Page 16B —
COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
— December 16, 2015-January 5, 2016
Troy McWhinney
Co-founder
McWhinney
Myron “Micky” Miller
Managing partner
Westfield Company Inc.
Arthur A. McDermott
President
McDermott Properties
Chad McWhinney
CEO and co-founder
McWhinney
Years in the industry:
More than 20 years
Birthplace:
Huntington Beach, California
Professional affiliations/charities:
University of
Colorado Real Estate Center, National Association of Home
Builders, International Council of Shopping Centers, Boys
and Girls Clubs of Larimer County and city of Loveland’s
Construction Advisory Board
What advice would you give someone starting in
commercial real estate today?
Network and meet as
many new people as possible. Attend many public planning
and policy meetings to gain useful information that many
others may not have.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
I’m
very proud of the impact that the McWhinney organization has had on real estate in Northern Colorado in
the last 20 years.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
Colorado has
so many great things going for it. Colorado’s quality of life will continue to attract millennials, professionals
and families to enjoy all the wonderful things it has to offer.
What was your first job?
Outside of real estate: My first real job was owning and operating a chain of
strawberry stands with my brothers.We went from one location in 1986 to 28 locations in 1991. In real
estate: My great-great grandfather homesteaded land in Loveland in the 1860s.When my grandmother
passed in 1989, parts of our family chose to sell the family farm. Shortly thereafter, my brother Chad and I
decided to start a real estate investment and development company and acquired an option on the farm.
We assembled options on several other farms to create what is now Centerra.
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
We recently broke ground on Hahns
Peak Two, a 56,000-square-foot office building that represents the first spec building to be developed
in Loveland-Fort Collins since 2007. Last year, McWhinney also started construction on The Lakes at
Centerra. McWhinney, along with project partners Bohemian Cos. and Sage Hospitality, is developing an
85,000-sf hotel in Fort Collins.
What are your rules to live by in business?
Treat everyone with respect no matter who they are. If
you don’t enjoy what you are doing, it’s time to do something different.
Who is the person you most admire?
Too many to list. I admire many people both personally and
professionally.
Family:
The best anyone could ever hope for. Very blessed.
Hobbies/interests:
Family, coaching and exercise
Favorite book or TV show:
Lots of newspapers and current news
Years in the industry:
50-plus years
Birthplace:
Denver
Education:
B.S. and J.D. from the University of Denver
Professional affiliations/charities:
10 business
boards and 22 nonprofit boards
What advice would you give someone starting in
commercial real estate today?
To follow five values:
1. Always conduct yourself with honesty and integrity.
2. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. We all make
mistakes. Learn from your mistakes and profit from them.
3. Recognize, be fully aware of, and take advantage of all your opportunities.
4. Be involved in nonprofit efforts. It is important to give not only of your financial resources, but give
of your time as well.
5. Get active in our political process. Support candidates and issues of your choice with both your
time and finances.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
Creating open space, creating jobs; increasing real estate tax base; and being inducted into the
Colorado Business Hall of Fame
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
Continued
good performance within national real estate cycles
What was your first job?
Pinsetter in a bowling alley at the age of 10
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
Office and hotel development/
ownership in Colorado and numerous other states
What are your rules to live by in business?
Honesty and integrity
Who is the person you most admire?
My wife, Louann, of 63 years
Family:
Wife, four children and spouses, 11 grandchildren and five spouses, and six great-
grandchildren – total of 32 (including Micky)
Hobbies/interests:
Travel and family
Favorite book or TV show:
“Truman” by David McCullough, “The Last Lion” – A three volume
trilogy on Winston Churchill by William Manchester
Years in the industry:
40
Birthplace:
Worchester, Massachusetts
Education:
Rutgers University, John Hopkins University
Professional affiliations/charities:
Citizens Appreciate
Police, REDI mentor, HomeAid, Apartment Association of
Metro Denver, Colorado Housing NOW
What advice would you give someone starting in
commercial real estate today?
I have been fortunate to
mentor many young people.The main things I share include:
Vision must be combined with nuts and bolts, this is not a 9-to-
5 job, you can’t look at development as a “job” if you want to be
successful and learn all you can about design and construction.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
I
am most proud of the fact that, with my partners, we have built an extremely successful organization,
combining development, construction, property management and investment. This has enabled us to
become a leader in the development and management of affordable housing in Colorado.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
The next 10 years
will see dramatic changes.We can expect: New, expansive commercial growth at Denver International Airport,
more destination resort growth in the metro area (Gaylord), increased impact of the Stock Show, combined
with Colorado State University and recognition of the need for more affordable housing
What was your first job?
Delivering newspapers
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
Two projects are receiving most of
my attention:Westwood Crossing, a mixed-use community in west Denver, including 98 affordable family
apartments, and Oakridge Crossing, a mixed-used community in Fort Collins, consisting of 128 affordable
senior apartments and 7,000 sf of commercial space.
What are your rules to live by in business?
Our business has many guidelines. One important
guideline: “You adapt, evolve, compete or die.” Over the years we have constantly adapted, evolved and
competed aggressively. Fortunately we have not died.
Who is the person you most admire?
My parents, Jean and Charlie McDermott.
Family:
Married to Margaret for 32 years, five children and 13 grandchildren
Hobbies/interests:
National and international travel, river boat cruising, family vacations and events; 13
grandchildren; hiking, reading, physical fitness, Mexico beach vacations with family
Favorite book or TV show:
My favorite book is usually the one I am reading right now: “D-Day June 6,
1944” by Stephen Ambrose.
Years in the industry:
More than 20 years
Birthplace:
Huntington Beach, California
Professional affiliations/charities:
Teach for America
Colorado, Downtown Denver Inc., Denver International Airport Management Advisory Council, Colorado
Forum, Urban Land Institute’s Small-Scale Development Council and others.
What advice would you give someone starting in commercial real estate today?
Hire really
good people. Make sure they feel valued and appreciated and acknowledge them for it. Make sure they
know how to work together as a team.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
McWhinney has long been best known for its 3,000-acre master-planned community, Centerra in Loveland.
McWhinney’s work as managing member and master developer on the redevelopment of Denver’s Union
Station. McWhinney also is serving as developer for Great Wolf Lodge Southern California, the largest project
McWhinney has ever managed.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
A significant
skilled labor shortage is coming. Millennials/Gen Y will begin to dominate the workforce. I think we’ll see that
driverless vehicles, in about 10 to 15 years, will play a significant role in altering transportation.
What was your first job?
Outside of real estate: My first real job was owning and operating a chain of
strawberry stands with my brothers.We went from one location in 1986 to 28 locations in 1991. In real
estate: My great-great grandfather homesteaded land in Loveland in the 1860s.When my grandmother
passed in 1989, parts of our family chose to sell the family farm. Shortly thereafter, my brother Troy and I
decided to start a real estate investment and development company and acquired an option on the farm.
We assembled options on several other farms to create what is now Centerra.
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
Existing master-planned and lifestyle
communities and the redevelopment of downtown Denver.Three of our current projects are Dairy Block,
Great Wolf Lodge Southern California and AC Hotel Portland.
What are your rules to live by in business?
Hire exceptional people; make sure they feel valued and
can work as a team; work to achieve synergy (energy and alignment); practice Kaizen (Japanese for “small
improvement” and “better”) every day; and remember that success often comes to those who get in front of
the inevitable.
Who is the person you most admire?
I have great admiration for Larry Kendall, founding partner of
The Group Inc. and creator of Ninja Selling.
Family:
Two daughters
Hobbies/interests:
I enjoy fishing, swimming, running, cycling, skiing, hiking, competing in triathlons and
spending quality time with my two daughters.
Favorite book or TV show:
“The Slight Edge:Turning Simple Disciplines Into Massive Success” by Jeff
Olson and “TheWarren Buffet Way” by Robert G. Hagstrom
