About Karnie

Karnie Vertz is a Principal with Avison Young’s Edmonton Office Leasing and Sales Team and one of the original members of one of Edmonton’s strongest and most trusted real estate teams, as evidenced by its leading market share. With well- established relationships within the landlord and tenant community, Karnie plays an integral role on the Edmonton office team.

Born and raised in Sherwood Park, Karnie has always been active in his community. After being drafted by the New York Mets, he attended Arkansas State University on a baseball scholarship, where he earned a degree in Business Finance. Upon returning to his hometown in 2004, Karnie leveraged the competitive drive that fueled his athletic success to transition into commercial real estate.

Over the past 20 years, Karnie has been instrumental in managing large real estate portfolios for some of Western Canada’s most significant landlords, including Triovest, LaSalle, Cameron, Kingsett, Melcor, Camgill, Rohit, and Harvard. His strong business acumen and client-focused approach enable him to deliver solutions that exceed client expectations and pro forma objectives. On listing assignments, Karnie takes a strategic, property-specific approach, applying the same level of commitment to large institutional projects as he does to entrepreneurial assignments. From prospect outreach to presenting tailored proposals, he takes a hands-on approach to achieving results.

Karnie has also delivered consistent success leading tenant portfolio assignments across Alberta and Western Canada, representing clients such as Intuit, Ledcor, Alberta Energy Regulator, URS Flint Energy, ARRK Engineering, EllisDon, ATCO, CUPE, RSA Johnson, SCM Insurance, State Farm Insurance, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team, CH2M Hill, Lafarge, Millennium Insurance, and Strathcona County. These multi-market clients require a deep understanding of corporate structures and the varying needs across geographic regions.

Karnie has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor and market leader, known for his integrity, loyalty, and expertise in lease negotiations, renewals, build-to-suit consulting, and purchase and sale transactions. He brings a high level of energy and enthusiasm to every assignment, paired with a calm, thoughtful, and approachable manner.

Outside of the office, Karnie values his family and community and gives back through his involvement with Sherwood Park Minor Baseball. He is a strong advocate for environmental responsibility and holds a LEED® Green Associate designation. Karnie is an active member of the Sherwood Park Chamber of Commerce and CoreNet and remains active in sports, including baseball, hockey, and golf.

Credentials

Professional Credentials

• Member of the Sherwood Park Chamber of Commerce
• Canada Green Building Council

Education and Designations

• Bachelor of Business Finance – Arkansas State University