Leasing Industrial Real Estate in Dallas-Fort Worth With Max Johnson
Meet Max Johnson, a leasing associate on Link Logistics' Asset Management team in Dallas-Fort Worth. Since joining the firm straight out of college, Max has grown into his role in warehouse and distribution center leasing in Dallas-Fort Worth—one of the country’s most strategically connected industrial markets. Read on to learn more about his work supporting industrial real estate users’ supply chain operations.
How long have you been working in industrial real estate leasing, and what does your role at Link Logistics involve?
Max: I joined Link Logistics in June 2022 after graduating from Southern Methodist University here in Dallas. I started as an analyst and transitioned to an associate role focused on industrial leasing and asset management. Our team of six manages roughly 28 million square feet across the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, and we also cover the Kansas City industrial market. I focus on leasing and asset management across the northwest half of our Dallas-Fort Worth portfolio, working with tenants ranging from small-bay industrial users to bulk distribution customers.
What makes Dallas-Fort Worth such a strong market for warehouse and distribution operations?
Max: Dallas-Fort Worth has exceptional multimodal connectivity, which is a significant reason why so many industrial tenants choose it as a hub for their supply chain and logistics operations. The market provides direct access to major freight corridors: I-35 runs from Mexico to Canada through the center of the country, while I-10 and I-20 connect the coasts, giving trucking and freight operators access virtually anywhere in the U.S. The region’s strategic location also enables international shipping, with I-45 connecting Dallas directly to the Port of Houston and its global trade lanes.
On the air cargo and intermodal side, the market is also well-positioned. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport handle passenger travel and commercial freight, while Alliance Airport north of Fort Worth serves as a dedicated cargo and private aviation facility with direct connection to the BNSF intermodal hub. The BNSF and Union Pacific intermodal facilities in South Dallas round out a logistics infrastructure that's hard to beat. The metro’s highway loop system makes it highly efficient for tenants serving the full Dallas-Fort Worth consumer base as well as broader regional distribution networks.
What types of industrial customers do you work with, and what trends are you seeing in the DFW industrial market?
Max: It's a wide mix—from Fortune 500 companies with large-scale, bulk distribution requirements to local businesses leasing small-bay industrial space. On any given day I might be structuring a lease for an early-stage third-party logistics provider (3PL) and simultaneously negotiating a renewal for major e-commerce customers. Navigating those different deal profiles is one of the most interesting parts of the job.
In terms of market trends, data center development has been a significant theme, which has brought a lot of demand from electrical supply and power infrastructure tenants. We're also seeing bulk users return to the market after a quieter stretch, driving demand for large-format industrial space.
What's the most rewarding part of your work in industrial real estate leasing?
Max: Getting to know our customers' businesses is one of my favorite parts of working in industrial real estate leasing. When we're evaluating a lease, we're not just looking at the real estate, but also evaluating how that business operates and seeing how the real estate directly affects their growth. That context makes every deal genuinely interesting.
Some of the most memorable customers have been on the cutting edge across a range of industries. We've worked with companies building sensors for autonomous vehicles, fully automated 3PL operations with robotic picking systems, and a range of suppliers tied to the data center buildout happening across the region.
You've collaborated closely with property management, construction and other teams. How does that cross-functional work shape day-to-day warehouse leasing?
Max: It's built into how we operate. From the moment we acquire an asset, Leasing and Asset Management work closely with Property Management, Construction, Marketing and Financial Planning & Analysis. In Dallas, many of those teams are all in the office together, which makes collaboration easy. We have weekly team meetings, but we also just walk down the hall or pick up the phone. Our firm’s culture of accessibility makes a real difference.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in industrial real estate?
Max: Always be ready to learn. If I could go back, I would spend more time studying not just the financial side of real estate, but all aspects of ownership. I'd also take full advantage of early career development programs and be willing to meet with everyone available to you within your network. I participated in Link's Gateway program for young professionals and the Blackstone Accelerator Program in my first year, and the relationships I built across the country have been invaluable. When a complex deal comes up involving another market or team, being able to pick up the phone and call someone you actually know makes a real difference.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the Link Logistics team?
Max: The size and scale of our portfolio is a huge benefit for our day-to-day operations. We never work in a vacuum. The tenants we see in Dallas often have operations in other markets throughout our portfolio. Our national footprint gives us a broader perspective on how industrial real estate markets work and how supply chains evolve across regions. Link Logistics’ regionalized team structure here in Dallas means we build real relationships with the people around us. We all know each other, which means we move faster and get more done together.
