Chip Wiser and Jim Field both went to Miramonte High School in Orinda. They knew each other there, but were not close buddies. Today Chip, 30 and Jim, 31 head up CPS, commercial real estate brokers in Pleasanton.

Real estate is a family affair for both. Jim's wife Chrissy is a broker specializing in commercial space planning for Bishop Ranch and Chip's wife Jane works for Grubb and Ellis.

Jim and Chip were working for CPS-Pleasanton when the owners of the company made the decision to dissolve the successful brokerage company last December. The owners, senior management at Callahan-Pentz Properties, decided to concentrate their efforts and energies on developing the business park.

CPS-Pleasanton had been created by Callahan-Pentz in 1981 to fill the void that existed in the commercial real estate market in Pleasanton at that time. Since then, CPS has played a major role in commercial brokerage in the Tri-Valley area.

Jim and Chip had been part of that successful effort and because of their close association, were enthusiastic about the prospect of taking over the firm. They became the new owners and managers of CPS in January.

The transition of ownership has gone smoothly. The total support staff and all but two of the twelve brokers chose to stay with the new CPS organization. "This reinforces the team spirit we have always had," says Jim.

They also experienced a smooth period of transition with their clients and are proud to cite 850,000 square feet of office space, 220 acres and 16 outside developers under exclusive representation.

And both of these young brokers have only the highest expectations for the future. They expect the current staff to increase to 15 by mid-year and to as many as 20 by the end of 1986. CPS was the dominant commercial real estate brokerage firm in the Valley in 1985 and Jim and Chip fully expect that trend to continue.

They both expressed the utmost confidence in the professional corps of brokers that was so supportive during the transition and continues to demonstrate their expertise in offering a full range of services for both tenants and owners throughout the East Bay. "We know how to market a property and satisfy a tenant," they concluded.

To see a reproduction of the original article and edition of Pleasanton Pathways, visit: March 10, 1986 Pathways.