CEO Secrets: 15 Things You Didn't Know About These Chief Execs
These CEOs run some of the biggest companies in the industry, but they're more than ROI and employee hires. We learned more about the inner workings and personal flair of the execs spearheading Granite, Monogram, Boxer and HKS.
Monogram Residential Trust CEO Mark Alfieri
2016 Goals: Grow the company, increase our exposure to our core markets and deliver results in the top quartile of our peer group
Current Strategy/Deal Flow: Primarily focused on new development. We would like to reduce our exposure to non-coastal markets.
Market Insight: Fundamentals remain very strong. Homeownership is the primary metric to watch. If it continues to decline, 2016 will be another banner year. If it increases, you will have decelerating growth.
Bullish on: Coastal markets
Favorite Food: Italian, go figure
Last Vacation: Can’t remember the last real vacation, but we took a couple of days in Watersound, FL, recently.
Kids/family: Youngest graduates college this year!! Hooray!
Alma Mater: Texas A&M
How long running the company: 10 years
Career Highlight: Ringing the bell on the NYSE
First Job: Shoe salesman
Best present ever received: My dad gave me his watch just before he passed.
Dessert you can’t resist: Del Frisco’s lemon cake
Go-to order at happy hour: Scotch
Secret Talent: Guitar
Boxer Property CEO Andrew Segal
How Long You've Been at the Helm: 23 years
2016 Goal: 199 pounds
Current Strategy: Keeping sales and purchases in balance
Ongoing Big Deal: Building out Boxer Workstyle
Market Insight: Watch out for inflation! (Disclaimer: I have been incorrect about this since 2005.)
Favorite Food: Chicken Vindaloo
Last Vacation: The Florida Keys
Kids: Two boys and a girl
Alma Mater: USC/ NYU LAW
Career Highlight: Expected anytime soon
First Job Summer: Camp counselor at a ranch camp in Arizona
Best present ever received: Cash (from my grandmother)
Dessert you can’t resist: Chocolate
Go-to order at happy hour: Second-cheapest wine
Secret Talent: All of my talents are still secret.
Granite Properties CEO Michael Dardick
2016 Goal: Continue to get closer to our customers.
Current Strategy/Deal Flow: Current deal flow includes a little bit of everything across our markets; ground-up developments, acquisitions, repurposing and disposition.
Market Insight: We are at the point of the cycle where everyone asks “what part of the cycle are we in?”
Bullish on: USA
Favorite Food: Ahi Tuna
Last Vacation: Colorado mountains
Kids: Two fantastic boys ages 21 and 17
Alma Mater: Mizzou/University of Missouri
How long running the company: 24 years; since inception
Career Highlight: Granite being selected No. 1 in the country as Great Place to Work by Fortune magazine.
First Job: Management trainee at a bank.
Best present ever received: Trip to go see U2 in concert!
Go-to order at happy hour: Bourbon on the rocks…splash of water!
Secret Talent: Can make balloon animals!
HKS Architects CEO/president Dan Noble
2016 Goal: To continue to grow the HKS brand through improved quality and value-added design solutions and to attract and hire the best available talent.
Market Insight: The market looks very strong for the next 12 months, beyond that it’s hard to predict. The economy can be tenuous and we need to stay nimble in order to quickly respond to changes.
Bullish on: The immediate future and our ability to deliver quality value design solutions to our clients…to be an ally in helping them achieve their goals.
Favorite Food: Grilled chicken
Last Vacation: Central Europe
Kids: Riley & Jennie
Alma Mater: NDSU
How long running the company: Two years
Career Highlight: Having the privilege of leading HKS
First Job: Cleaning golf clubs at the local golf course in Aberdeen, SD.
Best present ever received: Healthy and happy family
Dessert you can’t resist: Crème Brulee
Go-to order at happy hour: Scotch on the rocks with a splash
Secret Talent: Whistling
Like these? Read our first installment of Texas CEOs here.
