Page 22B —
COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
— December 16, 2015-January 5, 2016
Susan Powers
President
Urban Ventures
Donald Provost
Founding principal
Alberta Development Partners
John O’Meara
Retired, principal
Inverness Properties
Jordon Perlmutter
President
Jordon Perlmutter & Co.
(deceased)
Years in the industry:
35
Birthplace:
New Jersey
Education:
B.A. in anthropology and M.S. in urban
planning from University of Arizona
Professional affiliations/charities:
Urban Land Institute,
Downtown Denver Partnership (DDI board of directors), Denver
Health and Hospital, Denver Bike Share (B-Cycle).
What advice would you give someone starting in
commercial real estate today?
It’s important to be both
patient and impatient at the same time.Taking the long view is
critical but projects need to be driven to respond to opportunities
that arise and often those decisions must be made and implemented quickly. Look outside of the traditional
places that others are pursuing and be the leader with innovative approaches to building great communities.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
As director of Denver Urban Renewal Authority, I was most proud to have been part of the revival of
downtown in the 1990s after a serious recession. With Urban Ventures, my projects in transitional
neighborhoods on the edges of downtown have been the most challenging and fulfilling work.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
Providing
housing for a diverse workforce and recognizing the importance of a full range of housing prices will
be critical. It may be our biggest challenge.
What was your first job?
I worked in a fabric store in Philadelphia through high school.
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
STEAM on the Platte and Aria Denver
What are your rules to live by in business?
My work needs to reflect my values, which are that I can do
good and do well at the same time. I feel a great responsibility to the neighborhoods and communities in which
we work and the real estate development that results from that work needs to reflect my values.
Who is the person you most admire?
My father, who has always been my strongest role model
for living his life to reflect his values.
Family:
Husband, Russ Wayman, with a combined family of six children and seven grandchildren. I
also have parents in their 90s in Sacramento still living independently.
Hobbies/interests:
Spending time with children and grandchildren, travel, biking and yoga
Favorite book or TV show:
Most recent favorite book is “The Invention of Wings”
Years in the industry:
23
Birthplace:
Houston
Education:
Finance from the University of Denver
Professional affiliations/charities:
ICSC (trustee),
Urban Land Institute, Children’s Hospital, Alliance for
Lupus Research (Rally Against Lupus co-chair)
What advice would you give someone starting
in commercial real estate today?
Have no fear.
Jump in and go make it happen
What professional accomplishment or
achievement are you most proud of and why?
Building a best-in-class organization over
23 years. Guiding it through the Great Recession and now seeing it thrive and execute on the
most complex and challenging projects across the markets. Proud of my team at every level.
Years in the industry:
40-plus
Birthplace:
Albany, New York
Education:
State University of New York - Binghamton
Professional affiliations/charities:
• NAIOP – local member and chapter leader for many
years; served as national president of NAIOP in 1991
• Porter Hospital Board
• CSU
What advice would you give someone starting
in commercial real estate today?
• Don’t be greedy – look for “win-win” solutions.
• Be patient and allow relationships to develop.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and
why?
Working with John Shaw, formerly of Opus, to purchase a large portfolio of buildings and
land in Inverness from MetLife. Our team created significant additional value in these assets
through our joint efforts over the next eight years and were rewarded for doing so.
What was your first job?
Selling Bayer aspirin to retailers in the Midwest
What are your rules to live by in business?
Keep a sense of humor and don’t take yourself
too seriously.
Who is the person you most admire?
Al Nealy
Family:
Will have been married to Ilene for 50 years in December; three children (Kerry, Patrick
and Shannon)
Hobbies/interests:
Soccer, running and biking (four marathons and seven triathalons), skiing
Favorite book or TV show:
“Shark Tank”
Years in the industry:
64
Birthplace:
Denver
Education:
West High School, attended University of
Denver
Professional affiliations/charities:
A member of
multiple civic, business and religious institutions as well as
charities and community service organizations, including
past member of the board of directors for Rose Medical
Center; recipient of the Prime Ministers Award of the state
of Israel for outstanding service to Israel; trustee of the
University of Denver; recipient of the Economic Developer
of the Year Award from the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce; and Colorado Business Hall of Fame
Laureate
What advice would you give someone starting in commercial real estate today?
Become associated with a successful contractor.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
Building entire communities, i.e., Northglenn
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
Mass transit
will change the dynamics leading to invocative mixed-use development.
What was your first job?
Construction laborer for my father on an apartment house in the summer
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
Yale Street Station Apartments,
Arterra Place Apartments, Aurora, and 1601 Wewatta office building
What are your rules to live by in business?
Honesty has been in the forefront of my
business life.
Who is the person you most admire?
My father, who had an eighth-grade education and came
to America when he was 15 years old and, ultimately, became a great success as a builder in Denver.
Family:
Wife, Essie, of 62 years, four children, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren
Hobbies/interests:
Music, travel, golf, fishing and a Broncos fan
Favorite book or TV show:
Watching pro football
