Two local agencies specializing in commercial real estate—NAI LaSala-Sonnenberg and Lee & Associates Kansas City—have merged.

For the next year, they’ll operate as NAI LaSala-Sonnenberg Heartland and then change names to NAI Heartland Commercial. The combined company will be located at 4400 College Boulevard, Suite 170, in Overland Park and employ 16 brokers and seven other staffers.

“Everyone at our organization is very excited to form this partnership with such an outstanding group of people,” said Nathan Anderson, a Lee & Associates principal who is becoming a partner at NAI LaSala-Sonnenberg Heartland. “The LaSala-Sonnenberg name and reputation is respected, and together we will be a stronger company into the future. We couldn’t be more pleased.”

The partners said the merger will allow them to provide a fuller range of service to clients and increase the merged firm’s opportunities for growth.

“Nathan Anderson and I believe that this merger allows our combined agencies a broader, stronger platform on which to compete in Kansas City and globally,” said managing partner Mike Sonnenberg. “This merger will help to strengthen and improve service lines, and add experience at the local principal level for those Kansas City area clients who value a locally owned and controlled service provider.”