Page 28B —
COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
— December 16, 2015-January 5, 2016
Charles H. Woolley II
Founding principal/president
St. Charles Town Co.
Years in the industry:
31
Birthplace:
Washington, D.C.
Education:
B.A. in city planning from the University
of Massachusetts Amherst; MBA from the University of
Denver
Professional affiliations/charities:
Denver Metro
Commercial Association of Realtors, NAIOP, Urban Land
Institute, History Colorado (board of trustees), Denver
Botanic Gardens (board of trustees)
What advice would you give someone starting in
commercial real estate today?
Although the barriers
to entry to a real estate career are seemingly very low,
there are no shortcuts to success. It’s hard work and long hours!
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
I am most proud of starting the St. Charles Town Co. 23 years ago. The company has now completed
over $300 million in projects and has over $100 million in development in 2015.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
I see
maturation of the cycle as supply in all property types meets the demand from both pent-up demand
and in-migration.
What was your first job?
My first job after college was as the first museum director and curator at
Four Mile Historic Park in Denver.
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
Zephyr Line Apartments near
the Wadsworth West Line train stop; El Corazon apartments on Morrison Road in March; and have
assembled an amazing LoHi site for a 165-room boutique hotel, which will start in 2016.
What are your rules to live by in business?
“The Golden Rule” is No. 1 for the people I work
with, my partners, tenants, vendors and counterparts in our projects and business life. Treating others
with respect no matter their station in life is a hallmark of our company and a value by which I live.
Who is the person you most admire?
My brother-in-law, a Renaissance man
Family:
Wife, Karin Woolley, and two children, Hank Woolley and Elsa Woolley
Hobbies/interests:
Local history, agricultural history and historic preservation; skiing, hiking, cycling
and golf
Favorite book or TV show:
“A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” by Mark Twain
Mickey Zeppelin
President
Zeppelin Development
Years in the industry:
40
Birthplace:
Denver
Education:
University of Colorado, bachelor’s degree,
1959; University of California Law School at Berkeley, 1962
Professional affiliations/charities:
Co-founder and
president of the Lower Downtown District, board member
of the Downtown Denver Plan, Central Platte Valley Steering
Committee member, National Western Citizen Advisory
Committee master plan board member of the RiNo Arts
District, and many other committees and associations;
numerous awards
What advice would you give someone starting in
commercial real estate today?
Real estate is the opportunity to contribute to the built environment and
community. It is an opportunity, but also it is a responsibility. It is people first and then building.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
Building
community through collaboration of community members, the city, professionals and a teamwho is devoted to
providing the backbone for change.Areas of change include Lower Downtown, Golden Triangle and River North.
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
Making people
important, environment, transportation, urbanization, breakdown of barriers between classes in housing,
workplace, demographics, and more collaboration and innovation through technology
What was your first job?
Law associate in Denver District Courts
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
Continual development of 12 acres of
TAXI property and river improvements. Opening Freight Residences Family Housing,The Source Hotel and
a marketplace at University Hospital area. Several community facilities, including NationalWestern Master
Plan; Globeville community improvements, including Garden PlaceAcademy Elementary School, parks and
recreation; and maintaining character and urban planning in River North and Globeville
What are your rules to live by in business?
What goes around, comes around. Give back! Barriers are
there to be moved.All people want to feel important. Build a life network by treating them accordingly.
Who is the person you most admire?
My dad, who was so grateful to have the freedoms of
America, and Susan Wick, who taught me that art opens doors to life
Family:
Parents were first-generation Americans. I have four children, six grandchildren and life
partner, Susan Wick.
Hobbies/interests:
Exploring and finding. Seeing new things – buildings, cities, places, art,
antiques, nature and understanding people
Favorite book or TV show:
No one favorite book. Constantly discovering architecture, art, design
and history.
Michael Zoellner
CEO and president
RedPeak
Years in the industry:
31 (first hired by Scot Sellers
at Lincoln Property Co.)
Birthplace:
Denver
Education:
BSBA in finance and Juris Doctor from
Creighton University
Professional affiliations/charities:
Downtown
Denver Partnership (managing board and treasurer),
Downtown Denver Inc. (board member), Multifamily
Housing Alliance (chairman), Urban Land Institute
(council member), Regis Jesuit High School (board of
regents)
What advice would you give someone starting in commercial real estate today?
Find a product type that you are passionate about and commit yourself 110 percent to becoming
an expert in that area.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and
why?
Inaugural member of the Apartment Association of Metro Denver Hall of Fame
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
Denver
has a history of building too much supply and then spending three or four years adjusting to
discounts and concessions. This cycle won’t be any different, but therein lies the opportunity for
those who are committed to our community.
What was your first job?
Lot boy at Kerns Jeep at age 15
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
New eight-story multifamily
development at Seventh and Sherman as well as a complete renovation of 1044 Downing
What are your rules to live by in business?
Never build or own a real estate asset that you
are not proud to have your name and reputation associated with.
Who is the person you most admire?
Jesus Christ
Family:
Wife, Nancy, of 35 years and three married children. We are expecting our first
grandchild in March.
Hobbies/interests:
Golf, yoga, skiing, community building
David Zucker
Principal
Zocalo Community Development
Years in the industry:
Not sure when to start
counting, but maybe when my father drove me around
beautiful, ignored, old industrial neighborhoods in
Philadelphia when I was a child.
Birthplace:
Stamford, Connecticut
Education:
B.A. in English from Hamilton College; MBA
from theWharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
Professional affiliations/charities:
State Housing
Board (chairman of the board), Housing Colorado (member)
What advice would you give someone starting in
commercial real estate today?
Be skeptical.
What professional accomplishment or achievement are you most proud of and why?
The projects that created opportunities for those of lesser incomes
What changes do you foresee for Colorado real estate in the next 10 years?
The
excitement of higher-income folks moving into the state will give way to the realization that there’s
an even more substantial market that we’ve ignored, namely those in service and lower-paying jobs
who are income-constrained but need and want access to education, quality foods, open spaces
and, most importantly, high-quality homes in safe, healthful neighborhoods.
What was your first job?
My first, post-college job was working as a researcher for the International
Council of Shopping Centers. (Anyone who knows me quickly grasps the irony.)
What projects are you currently working on or planning?
We’re focused on two sets of
projects. First, empty-nester apartments, like our Stapleton Grove. Second, community impact projects,
like a partnership with Rocky Mountain PBS and a separate project with Emily Griffith.
What are your rules to live by in business?
Work and partner with those that you respect and
learn from.
Who is the person you most admire?
John Parvensky and the staff of the Colorado Coalition for the
Homeless. He and the coalition are ceaseless in their commitment to create better outcomes for the homeless.
Family:
Wife, Karen, and two amazing, smart twin girls, Emmy and Izzy
Hobbies/interests:
Snowboarding, biking, jazz, food (good food, that is)
Favorite book or TV show:
The New Yorker is the closest thing I get to reading a book. I try not to miss
reading at least a bit every week. TV show? “Modern Family.”
