Whitestone REIT Adds Leasing Strength to its Growing Value-Add Portfolio of 43 Community Centered Properties

Whitestone REIT (NYSE-AMEX: WSR – "Whitestone”), a fully integrated real estate company that owns, operates and re-develops Community Centered Properties^TM, which are visibly located in established or developing culturally diverse neighborhoods, announced that it has enhanced its southwest and central regional leasing teams by adding Todd King as Director of Leasing – Texas/Illinois Central Division and Daniel Kovacevic as Director of Leasing – Arizona Southwest Division. Mr. King and Mr. Kovacevic, both licensed Real Estate Brokers, together bring nearly sixty years of combined experience in commercial real estate leasing, management, development and investment.

"We are building bench strength throughout our enterprise as we focus on our goals of increasing occupancy, identifying value-add opportunities within our portfolio and creating value for our shareholders,” said James C. Mastandrea, Whitestone’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We welcome Todd King and Daniel Kovacevic to lead our leasing teams with their considerable senior-level experience in the repositioning, transformation, and lease-up of commercial properties.”

Mr. King is past President and Board member of the Houston Chapter of NAIOP and previously served as Executive Vice President at Vantex CPG/Vantage Companies, Senior Director of Real Estate Development at Opus West Corporation, and Leasing Director of Equity Office Properties. A graduate of the University of Texas, Austin, Mr. King earned his MBA from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.

Mr. Kovacevic, who is a CPA, was a Partner with Mitroff Group, Ltd. for 25 years where he specialized in developing, leasing, managing and repositioning niche mixed-use and commercial developments. Prior to this, he was a Partnership Accountant at JMB Realty and past President of the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago. A Civil Engineering graduate from Northwestern University, Mr. Kovacevic earned his MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

About Whitestone REIT

Whitestone REIT is a fully integrated real estate company that owns, operates and re-develops Community Centered Properties^TM, which are visibly located properties in established or developing culturally diverse neighborhoods. Whitestone focuses on value-creation in its Centers, as it markets, leases and manages its Centers to match tenants with the shared needs of surrounding neighborhoods. Operations are structured for providing cost-effective service to local service-oriented smaller space tenants (less than 3,000 square feet). Whitestone has a diversified tenant base concentrated on service offerings such as medical, education, and casual dining. The largest of its over 900 tenants comprises less than 2% of its rental revenues. Headquartered in Houston, Texas and founded in 1998, the Company is internally managed with a portfolio of commercial centers in Texas, Arizona, and Illinois. For additional information about the Company, please visit www.whitestonereit.com. The investor section of the Company's website has links to SEC filings, news releases, financial reports and investor newsletters.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included herein that state the Company's or management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which by their nature, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. Reference is made to the Company's regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information or factors that may impact the Company's performance.