Page 14B —
COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
— December 16, 2015-January 5, 2016
Evan Makovsky
Managing partner
NAI Shames Makovsky
Rich McClintock
Managing partner
Westfield Company Inc.
Steve Leonard
Founder
Pacifica Capital Investments LLC
John Madden Jr.
Founder
John Madden Co.
Years in the industry:
46 (1969-2015)
Birthplace:
Pueblo
Education:
B.S. in business administration from the
University of Denver; M.S. in business administration
and finance from DU; Honorary Dean of Real Estate &
Construction Management of the Franklin L. Burns School
of Real Estate & Construction Management from DU
(2007); Honorary Doctorate in business Administration
from the Johnson and Wales University (2008)
Professional affiliations/charities:
Rose Community
Foundation, Downtown Denver Partnership, CoBiz Financial
Board of Directors
What advice would you give someone starting in commercial real estate today?
Make
sure you have a way to feed yourself and your family for one year without income from real estate.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
I have been in downtown Denver real estate for 45 years. Several historical buildings have been
preserved and economically productive partially because I had something to do with them. Also, some
new buildings were built because I was able to assemble the sites.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
I am truly
thinking a great deal about what will happen to parking garages and parking lots in the future. If a car
can be programmed to go somewhere for free, why will someone pay monthly or daily for the car to sit
there? This will greatly impact all real estate.
What was your first job?
Selling furniture and mowing lawns
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
We are involved with three major
commercial, office and hotel projects in downtown Denver. We are developing two hotels in Boulder.
We are in the planning stages on eight acres of ground in RiNo.
What are your rules to live by in business?
Listen carefully and just be honest. Give the
customer what they want, not what you want.
Who is the person(s) you most admire?
Father, Sam Makovsky, uncle, Motty Shames, and
mentor, M.B. Glassman
Family:
Wife, Evi Makovsky, three grown children and nine grandchildren
Hobbies/interests:
Traveling to other parts of the world
Favorite book or TV show:
“Old Testament”
Years in the industry:
47
Birthplace:
Pittsburgh
Education:
BBA from University of Texas
Professional affiliations/charities:
Urban Land Institute,
NAIOP, Boy Scouts, Colorado Uplift, Papal Foundation
What advice would you give someone starting in
commercial real estate today?
Join a professional
organization like NAIOP or CCIM and become proficient
in the real estate language of our profession. Find a real
estate mentor, if possible. Be patient, learn and observe
from experienced brokers. We are a people business;
develop your people skills.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
Westfield has successfully completed 1800 Larimer, a LEED Platinum building and the corporate
headquarters of Xcel Energy.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
Colorado
and especially Denver will continue to be a wonderful place to live and work. We need to be
concerned about our natural resources, especially water, and our infrastructure to maintain the
quality of life we enjoy. I can’t imagine a better place to be involved in real estate.
What was your first job?
Caddy at a country club
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
Panasonic at DIA, 15-acre
redevelopment of Midtown Industrial Park on Brighton Boulevard, 425,000-square-foot Mapleton
Industrial Park, S*Park – 200-unit condominium, Standley redevelopment
What are your rules to live by in business?
Your reputation is your most important asset.Treat everyone
with respect.A successful transaction is not based on who won but whether both sides benefited at closing.
Who is the person you most admire?
My dad
Family:
Peggy, spouse; two wonderful children, Kevin and Emily, their spouses, Jenny and Jason;
three terrific grandchildren, Elle, Avery and Graham
Hobbies/interests:
Golf, fly-fishing, family time
Favorite book or TV show:
“Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown
Years in the industry:
38
Birthplace:
Los Angeles
Education:
UCLA
Professional affiliations/charities:
NAIOP, Hoover
Institution, Ronald Reagan Ranch
What advice would you give someone starting
in commercial real estate today?
Always
remember markets are determined by supply and
demand conditions.
What professional accomplishment or
achievement are you most proud of and why?
Investing in Denver commercial real estate
in the early 1990s and investing in the stock market in early 2009
What was your first job?
Property management and leasing
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
Several industrial, office
projects in North San Diego, new home in Montecito, California
What are your rules to live by in business?
You don’t know who is swimming naked until
the tide goes out.
Family:
Wife, Cindy; daughter, Adrienne (at University of Denver); and son, Robert (at Southern
Methodist University)
Hobbies/interests:
Beaches and mountains
Favorite book or TV show:
“Guns, Germs and Steel,” Jared Diamond; “Wealth of Nations,”
Adam Smith
Years in the industry:
55
Birthplace:
Omaha, Nebraska
Education:
Bachelor of Arts, University of Nebraska
Professional affiliations/charities:
I support Mile
High United Way, Boy Scouts of America and the University
of Denver. Additionally, I helped found and continue to
support the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts.
What advice would you give someone starting
in commercial real estate today?
Success
takes nurturing; it doesn’t happen overnight. You need
perseverance, hard work, a strong heart and passion to
succeed.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
I’ve worked hard over the years to develop places and spaces that positively impact the communities
John Madden Co. serves here in Colorado. I believe that the mark of success isn’t how much you
make, but what you do with what you make – the legacy you leave – and I’m very proud of the legacy
and culture of giving we have created with John Madden Co.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
We will see a
blossoming of the Colorado market. Colorado is currently filling in the Interstate 25 corridor both north
and south. We are a top destination for millennials and job seekers. Commercial real estate companies
like John Madden Co. are in a great position to meet the space demands that are coming with this
influx of people and businesses. It is an exciting time for not only Denver, but also for Colorado.
What was your first job?
My first job was as a night watchman at the Joselyn Museum. I worked
weekends, evenings and concerts.
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
John Madden Co. currently is
working to develop 600,000 square feet of office space in Greenwood Plaza and Greenwood Village
Station. Additionally, we are considering repurchasing a building across the street from Greenwood
Athletic and Tennis Club.
What are your rules to live by in business?
Boy Scout Oath: Be Honest, Work Hard, Think Hard
Who is the person you most admire?
My mother
Hobbies/interests:
Art collecting, dancing, swimming
Favorite book or TV show:
TV show: “The Good Wife”; books: “Warm Springs,” “Hyde Park on the
Hudson.”
