Page 24B —
COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
— December 16, 2015-January 5, 2016
Glen Sibley
President
Fleisher Smyth Brokaw
Harold Simpson
CEO emeritus
Simpson Housing Limited Partnership
William W. “Bill” Reynolds
Founder
The W. W. Reynolds Cos.
John M. Shaw
Real estate consultant/adviser
Years in the industry:
32
Birthplace:
Boca Raton, Florida
Education:
B.A. in business/economics, University of
Puget Sound; MBA, University of Denver
Professional affiliations/charities:
Board member of
Davis Phinney Foundation, Porter Hospital Foundation and
Denver Civic Ventures
What advice would you give someone starting in
commercial real estate today?
This business is about
relationships – each one you make will be important at
some point in your career.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
My reputation for integrity and delivery
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
We will
certainly see a correction, but not a depression; in particular, in the for-rent residential business, in the
office sector and in hotels. There is too much product, too soon in all three segments. On the other
hand, there is significant opportunity in for-sale multifamily (new condo product and conversions)
and in student housing. The upper end of the apartment market will hold up well at rents in the $2 to
$2.50 range, but not in the $3 range.
What was your first job?
At age 14, selling shoes at Rapp’s shoes in Palo Alto, California
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
A new medical office building,
a new apartment project, conversion of a historic building to for-sale condos, and just completing a
cancer center for a large hospital system.
What are your rules to live by in business?
Do what you say you will do.
Who is the person you most admire?
Dan McCaffery, mentor and great friend. When we were
both at Oxford Properties (now Brookfield), Dan supported me as we completed Republic Plaza
and developed the World Trade Center during the worst of times (1984-1990). He went on to form
McCaffery Interests, a premier developer of urban, mixed-use product on a national scale.
Family:
Three children, Jackie, Boca Raton, Florida, Brian Bellingham and Whit, Denver; five
grandchildren; wife, Patti
Hobbies/interests:
Skiing, tennis, fly-fishing, cycling, fine furniture woodworking
Years in the industry:
60+
Birthplace:
Denver
Education:
I grew up poor and on welfare. I dropped out
of school in ninth grade to support my family.
Professional affiliations/charities:
Association of
Home Builders, G.E. Advisory Committee, Denver Seminary
What advice would you give someone starting in
commercial real estate today?
Over the long term,
rental apartments are safer investments than most other
forms of real estate. Structure your deals with low debt and
investors that can hold for the long term.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
My wife, Virginia, and I started building small buildings by hand. At the end of my career, we had built
15,000 luxury apartments across the United States.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
I’ve been
retired now and living in California, so I’m probably not the best person to ask.
What was your first job?
My first job out of school was as a manual laborer on the railroads in
Colorado. My first real estate project was a 12-unit rental building in the 200 block of Pearl Street in
Denver.
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
I am enjoying my retirement.
What are your rules to live by in business?
Be honest and work hard. Also, visit your
construction sites regularly and don’t rely on someone else to handle the details for you.
Who is the person you most admire?
Abraham Lincoln
Family:
My wife of 70 years, Virginia Simpson. Two sons, one daughter, eight grandkids, and 14 great
grandchildren. My children and my grandchildren have had very successful real estate careers in their
own right, and I’m very proud of that.
Hobbies/interests:
Golf and helping the needy. Growing up poor, we had a lot of help from the
government and kind people and I wish to pay that forward.
Favorite book or TV show:
I like watching football or O’Reilly. I enjoy reading biographies and
history.
Years in the industry:
50-plus
Birthplace:
Boulder
Education:
B.S. in business from the University of
Colorado
Professional affiliations/charities:
Urban Land
Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder Economic
Council
What advice would you give someone starting
in commercial real estate today?
From Eric Hofer,
“In times of rapid change the learners inherit the world,
while the knowers find themselves beautifully equipped
to deal with a world that no longer exists.”
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and
why?
I am proud of the changes I’ve made to Fort Collins and my home city of Boulder. It makes
me smile and feel good to see my developments being used profitably and enjoyably by others.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
Many
young people who will want better and different real estate products
What was your first job?
Gas service station attendant (pumping gas and cleaning
windshields, for those who might not know what this job entailed)
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
I am improving casting my
Spey rod. And we have two office buildings under construction in Boulder.
What are your rules to live by in business?
Do what I say.
Who is the person you most admire?
Thomas Jefferson
Family:
My wife of 48 years, Jane, and our dog, T.J., reside in Boulder along with our three
children and five grandchildren
Hobbies/interests:
Fly-fishing, skiing, biking
Favorite book or TV show:
“Leadership Crisis” by John Allison.
Years in the industry:
42
Birthplace:
Iowa
Education:
Bachelor of Architecture from Iowa State
University
Professional affiliations/charities:
Urban Land
Institute, American Institute of Architects, University
of Colorado of Real Estate Foundation, National
Association of Office and Industrial Properties, and Boys
and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver
What advice would you give someone starting
in commercial real estate today?
This is a
business that requires tenacity and patience. You can’t
just be busy – you must be productive.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and
why?
Being honored by my peers with recognition by the Urban Land Institute, NAIOP, and the
University of Colorado of Real Estate Foundation
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
Dramatic changes in office design/occupancy with collaborative space and flexible hours; more
public-private partnerships
What was your first job?
Draftsman – Brooks, Borg, Skiles Architects, Des Moines, Iowa
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
Fitzsimons Master Plan
update and strategic planning assistance for W.W. Reynolds and Confluent Development
What are your rules to live by in business?
Everybody should win.
Who is the person you most admire?
Micky Miller of Miller Global Properties LLC
Family:
Wife, Katy; daughters, Lisa and Erin, and their families; and son Caz and his family
Hobbies/interests:
Adventure travel, weaving
Favorite book or TV show:
Book – “How the Mighty Fall” by Jim Collins; TV – I don’t know
how to turn on a TV
