Redland Names Wade LePlatt as Associate Principal
Redland, a Colorado-based land planning, civil engineering, landscape architecture and construction management consulting firm with projects throughout the Western United States, recently named Wade LePlatt, P.E. as an associate principal owner. LePlatt was promoted based on his expertise, industry experience and potential to drive growth in the Construction Management line of business.
“Throughout his Redland tenure, Wade built the company’s Construction Management service line of business and has grown it into a thriving segment of our company brand,” said Chris Pangburn, president, Redland. “Through hard work, integrity, valuable guidance and sound project management, he has earned the trust and respect of our customers and has a strong vision for continued growth of our Construction Management services.”
LePlatt has 12 years of experience in the land development industry, including eleven years as an engineer and project manager at Redland. His career experience includes land development and heavy civil spanning residential, commercial industrial and roadway sectors. LePlatt earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University – Pueblo and is licensed as a professional engineer (P.E.) in Colorado. He is also a Certified Erosion Control Supervisor, Certified Traffic Control Supervisor and a member of the Home Builders Association, Urban Land Institute and Metrostudy.
“We have found there is great value in pairing our customers’ needs for design and construction management. I enjoy the opportunity to be involved in bringing each client’s unique vision to life,” said LePlatt. “Servicing our client’s needs in many facets makes Redland unique and I am proud to be part of such a great place!”
Norris Design Announces the Retirement of M.R. Hicks
Norris Design, national planning, landscape architecture and branding firm, is announcing the retirement of Principal and Marketing Director M.R. Hicks.
Hicks joined the firm in 2016 with more than 40 years of experience and was promoted to principal in 2018. She has spent most of her career in the A/E/C industry in progressively. responsible roles working with architects, engineers, landscape architects and planners. Before joining Norris Design, Hicks led the marketing teams at Gensler’s Denver office as well as R.W. Beck and OZ Architecture.
Throughout her tenure at Norris Design, she focused on mentoring and growing the marketing team to support the firm’s growth across markets in Arizona, Colorado, Texas and most recently, Oklahoma. In addition to leading the marketing team, Hicks facilitated pursuit and business development strategy and assisted the branding team with strategy, facilitation and copywriting.
“M.R. changed the way our company approaches marketing and led us into the big leagues,” notes firm Founder and Principal John Norris, FASLA, PLA.
In 2019, Hicks was named the Leonardo Award winner for the SMPS Colorado Chapter. This recognition is the Chapter’s highest honor, acknowledging her career-long contributions to SMPS, her personal integrity and character, and her decades of marketing in the A/E/C industry.
Hicks was one of the original members of the SMPS Colorado Chapter and served in the inaugural. class of the organization’s Mentor/Protégé program. She also previously developed and taught a business writing course for the Colorado Chapter of AIA, guest lectured at the University of. Colorado–Denver graduate school, and volunteered on numerous award juries for local
organizations including the Downtown Denver Partnership.
Hicks will continue to collaborate with Norris Design on key projects and initiatives with the marketing and leadership teams. Upon her departure, Senior Associate Emily E. Cox will assume the role of marketing director.
Kentwood Real Estate Announces Karen Landers as New Managing Broker of Kentwood Commercial
Kentwood Real Estate, Colorado’s premier real estate brokerage, is pleased to announce the appointment of Karen Landers to managing broker of the Kentwood Commercial office in Denver. As Managing Broker, Karen oversees all brokerage operations, including coaching and developing Brokers and working with them to increase their sales and success. She is also focused on growing the Kentwood Commercial office by recruiting both experienced and newer Brokers who align with the Kentwood Commercial culture and will benefit from a collaborative and innovative environment unique from other commercial firms.
“As one of the founding brokers of Kentwood Commercial in 2017, I am honored to take on this new leadership role and look forward to our continued growth and success,” says Karen Landers, Managing Broker of Kentwood Commercial. “We have an amazing group of seasoned brokers who I look forward to supporting, and will focus on expanding our presence throughout the Denver metro commercial market”.
Kentwood Real Estate President and CEO Gretchen Rosenberg states, “Congratulations to Karen Landers on becoming the Managing Broker of our esteemed Kentwood Commercial office. Karen has been with us for over 12 years as one of our top-producing commercial brokers, and exhibits the skills and leadership expertise to expand this office with the most accomplished brokers in the market. We are fortunate to have her on our Kentwood team and look forward to the years ahead.”
The JLL Capital Markets affordable housing production team hires Leif Olsen
JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has welcomed Director Leif Olsen to its affordable housing production team. Olsen is based in the Denver office and reports to Senior Managing Director Angela Kelcher, who is leading the national affordable housing platform.
Olsen will focus on originating debt and providing capital markets solutions to sponsors both locally and nationally in order to further support growing JLL’s affordable housing business.
“I am very excited for the opportunity to join JLL’s growing affordable debt platform,” said Olsen. “I look forward to working with other industry stakeholders to find creative solutions to address the nation’s affordable housing crisis.”
Olsen joins JLL after almost six years as assistant vice president of affordable originations with Lument Capital, formerly known as Hunt Real Estate Capital. In this role, he originated multi-housing loans securitized by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and HUD and successfully managed over 100 affordable transactions from prescreen through closing. Prior to this role, he served as FHA Senior Underwriting Analyst with Walker & Dunlop. Olsen attended Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in American Studies.
“Adding value to our clients starts with attracting top talent and expanding the deep expertise of the JLL affordable housing team,” said Kelcher. “JLL excels in strategic partnerships, innovative structures and leveraging technology to serve the affordable housing industry.”
Ware Malcob Promotes Matt Chaiken to Vice President
Ware Malcomb, an award-winning international design firm, announced that Matt Chaiken has been promoted to vice president in the firm’s Denver office. Chaiken joins the firm’s executive team, oversees the leadership of the Denver office and leads Ware Malcomb’s largest corporate accounts.
“We are appreciative of Matt’s leadership, which has helped us build a strong, connected culture,” said Matt Brady, executive vice president of Ware Malcomb. “He was an early champion of our civil engineering practice and has an important leadership role with some of our largest corporate accounts. We look forward to his contributions for many years to come.”
A licensed architect in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and Wyoming, Chaiken has wide experience across all facets of architecture. He has overseen a variety of industrial, office, distribution, technology and retail projects throughout his career. Chaiken is NCARB certified, a LEED Accredited Professional, and a member of NAIOP. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Kansas. Chaiken has been a speaker at national and local commercial real estate industry events and authored multiple thought leadership articles.