Experienced Businessman and Entrepreneur
The Franchise-to-Development Pipeline: How Restaurant Operations Made Me a Better Real Estate Developer
Most real estate developers come up through finance, architecture, or construction. My path ran straight through the kitchen, or more accurately, through the drive-through window, the POS system, and the quarterly franchise review. Before I ever broke ground on a...
From 20 to 20+ Years: The Leadership Evolution That No One Talks About
Nobody hands you a manual when you start your first business at 20. There's no roadmap for leading people twice your age, no blueprint for navigating a deal gone sideways at 2 AM, and certainly no class that teaches you how to hold a vision together when everything...
The New Neighborhood Anchors: How Drive-Thru Coffee Shops Are Reshaping Community Gatherings
When I started in commercial real estate development over two decades ago, the concept of a "neighborhood anchor" was straightforward: grocery stores, pharmacies, and big-box retailers. These tenants drew foot traffic, created jobs, and served as the economic engines...
Beyond the Basics: Practical Financial Steps Every Teenager Should Take
In my previous article, I shared why financial literacy matters for teenagers. But I know what many of you are thinking: "Okay, but what should my teenager actually do?" As both a parent and an entrepreneur, I've learned that understanding why something matters is...
Terra Quest: The Great Oregon Site Hunt; 2,000 Miles, One Speeding Ticket, and a Grocery Store Tip
They say the best deals in commercial real estate come from being in the right place at the right time. What they don't tell you is that finding the right place sometimes means driving more than 2,000 miles in a single week, getting pulled over for speeding, and...
Navigating CEQA: A Developer’s Guide to California Environmental Regulations
If you're developing commercial real estate in California, there's one acronym you need to understand before breaking ground: CEQA. The California Environmental Quality Act isn't just another regulatory hurdle; it's a fundamental framework that shapes how projects are...
The Small-Town Opportunity: Why Secondary Markets Are the Next Frontier for Retail Development
For decades, the retail development playbook has been relatively straightforward: build in major metropolitan areas where population density, median incomes, and traffic counts justify the investment. Developers have long pursued the same primary markets, creating...
Adaptive Reuse in California: Breathing New Life into Underutilized Commercial Spaces
California's commercial real estate landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation. With office vacancy rates near historic highs and retail spaces struggling to remain relevant in an increasingly digital economy, property owners and developers are looking...
A Parent and an Entrepreneur: Why Teaching Teens About Money Matters
When people think of “entrepreneur,” they often imagine long hours, risk, strategic planning, and ongoing problem-solving. While all of that is true, my most crucial role isn’t as CEO, it's as a parent. Over time, I’ve discovered a vital insight: the lessons that have...
The Perfect Storm: Why 2021-2022 Retail and Hospitality Loans Are Facing Their Moment of Truth
The commercial real estate market is facing a reckoning. Loans originated during the historically low-interest-rate environment of 2021 and 2022 are now coming due, and borrowers across the retail and hospitality sectors are finding that refinancing in today's market...