Boston 2016 Forecast - A View From the Top

Ronald M. Druker, President of the Druker Company is publicly known in Boston for the mixed-use developments he has created throughout the City such as Heritage on the Garden, The Colonnade Hotel and Residencies on Huntington Avenue and Atelier/505 in Boston’s South End. His allegiance to Boston is evident in the finely designed buildings he creates and the extraordinary efforts he expends in helping guide the design of Boston’s growth. Privately he is known for his commitment to the Boston community and the city’s arts and cultural life. The Druker Company, begun by Ron’s grandfather and recognized as a leader in downtown revitalization, remains one of the oldest and most respected real estate development firms in Boston. Today, Ron’s commitment to preserving the city’s history is largely responsible for the company’s continued reputation as a force in creating a livable and manageable city.

Friedman is the President and CEO of Carpenter and Company Inc., a hospitality and luxury residential real estate development firm based in Cambridge, MA. He is known for his creative approach to hotel developments, the reuse of historic structures, and transformative mixed-use projects. Friedman is the visionary behind the famed transformation of the former Charles Street Jail, a historic landmark on the National Register of Historic Places, into the beloved Liberty Hotel in Boston, MA; the Charles Square Mixed-Use development, a vibrant destination that includes The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, MA; and New England’s tallest residential building, Four Seasons Private Residences One Dalton Street, Boston, which The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat recently recognized as a best tall building worldwide. Carpenter also developed Iceland’s first five-star hotel, The Reykjavik EDITION, as well as St. Regis San Francisco, and various other Four Seasons, Hyatt, and Marriot hotels. As a former long-term member of the Board of Directors of Four Seasons, Friedman was actively involved in the company’s global expansion and design quality. His firm is currently developing Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Dallas, Turtle Creek. Friedman’s contributions to the public realm have been recognized with a variety of awards, including Man of the Year from Boston Preservation Alliance; the Icon Award from Boston University School of Hospitality; Developer of Year from Americas Lodging Investment Summit; and Man of the Year from Rogerson Communities. Beyond real estate, Friedman is known for his long-standing dedication to civic service, philanthropy, and education. During the Clinton Administration, he served as Chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, the federal government’s central planning agency for the National Capital Region. President Barack Obama appointed Friedman to the President’s Export Council, where he served as Vice Chairman of the sub-committee advising on U.S. travel and tourism policy and he is also the founder of the Interagency Security Task Force. Friedman’s board participation spans across various organizations and nonprofits, such as the Steppingstone Foundation, an organization that named him Man of the Year; Bridge Fund; John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum; PNC Bank – New England; Johnny Rockets, Inc.; GateHouse Media, Inc.; and the Dartmouth College Real Estate Committee. He is a recipient of a Certificate of Appreciation Award from Harvard Business School and has been recognized by the Boston Minuteman Council of the Boy Scouts of America with a Good Scout Award. Friedman is a graduate of Dartmouth College. He is an avid skier and served as the Harvard Ski Team Head Coach from 1965-1971.

As President, Jim Halliday is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the Company. In leading the Senior Management Team, Jim is responsible for coordinating the efforts of all aspects and functions of the Company. In sharing functional responsibilities with the other members of the Senior Management Team, Jim has primary responsibility for the leasing, property management, and financing efforts of the portfolio. Jim and the NB Development Team are currently working on executing the collaborative vision of New Balance and the community of Allston Brighton to transform Boston Landing into an exciting new and lively new mixed use district comprised of innovation, health & wellness, living and 18-hour/7-Days retail & restaurants activity, as reflected in its anchor tenancies of New Balance, Boston Bruins, and Boston Celtics. Prior to this role, Jim served as the Real Estate Controller for the Company, where he was responsible for the financial reporting and lender & banking relationships for the Company, its property holdings, and its development projects. Jim has over 30 years of real estate experience, including Vice-President of Company Operations & Controller for Winstanley Enterprises, and as a Senior Asset Manager with Spaulding & Slye Investments, Great Point Investors, and Liberty Real Estate Group. Jim also held financial reporting related positions with Liberty Real Estate Group, The Beacon Companies, and Boston Properties. Jim obtained his MBA from Suffolk University and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Northeastern University. Jim is a licensed Massachusetts Real Estate Broker. Jim was a varsity competitive swimmer while at Northeastern University. Jim is also passionate about skiing and is a PSIA certified Ski Instructor, where you can find him on the Cranmore Mountain slopes in North Conway, during the winters. Jim also serves as an Ambassador for Parlor Skis, a New England based custom fit ski-maker based in East Boston.