Denver Office of the Future

Sean is CEO & Principal at Formativ, a full-service real estate development and investment firm based in Denver. The firm is focused on in-the-path-of-growth real estate and urban in-fill development projects. Developments that, through the built environment, turn blocks or micro-neighborhoods into sustainable and inclusive communities that thrive in our modern world. With placemaking at the core of these developments, Formativ incorporates complimentary asset types, public spaces, and additive best-in-class amenities to deliver projects where people want to live, work, and play. The firm specializes in Mixed-Use, Master-Planned, Multifamily, Creative Office, and Hospitality asset categories. By developing thriving communities and properties, Formativ delivers superior, risk-adjusted returns for its partners and investors. Sean is a real estate developer, community builder and former Wall Street executive with a strong background in finance, real estate, and business development. Sean founded Formativ with the vision to establish a real estate firm that was centered around transformative urban projects that grow communities and businesses. He is involved in the full lifecycle of FORMATIV’s developments leading the visioning, investment and execution of our projects. Prior to founding Formativ, Sean was co-founder and developer of INDUSTRY, Colorado’s foremost creative office concept. Before becoming a leader within real estate development community, Sean spent over a decade in NYC’s financial sector in fixed income trading and investment banking. Sean is a leader in Denver’s business and non-profit community serving on the Boards of Metro EDC, The Denver Zoo, The Other Side Academy and 10.10.10.. Sean is originally from Washington D.C. and attended the University of Maryland.

Mark Shaker is the co-founder of Flighline Ventures and Stanley JV and the lead developer of the Stanley Marketplace project in northwest Aurora, overseeing the transformation of a 1950s aviation facility into a locally inspired food and retail community hub. Stanley features 50 independently owned Colorado businesses under one roof, with an events center, urban farms, and park. Mark has been developing organizations and leading teams for fifteen years. His last project was a five million dollar fundraising campaign to build a freestanding maternal health hospital in rural Niger. Mark holds an MSW from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from the University of Denver. He is active in many philanthropic endeavors and dedicated to making sure Stanley Marketplace is a force for good in the greater Aurora and Denver communities.

Grant Barnhill has been thoughtfully managing, developing and investing in central Denver real estate for nearly 30 years. At the forefront of Denver’s urban revitalization, Mr. Barnhill has built his career on transforming buildings and neighborhoods in ways that positively impact both the community and residents’ lives. Inspired by extensive foreign travel, each of his projects has honored the local flavor of Denver while weaving in elements of international art, architecture and culture. His current venture, Shift Workspaces, is a shared workspace community that offers members personalized concierge-level service in a warm, unique environment. Shift is also committed to social stewardship, sustainability and an integrated view of commerce. “After you see how much of the world lives, it’s difficult not to have a holistic approach to life and business. Company owners have a unique opportunity to redefine success-we can use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems by balancing the interests of our community, our environment and investors.”

Joe Short is responsible for delivering custom-tailored financial solutions and delivering an unparalleled hands-on client experience to Colorado based companies within the lower Middle Market business segment, by leveraging his extensive loan structuring and risk mitigation expertise, using credit, depository, treasury management, SBA, derivative, and loan participation/syndication vehicles.

Mr. Despard is a senior managing director and city leader responsible for project development, acquisitions/dispositions and asset management of projects throughout Colorado within the Southwest Region of the United States. Since joining the firm in 1999, he has contributed to the management of more than $700 million worth of development projects. Despard graduated with a BBA from the University of Colorado at Boulder and he holds a master's degree in real estate development and finance from New York University.

Jordan Menashe is a Portland native who joined Menashe Properties, Inc. as a Principal in 2011. Prior to joining the family business, Jordan studied Real Estate, Finance, and International Business at the University of Southern California. Following graduation, Jordan established success and growth in a role at First Property Realty Corporation in Los Angeles, but found himself eager to get back to Portland and pursue an expansion of the family business. Since joining Menashe Properties, Jordan has brought a creative and energetic leadership approach to all aspects of the business from modernizing and expanding his brand, improving building aesthetics and spaces in a creative manner, and strategizing assets. Jordan has taken the company to a new level with unlimited potential. He knew and still knows that “one cannot run before they learn to walk.” He has managed to strategically, but carefully, refinance the family portfolio while adding a number of significant assets in a very short amount of time. Jordan has already made an impact on the greater Portland, Seattle, and Denver markets and has his eyes on many other cities for the near future.

Mr. Hurley joined Miller Global in 2008 as a Vice President. He is a licensed architect and member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Mr. Hurley has 20 years of experience in real estate, including design, programming, documentation, detailing, construction administration, and planning. He has extensive experience in real estate development issues including land entitlement, site analysis, construction budgets, building systems analysis and project scheduling. At Miller Global, Mr. Hurley has responsibility for the development, coordination and supervision of several hotel properties, including Residence Inn, Bellevue, WA; Residence Inn, Carlyle, VA; JW Marriott San Antonio, TX; and Embassy Suites, Springfield, VA. He also is involved in supervising and coordinating due diligence and oversight of construction, furnishing and opening of properties. Prior to joining Miller Global, Mr. Hurley spent the previous seven years as founder, co-owner, and principal of rhadius p.c., where his architectural firm completed over 150 projects of varying types that included: Office Buildings, Commercial, Retail, Multi-Family, Hospitality, Mixed Use and Industrial. Mr. Hurley began his career in 1994 at Burkett Design, Inc. where he was a lead designer specializing in corporate offices, space planning, and furniture detailing. From 1996 through 1999, Mr. Hurley was employed by Slater Paull and Associates as a Project Manager before moving on to Christopher Carvell Architects where he was named ‘Associate'. Mr. Hurley graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona, Tucson, in 1994.

Michael has 22 years of experience in leasing downtown and suburban commercial office buildings and remains a dedicated leasing agent for owners with over 8 million square feet of lease transaction experience. Michael received his bachelor’s degree from Spring Hill College. He began his real estate career with the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (BOMA) and is currently affiliated with Colorado’s NAIOP and the Downtown Denver Partnership. Michael Crane specializes in landlord lease representation for property owners primarily located in Denver’s two largest submarkets; the Central Business District and the Southeast Suburban. Michael is an integral part of JLL’s Denver agency leasing team which currently lists over 15 million square feet with an average occupancy of 90%.

Pete Schippits is the Senior Managing Director and Market Leader for the Colorado region. In this role, he oversees all CBRE service lines spanning five offices in Colorado and approximately 600 employees. He is also a member of CBRE’s Americas Operations Management Board. Through strategic leadership, Pete works to advance the brand and reinforce how CBRE builds real advantage for its clients. A well-regarded leader in Colorado commercial real estate, Pete brought more than 11 years of experience as one of the state’s most successful office leasing experts. Prior to joining CBRE, Pete was a Managing Director of Investor Services at JLL where he focused on growing that firm’s Agency Leasing, Property Management, Industrial and Capital Markets businesses. His accomplishments include leasing assets comprising more than 11 million square feet for more than 20 different institutional owners, including Republic Plaza, the central business district’s most iconic office tower and the tallest building in the Rocky Mountain region.