Page 26B —
COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
— December 16, 2015-January 5, 2016
Robert J. Watson
President and COO
Prologis North America;
CEO, Prologis European Properties Fund
Roland A. Wilson
Owner
Roland A. Wilson and Associates
Architects
(deceased)
Stephen Tebo
Owner
Tebo Properties
George Thorn
CEO
Mile High Development
Years in the industry:
37
Birthplace:
Corpus Christi, Texas
Education:
BBA from Southern Methodist University; MBA
from the University of Texas at Austin
Professional affiliations/charities:
University of Colorado
Real Estate Foundation, Ray of Hope Foundation, Boys and
Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Roaring Fork Conservancy
What advice would you give someone starting in
commercial real estate today?
It is imperative for anyone
wanting to embark on a real estate career to get as much experience as possible, through education,
internships, relationships and professional affiliations. Today’s real estate business is driven by those who
have capital and those who serve capital. Making the career decision between these two paths is critical in
defining a successful start in the business as they require different skill sets.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
I am
most proud of being one of the founders of Prologis, one of the original three employees and building
Prologis into a Fortune 500, global business.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
The
challenges of water and transportation for the growing metropolitan area will shape real estate
development, renovation and growth more than any other combination of factors.
What was your first job?
Delivering ice for ice water at Six Flags over Texas outside of Dallas
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
My golf handicap and my skiing technique
What are your rules to live by in business?
The customer isn’t always right but he or she is
always the customer! If you don’t believe an action is right, or equitable, it probably is not.
Who is the person you most admire?
My father, B.L. Watson, who left home and school at age
12 and eventually became chairman and CEO of a $500 million annual revenue company.
Family:
My wife, Kay, daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Tony Laws, and son Robert, daughter-in-law
Nicole and three grandchildren, Andrew, Carolyn and Avery
Hobbies/interests:
Skiing, golf and automobile sports
Favorite book or TV show:
“The Greater Journey” by David McCullough
Years in the industry:
51
Birthplace:
Denver
Education:
Architectural degree from the University of
Denver
Professional affiliations/charities:
Rotary, Colorado
Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, created endowed
scholarship for Colorado State University
What advice would you give someone starting in
commercial real estate today?
Form investment partnerships. Stay involved.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
Designed and completed over 130 apartment buildings (4,085 units) and over 400 townhouse units – all
still standing and occupied.
What was your first job?
Ages 14-18: worked in grocery store as a bagger to help widowed mother
with expenses. Age 18: enlisted in U.S. Navy to fight inWorldWar II in the Pacific.
What are your rules to live by in business?
Be honest, play fair.
Who is the person you most admire?
Roland was inspired by his father, Albert Wilson. Albert
emigrated from Sweden to the U.S. in March 1911 at the age of 19. He worked for a time as a chauffeur.
In July 1918, Albert Wilson joined the U.S. Army and served in the Balloon Corps inWorldWar I. Afterward,
he worked in a Colorado gold mine. He married Augusta, a Swedish bride. They had two children, Roland
and Edla. Albert worked hard, saved and eventually owned his own concrete contracting business. He
took Roland with him to many of the jobs. He taught Roland the value of working hard and saving to own
something of value. Albert Wilson was killed in a hunting accident when Roland was 13.
Family:
Wife, Ginny; children,Wendy, Eric, Kris; and nephew Stan Johnson; plus three nieces
Hobbies/interests:
Skiing, fishing, camping, tennis, poker
Favorite book or TV show:
“Bonanza”
VirginiaWilson, Roland’s wife, completed these answers.
Years in the industry:
45
Birthplace:
Hays, Kansas
Education:
B.S. from Fort Hays State University; M.S.
from University of Missouri
Professional affiliations/charities:
Downtown
Boulder Inc. (past board member), Downtown Longmont
(district member), Downtown Business Association,
Louisville, Chamber of Commerce (Boulder and Erie),
Boulder Arts Commission, Boy Scouts of America
(leadership member and former chairman for the
Distinguished Citizens dinner), city of Lyons (donated
City Park), YWCA (Tebo Family Tower), Imagine!
Foundation toy drives, Human Society of Boulder County
What advice would you give someone starting in commercial real estate today?
Be
willing to work extra hours and sacrifice compensation today for something better tomorrow.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and
why?
Tebo Cancer Center
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
Lots of
new construction to keep up with increasing population.
What was your first job?
Shining shoes in Hill City, Kansas
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
Building new strip centers in
Hays, Kansas, and Louisville. Also, building a new climbing gym in Louisville.
What are your rules to live by in business?
Work longer, harder and smarter, and never
compromise your integrity.
Who is the person you most admire?
Ronald Reagan
Family:
Five children and six grandchildren
Hobbies/interests:
Collector of coins, currency, cars and Western art
Years in the industry:
45
Birthplace:
Parkersburg,West Virginia
Education:
BSME from the University of Arizona
Professional affiliations/charities:
Downtown Denver
Partnership (chairman, 2004), Downtown Denver Inc.
(chairman, 2002, 2003), Denver Renewal Urban Authority
(board of commissioners, 1989-1993), Executive in
Residence, University of Denver-Burns School of Real Estate
and Construction Management (2014-present), Urban Land
Institute, Colorado District Council Executive Committee
(2012-present), NAIOP board of directors (1985, 1995), Transportation Solutions (chairman, 2015)
What advice would you give someone starting in commercial real estate today?
Specialize! Learn a lot about one aspect of the business. Get involved in your community.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
• The Co-Development Project at the Denver Art Museum, including Museum Residences, a 55-unit
luxury condominium/mixed-use project
• The ART hotel, a 165-room boutique hotel
• The 980-space Cultural Center Garage. The project included every aspect of a public-private
partnership during its 15-year development cycle, including two recessions and three mayors.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
Continued
dominance of the central business district in attracting new investment and development. Densification
around transit stations in the FasTracks system will continue, following the lead of Union Station. The re-
emergence of the condominium business. New solutions to address the affordable housing shortage.
What was your first job?
Caddy at Marietta Country Club, Marietta, Ohio
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
• Redevelopment of 22-acre Regatta Plaza TOD/mixed-use project at Nine Mile Station in Aurora
• Various affordable housing projects, including Garden Court Apartments at Yale Station and 1100 Ash
Street Apartments adjacent to the Ninth and Colorado project (with Koelbel and Co.)
• Various TOD/mixed-use projects in five different metro area cities
What are your rules to live by in business?
Treat people the way you would like to be treated.
Who is the person you most admire?
Arnold Palmer
Family:
Wife and two sons, Scott and David
Hobbies/interests:
Golf
Favorite book or TV show:
“Atlas Shrugged”
