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CAN'T FIND SOMETHING? |
Business in Vancouver December 30, 2008-January 5, 2009; issue 1001 Richard Wittstock VP of development, Amacon Development Group, Age: 37 Richard Wittstock’s fascination with building things began with LEGO blocks when he was a kid. Now the vice-president of development for Vancouver-based Amacon Development Group, Wittstock admits it took him until his third year of university to realize what he really wanted to do, but once he did, he never looked back. “I figured out at a pretty early age … what my ultimate goal was, and then it’s just been sort of a single-minded pursuit of that since that point,” said Wittstock. He believes the first and foremost thing any businessperson should have is a goal, otherwise he or she will just “flounder.” After he left the University of British Columbia, Wittstock knew his goal was to transform those plastic LEGO blocks into something tangible. In 1992, he interned at Knowlton Realty Ltd., and updated office space in downtown Vancouver. That same year, he became a senior associate with Burgess Austin Cawley Sullivan and Associations, a real estate appraisal and consulting firm based in Vancouver. It was during that period that he was exposed to the process of developing highrise towers in the area, an experience that would contribute to his award-winning Melville Development. In 2001, Amacon recruited Wittstock and, since then, he’s been responsible for more than 2,000 multi-family residential units, but it was his Coal Harbour development that he’s most proud of. “The successful development of the Melville project, which was awarded the best mixed-use project by the Urban Development Institute, to be selected as that for 2007 was definitely a career highlight,” he said. Wittstock, now father to a 19-month-old son, is developing his parenting skills, and he and his wife are preparing for another child to arrive within a few months. And even though B.C.’s real estate bubble may have burst, he has no plans of leaving anytime soon. • Birthplace: Richmond Where do you live now: Vancouver Highest level of education: B.Comm (urban land economics), UBC Car or chosen mode of transport: BMW 5-series Currently reading: The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama Last CD bought or music downloaded: Raffi for my son Favourite movie: Gladiator Favourite local restaurant: Voya at the Loden hotel Profession you would most like to try: Golf pro, politics or public service Mentor: I have always tried to learn lessons from the many great people who have influenced me through the years Toughest business or professional decision: Having to lay off good employees in difficult times is always a tough decision What’s left to do: While the past seven years have been focused on managing rapid growth, the present and near future will involve navigating some stormy seas and recognizing and acting on new opportunities |
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