Founder and Managing Investment Partner at Schnitzer West 听 
Why did you decide to come to CU and pursue a dual focus for your graduate degree?
I听had a unique objective in that I wanted to pursue both an MBA and a master鈥檚 in Civil Engineering. 听Fortunately, I was able to design course curriculum in the Colleges of Business and Engineering that prepared me for my career in commercial real estate investment and development, and eventually starting my own investment company. Without the flexibility that CU afforded me in my upper level educational pursuit, my wife and I would not enjoy the options we have today in terms of philanthropic and charitable activities 鈥� all due to the economic and career success which started from my graduate education at CU.
How did your time at Leeds impact听you as a person?
My time at Leeds enhanced my personal ability to compete while stretching my thinking and intellectual capabilities in a broader and more worldly career pursuit.听 It also taught me that advanced education can be a game changer when one fully embraces the unique opportunity to learn from others, including both students and well qualified faculty.
Could you share an experience that was particularly memorable?
I had a graduate assistantship with Professor Clyde Richey in the College of Business Real Estate program. This provided me with an opportunity to work while going to graduate school, and it was extremely gratifying to work under Professor Richey because I was able to hear all about his WWII combat experience across western Europe after D-Day in 1944.听 He brought a unique perspective on how things were before WWII and how the world changed economically after the war, especially in terms of both residential housing and commercial real estate investment enterprise growth.
Where has life taken you since you graduated Leeds?
Upon graduating, my wife and I moved to Pleasanton, California to begin my career with Prudential Realty Group, which was developing Hacienda Business Park.听 After a couple of years, we moved to Seattle to oversee the investment and development operations of Birtcher Real Estate Ltd. Then, with a capital partner, I formed a new company called Schnitzer West, LLC in the spring of 1997.听 We have since developed and invested in approximately 12 million square feet of commercial and residential buildings.
What is one piece of advice/best practice that has stuck with you throughout your career?
Be grateful for the opportunity of higher education. Many others in the world are not afforded the unique possibility to have time to think and learn before they start their life鈥檚 working experience.听
To nominate yourself or a fellow Leeds alumnus or alumna to be in an upcoming alumni newsletter, email LeedsSuccess@colorado.edu.
October 2017