Craig International, a McKinney-based company known for its  high-profile real estate investment and developments, is losing one of its longtime members as Rick Franklin makes the move to join Martin Sanchez of Sanchez Advisory Group.

Franklin, who has been with Craig International for 20 years, was president of the company's brokerage division where he was tasked with buying and selling land for commercial development.

"There is a synergy between me and Martin and what he is trying to do," Franklin said. "I am already doing a lot of business with him in real estate and it just makes sense to move over there. Craig Ranch is pretty much built out—there are 250 acres left—and so this is an opportunity for me to join Martin, who I have the utmost respect for, and create something special."

Sanchez and Franklin will soon join together to form Sanchez-Franklin, a realty company, which will be housed in Conley Commons, the Sanchez Advisory Group's new headquarters scheduled to be complete this month.

"McKinney is primed for growth," Franklin said. "We have a lot of vacant land in the northwest sector that is going to be a huge boost to our tax base. We are in the process of doing a huge land-use plan that includes that area and we have also been doing a northwest sector study on what needs to be up there. That will be a key focus moving forward."

Franklin has been on McKinney's planning and zoning committee, board of adjustment and parks board and said that involvement has allowed him to have a clearer vision of what could and should be within the northwest sector and how a firm tax base can be created in that area.

"Based on my previous experience, I have some new and creative ideas for that area," he said. "There is a lot of beauty up there. It is probably one of the prettiest parts of McKinney."