Page 10B —
COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
— December 16, 2015-January 5, 2016
David Johnson
President
Etkin Johnson Real Estate Partners
Christopher King
President
DPC Development Co.
Jeff Hermanson
CEO
Larimer Associates
Randall C. Hertel
Executive vice president
Majestic Realty Co.
Years in the industry:
39
Birthplace:
Minnesota
Education:
B.S.B.A. in Real Estate & MBA in finance,
University of Denver
Professional affiliations/charities:
ULI, NAIOP,
Minnesota Land Trust
What advice would you give someone starting
in commercial real estate today?
Understand
the management and operations of a property. This is
where value is created. And most importantly, treat your
tenants the way you want to be treated personally.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and
why?
Partnership with Bruce Etkin and the ability to provide long-standing careers for the very
qualified team of people we’ve assembled.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
Fundamentally, Denver has turned into a 24/7 city. It’s become the destination of choice for
millennials due to its affordability and outdoor lifestyle. Because of this appeal, I don’t believe
Denver will go through the boom-and-bust cycle it has experienced in the past 40 years in the
real estate market.
What was your first job?
Construction laborer for father’s construction company in Minnesota
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
We are gearing up to break
ground on a 200,000-square-foot spec industrial building in Louisville at the Colorado Technology
Center. We also have a 180,000-sf spec office building planned at Broomfield Corporate Campus,
a 288-unit apartment community in Broomfield and a Hyatt Place hotel at Church Ranch in
Westminster.
What are your rules to live by in business?
My word is my bond.
Who is the person you most admire?
Henry Oliver Johnson, my grandfather
Family:
Daughters Gracie and Annie, and wife Lisa
Hobbies/interests:
Golfing, upland bird hunting, fly-fishing
Favorite book or TV show:
“House of Cards,” “Homeland”
Years in the industry:
32
Birthplace:
Dallas
Education:
Colorado State University, finance &
economics
Professional affiliations/charities:
Past president
and current board member of NAIOP, developer
member of SIOR, Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers/Big
Sisters, LA Academia, Hope House
What advice would you give someone starting
in commercial real estate today?
Show up every
day, put in the hours and learn everything you can.
Stress personal contacts and direct relationships.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and
why?
The book of work over the past 30 years and building a well-regarded company with
longtime partners and employees
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
I see
more institutional capital and ownership of midsize assets, with more international capital coming
in. There will be a larger gap between individual local ownership and institutional investors.
What was your first job?
Caddy at Rolling Hills Country Club. First professional job: leasing
agent for Denver-area real estate developer
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
Value-add office, retail
and industrial acquisitions. One Cherry Center, 950 Cherry, 1875 Lawrence, Colorado Square,
Erindale Shopping Center, Wilmore Shopping Center, and various office, retail and industrial
assets in Arizona and Utah
What are your rules to live by in business?
Be honest. Be loyal. Be consistent.
Family:
Wife Sandy, five daughters, two sons-in-law and one grandson
Hobbies/interests:
Golf, fly-fishing, biking
Favorite book or TV show:
Latest favorite book, “Guns, Germs & Steel”
Years in the industry:
39
Birthplace:
Altadena, California
Education:
B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara;
San Francisco State University for graduate studies
Professional affiliations/charities:
We Don’t Waste;
Crested Butte Land Trust; Downtown Denver Partnership;
Crested Butte Wine and Food Festival; also active with Visit
Denver and other charities and nonprofits
What advice would you give someone starting
in commercial real estate today?
Focus on the long
term. Stay true to yourself and others. Pursue collaborative
win-win outcomes. The greatest compliment one can
receive is to do a second transaction with someone.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
• Larimer Square: We curated a collection of regionally exclusive, chef-driven restaurants, invested in
up-and-coming chefs and local retailers to bring a unique experience.
• Denver Union Station: We always were confident that the redevelopment of “Denver’s living room”
would be successful, but no one expected this level of success.
• Hangar 2 in Lowry: a great example of adaptive reuse.
• Induction into 2014 Class of The Visit Denver Tourism Hall of Fame: To be included in such a great
group of inductees was humbling. That night was special for me and I will never forget it.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
Real estate
will be responsive to densification, urbanization and alternative forms of transportation; exponential
growth of population and buildings; continued respect for our historic buildings; and the tradition of
adaptive reuse will inspire new development.
What was your first job?
My first job in Colorado was as a waiter in Crested Butte, which spurred
my passion for the restaurant and hospitality business.
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
Taking Larimer Square to the next
level is my top priority. We are focused on the reinvestment and further activation in the public realm.
What are your rules to live by in business?
Follow your own advice; do what you say you’re
going to do; and be respectful of people and historic places.
Who is the person you most admire?
Evan Makovsky – a true mensch; and Dana Crawford – a
true visionary
Family:
My partner, Theresa, and my basset hounds
Hobbies/interests:
Cycling Colorado mountains, skiing big snow and big terrain, and traveling
Years in the industry:
32
Birthplace:
Southern California
Education:
B.A. in Business from Rice University
Professional affiliations/charities:
Board member
of Children’s Hospital Colorado, board member of
NAIOP Colorado Chapter, board member of Aurora
Economic Development Council, associate director of
SIOR
What advice would you give someone starting
in commercial real estate today?
Slow and steady
wins the race!
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and
why?
Having and being a great partner!
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
Big
changes … bigger population, bigger companies coming to town, bigger buildings
What was your first job?
Door-to-door salesman for subscription TV
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
The 1,000-acre Majestic
Commercenter master-planned business park, Aurora
What are your rules to live by in business?
Work hard, have fun, be creative and be
honest!
Who is the person you most admire?
Thomas Jefferson
Family:
Married for 34 years, five children ranging from 14 to 29 years old
Hobbies/interests:
Golf, tennis, skiing and travel
Favorite book or TV show:
“Modern Family”
