WilmingtonBiz Profiles CFC’s Will Leonard, SIOR as the Region’s Go-To Industrial Broker
Cape Fear Commercial
November 13, 2026
WILMINGTON, N.C. (Nov. 13, 2026) — Will Leonard, SIOR, senior vice president at Cape Fear Commercial (CFC), is featured in the Greater Wilmington Business Journal’s Nov. 11 article, “Broker Builds On Industrial Activity.” The profile looks at how Leonard became one of the region’s leading industrial brokers and how the local industrial market has grown around him.
Nearly all of Leonard’s work is in industrial real estate, from large tilt-up buildings at Wilmington Trade Center to smaller flex spaces, and that focus sets him apart. Edgewater Ventures principal Chris Norvell told the paper that while specialists are common in Raleigh and Charlotte, Leonard is the one broker in Wilmington who works exclusively in industrial.
A Wilmington native and Wake Forest University graduate, Leonard began his commercial real estate career in 2000 and joined CFC in 2011, where he has built an expansive industrial career. He also holds the SIOR designation from the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. Leonard’s results speak for themselves. He was named a 2025 CoStar Power Broker as both a top industrial broker and a top sales broker, and he is consistently recognized in both categories in CoStar’s quarterly Power Broker awards.
The region’s top developers trust him with their most important projects. In 2019, Leonard represented Taylor Development Group on the region’s first modern tilt-up concrete building at Pender Commerce Park, negotiating the land purchase and leasing up the 127,000-square-foot building. Chris Ramm, manager of Taylor Development Group, described him in the article as “a humble, great guy that gets it done.”
That track record has put Leonard at the center of the region’s industrial boom. Today, he is leasing two newly completed industrial buildings for Samet on Cedar Hill Road in Navassa and leading the lease-up of Canvasback Capital’s small-bay project at Leland Innovation Park. He also handles leasing for First Flight Business Park, Wrightsboro Business Park and New Hanover County’s Blue Clay Business Park.
“I grew up with Will, going back more than 45 years, and seeing the business he has built and continues to build is incredibly rewarding,” said Brian Eckel, co-founder and partner of Cape Fear Commercial. “He’s consistent, dedicated, remarkably knowledgeable and super humble, all while dominating the industrial market across the Southeast. Will doesn’t like the spotlight, but we love to see the Greater Wilmington Business Journal recognize the best in the business.”
The entire Cape Fear Commercial team is proud to see Will recognized for his work. His consistency, deep market knowledge and humility have made him a trusted partner to developers, owners and tenants across the region, and CFC is grateful to have him on its team.
Read the full article at WilmingtonBiz.com.
Photos courtesy of Page Productions (Will Page) and WilmingtonBiz (Madeline Grey).
About Cape Fear Commercial
Cape Fear Commercial is a Wilmington, N.C.-based commercial real estate firm with brokerage, development and construction services. Founded in 2001 by Brian Eckel and Vin Wells, the firm represents owners, investors and tenants across office, retail, industrial, land and multifamily properties throughout Southeastern North Carolina. Learn more at capefearcommercial.com.