The CRES Utah Industrial Team

Derek Klopfer is a Managing Director at CRE Specialists, specializing in industrial and warehouse leasing, owner-user sales, and investment transactions throughout Utah. Since beginning his commercial real estate career in 2011, Derek has successfully completed hundreds of sale and lease transactions, building a reputation for strategic guidance, persistent execution, and delivering results in complex and competitive situations.

Derek advises property owners, investors, tenants, and buyers through every stage of the transaction process. His experience includes property valuation, financial analysis, lease negotiations, acquisitions, dispositions, investment sales, and creative transaction structuring. By combining detailed market knowledge with a practical understanding of his clients' operational and financial objectives, Derek helps identify opportunities, manage risk, and position each transaction for a successful outcome.

While Derek's primary focus is industrial real estate, his broad commercial background also includes retail, office, land, and special-use properties. This diverse experience allows him to evaluate opportunities from multiple perspectives and develop effective strategies for properties and transactions that may not fit a traditional approach.

Outside of commercial real estate, Derek is married and the proud father of two wonderful children. He enjoys spending his free time with his family, participating in outdoor activities, and cooking meals for friends and family.

At CRES, Colter Smith brings a comprehensive understanding of commercial real estate transactions that delivers measurable results for his clients. Working in commercial real estate since 2020, he has successfully facilitated over $117 million in total transaction volume across the Salt Lake Valley and surrounding markets. Specializing in industrial sales and leasing, Colter has demonstrated particular expertise in managing transactions of all sizes. Alongside his partner Derek Klopfer, he has completed more than 750,000 square feet of sales and leases throughout Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Weber, and Tooele Counties.

Colter's success stems from his unique ability to manage the entire transaction lifecycle, from initial property positioning through final execution. His approach combines sophisticated market analysis, strategic tenant targeting, skilled negotiations, and problem solving to create optimal outcomes for all parties involved.

Whether working with landlords to maximize property value or helping tenants find their ideal space, Colter leverages his deep understanding of market conditions and property dynamics to identify opportunities that others might miss.

Outside of commercial real estate, Colter is an avid runner, climber, canyoneer, cyclist, and backcountry skier, and spends most of his free time in Utah's mountains and canyons with friends and family.