Greg Coutant is the senior vice president of Development at StreetLights Residential. He has been a member of TREC for almost ten years and has been an active member, serving in the Public Policy Committee and Membership Committee, among others. He was also a member of the Associate Leadership Council Class of 2018. Greg is the 2025 TREC Membership Chair.
How and why did you get involved with TREC?
Initially, like many people, I got involved in TREC for the networking and the social aspects. I started my career in the civil engineering industry, and I was eager to meet people of different backgrounds and with different professions in the industry. I knew TREC would be a good place to make those connections and grow in my field.
Why is Dallas a great place to be a part of the commercial real estate industry?
First and foremost, it’s the economic growth, the population growth, and the business-friendly environment that make Dallas such a compelling place to conduct business, especially if you’re in the commercial real estate industry. Dallas is also well-suited geographically and economically to continue that growth well into the future.
How would you convince someone unsure about joining TREC to become a member? What would you say to them about TREC?
I would tell them there is no better organization to connect with others in their industry. It’s also an ideal organization to be a part of if you want to gain insights into how cities operate and to explore how the real estate sector can collaborate with political and municipal leaders. We can help educate and inform local leaders about what’s needed to sustain the remarkable growth the city has been experiencing in recent years.
How has being a part of TREC changed how you view Dallas?
I grew up in Dallas and have spent most of my life here. Participating in my ALC class gave me the unique opportunity to explore parts of Dallas and its history that many people rarely experience. This exposure has profoundly shaped my perspective on the city. It has influenced the way I approach projects across Dallas, strengthened my connections with people from a diverse range of neighborhoods, and inspired me to take a more active role in my community.
If a friend was visiting Dallas for the first time, where would you take them? What would you do? Where would you go to eat?
Dallas has so much to offer; there are several good answers I could give. If they visit in the fall, I want to take them to the State Fair of Texas. It’s such a unique event and opportunity that few people get to enjoy at the scale that we enjoy every single year here in Dallas.
I think my year-round answer would have to be the Katy Trail. I love walking up and down the trail, enjoying the various destinations it connects. It’s exciting to see how the residential density is fostering enhanced walkability to weave parks and commercial areas together. Dallas’ urban experience is still very much in its infancy. There is no better place to show people how Dallas is starting to embrace a vision for a more urban, walkable future.
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