, Tammy is a native Houstonian who received her B.S. in Management from Park University. She also holds her Texas Real Estate Salesperson License. Tammy began her commercial real estate career in the fall of 1996 at Trammell Crow Company in Austin, Texas. She continued her TCC career in Dallas from 2001-2007 working very closely with mainly office property management and leasing. When TCC merged with CB Richard Ellis in 2006, Tammy was there to see it happen. While working for CBRE, Tammy worked on the Memorial Hermann portfolio in South Houston helping to oversee the five medical office buildings around the hospital facility.
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Member of the BURNS COMMERCIAL LEADERSHIP Team
- Brokerage Professional & Admin Manager
Taylor Burns holds both B.S. and M.S. degrees from Texas A&M University. He has in excess of forty-seven years' experience in the East Texas Real Estate market. His background includes commercial real estate development, property management, commercial property leasing and sales.
Taylor is the former owner of Burns Commercial Properties, LLC, a former partner in the ownership of the Colliers Commercial Real Estate office in Dallas and was a co-founder of the former Burns & Noble Commercial Real Estate firm. Burns has served as Chairman of the Tyler Economic Development Council and has served on the Board of Directors of the organization since its inception in 1989. He has served as President of the Tyler Board of Realtors and as Regional Vice President of the Texas Association of Realtors. Mr. Burns has extensive experience in negotiating real estate transactions with large corporate clients as well as with commercial brokers in various parts of Texas and other states.