REAL ESTATE
A. James Clark
Chairman, Clark Construction Enterprises
Solid Foundation: The visionary force behind one of the nation’s largest construction companies, Clark was the force behind projects like the Verizon Center and the Nationals stadium. Up Ahead: The company is focusing on the new Walter Reed Military Medical Center and the Maryland Route 200 Intercounty Connector.
P. Wesley Foster Jr.
Founder and CEO, Long & Foster Companies
Market Leader: The founder of America’s largest privately held real estate firm bested the major national firms in the D.C. market long ago by focusing on strong agent relationships, effective advertising, and mortgage assistance. Still on Top: The company reported sales volume of $49.8 billion in 2008, down about 18 percent from 2007 – but not bad considering the burst of the real estate bubble.
Benjamin Jacobs, Donald Brown, and Joseph Gildenhorn
Partners, JBG Companies
Built Right: Known for its sterling reputation, the longtime real estate behemoth these three partners founded currently manages $10 billion in residential and retail properties.
Ted, Mark, Edward and Robert Lerner
Lerner Enterprises, Washington Nationals
Major League: According to Forbes magazine’s annual billionaires’ list, the clan’s assets have actually risen from $2.5 billion to $3.2 billion in the past year, despite the financial meltdown.
Don Peebles
Chairman and CEO, The Peebles Corporation
Local Kid: The nation’s most successful African American real estate developer believes real estate is a regional business, driven more by local economics than by the national economy; his $4 billion development portfolio makes people listen. Washingtonian: Peebles’ father worked as a doorman at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, his experience inspired the real estate investor to include hotels in his portfolio.
Milton and Jon Peterson
The Peterson Companies
Outside the District: Since the 1970’s the Petersons have acquired and developed land in downtown Silver Spring, Fairfax Corner, and Tysons Corner. Dream Realized: Against all odds, the Petersons transformed a large waterfront site in Prince George’s County into the glittering National Harbor in 2008.
Raymond A. Ritchey
Director of Acquisitions and Development, Boston Properties
Managing Well: After three decades as an industry leader, Ritchey is said to be “sitting pretty” on more than 30 high-end, low leverage properties that are mostly leased.
Mitchell Schear
Vornado/Charles E. Smith Companies
Volume: Schear controls the biggest office portfolio in the region (16 million sq. ft.) and manages 8 million sq. ft. more for other owners.
