Design Development

Rick Petersen is a principal and partner at OZ Architecture, a renowned firm with international reach based in Denver. During his illustrious career spanning over 35 years, Rick has made significant contributions to various high-profile projects, including the redesign of McMurdo Station in Antarctica and several U.S. national parks projects. His expertise lies in sustainable design and master planning, making a mark in sectors suc...

Kayla Nassar is the CEO of AMCON, a prominent construction company in New England. Under her leadership, AMCONhas achieved considerable growth, notably implementing a leadership team predominantly composed of women, innovating within the industry, and adopting emerging technologies like AI.

Today, AMCON boasts a leadership team with over 50% women, showcasing Kayla's commitment to diversity. Kayla's conversation with Rens ...

Mike Auerbach is the Vice President of Growth at 1031 Specialists, a company dedicated to revolutionizing the 1031 exchange industry with tech-forward solutions. With a background as a multifamily broker and experience on both the brokerage and principal sides, Mike has developed deep expertise in real estate investment and the intricacies of 1031 exchanges. 

The discussion highlights various applications of the 1031 exchange, inclu...

Mike Hartnett is a prominent figure in the construction and real estate sector, currently serving as a vice president and partner at Plumb House. With a rich history in multifamily construction, Mike has extensive experience in various roles, from his beginnings as a project engineer to becoming a senior superintendent. 

 Mike offers invaluable insights into the importance of maintaining strong relationships with design partners fam...

Design Development welcomes David Borden, Managing Director at Ackman Ziff, to discuss the nuances of capital markets amid a volatile economic climate. 

David dives into the pivotal role capital advisory firms play in navigating these changes. They discuss the importance of risk-adjusted returns, the impact of treasury rates, and the differing priorities in capital deployment across various markets. Borden also highlights the evolut...

if you're uncertain about a decision, it's likely a lack of data causing the hesitation. Rens shares his journey of harnessing data to make informed decisions, emphasizing the significance of data in areas like marketing, sales, project management, and cost-effective design strategies in structural engineering. With personal anecdotes, he illustrates how understanding data can shift from a sense of gambling to a confident...

In this solo episode of Design Development, host Rens Hayes dives into the wisdom of Charlie Munger, an influential figure whose insights have profoundly impacted Renz's professional journey. This session is packed with valuable lessons drawn from Munger's philosophies, aimed at those in real estate, design, and construction who are eager to enhance their strategic approach and leadership skills.

Rens introduces two impact...

Most business owners go through a pivotal moment—their first real look behind the curtain at how buyers value companies. For Rens Hayes, that moment came when he went through a sale and due diligence process for his father’s structural steel business. What he learned from that experience completely changed how he approached building and scaling his own company, H&O Structural Engineering.

In this episode of Independence by Desig...

Paul Foley is the President of Feldman Geospatial, a respected leader in the industry of surveying and geospatial technologies. With a background as a licensed land surveyor, Paul has guided Feldman to remarkable growth by embracing innovation and maintaining a keen focus on technology integration.  they dive straight into the evolution of autonomous technologies like Rugged Robotics, which have revolutionized how construction layo...

Ed Hodges is the Principal and CEO of DiMella Shaffer, a leading architecture firm. With over 30 years of experience in the architectural sector, Ed has a rich history of guiding projects through various sectors such as senior housing, higher education, science and tech, and residential, making them a diverse practice group. His expertise extends beyond architecture into financial literacy and business management, establishing him ...

Patrick Callahan is the President of Callahan Construction, a prominent open shop construction management company in New England. With over 70 years of family history in the business, Pat has been pivotal in expanding Callahan Construction's reach and capabilities. Starting as a laborer, he worked his way up through various roles in the company, including project management and estimating. 

This explores the challenges and triu...

This episode welcomes Barry Barber, Chairman of the Board at Kimley-Horn. Barry shares invaluable insights into how Kimley-Horn has become a leader in the AEC space, growing to over 8,500 employees with innovative expansion strategies. The interview delves into Kimley-Horn's distinctive ownership model and Barry's deep commitment to organizational culture and leadership development, emphasizing flexibility, community, and...

Tony Nigro is the Senior Vice President of Design and Construction at Tuscan Village in Salem, New Hampshire. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Tony has been an instrumental figure in the development of Tuscan Village—a significant project turning a once empty area into a vibrant city-like environment. Prior to his current role, Tony garnered substantial expertise at companies like William A. Berry and Suffolk Const...

Known for his strategic prowess in acquiring off-market self-storage and manufactured housing communities, Matt delves into the operational efficiencies and relationship-driven approaches that have set Crystal View Capital apart. 

The discussion emphasizes the strategic choice of a fund-based model over deal-by-deal equity raises, which allows for flexibility and rapid response to investment opportunities. Matt also elaborates on th...

In this engaging episode of Design Development, host Rens Hayes sits down with Ryan Tansom to discuss transitioning a business to align with personal goals. Ryan shares candid insights from his personal journey, which includes overcoming high-stakes financial hurdles, strategic business pivots, and eventual exit strategies. Listen to Ryan discuss the conceptual foundation of his framework, Independence by Design, which focuses on e...

In this episode of Design Development, host Rens Hayes sits down with Isaac Weinberger, a leading authority in cost segregation with Madison Specs. The discussion revolves around the role of cost segregation in real estate tax strategy, providing listeners valuable insights on how to maximize tax benefits and improve cash flow through strategic planning. Isaac shares his professional journey and how his creative thinking and hustle...

In this engaging episode of Design Development, host Rens Hayes delves into the multifaceted world of commercial construction with Marvin LaHoud. Marvin's insights offer a refreshing view on the challenges faced by general contractors, notably the high-risk, low-margin nature of the business. The conversation revolves around finding differentiation in a commoditized market by lowering costs and risks, aligning with principles ...

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Design Development, we have Brandon Schwab, CEO of Shepherd Premier Senior Living, to discuss a pressing issue—the senior living crisis. Schwab explains the challenges facing the industry, such as financing, staffing shortages, and the escalating costs of assisted living homes. 

Schwab shares his unique journey from detailing cars for the affluent to tackling short sales and wholesaling in real est...

In this engaging episode of Design Development, host Rens Hayes reconnects with long-lost high school friend David Libardoni, now a partner in Nutter's Real Estate Division. This conversation unveils David’s illustrious journey from Bishop Feehan High School to becoming a leading real estate attorney. 

David dives into various intriguing aspects of real estate law, including acquisitions, dispositions, land use, and environment...