There's still room for growth in greater Phoenix, Douglas Wilson Cos COO Nicholas Wilson tells us, but it helps to have a local presence. SoCal-based Douglas Wilson is opening an office here to coincide with its One Hundred Mill development, which will break ground soon.

"We believe in certain micro markets within the Valley and know there's room to add the kind of developments we produce," Nich says. "We're going to focus on office, hospitality and residential product in these pocket areas." Nich's snapped with wife Tiffany in Rome during their six-week honeymoon last summer. (Greece, Turkey, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Morocco—a once-in-a-lifetime trip, he calls it.)

The $190M mixed-use One Hundred Mill in Downtown Tempe will include 260k SF of office space, a 237-room Kimpton Hotel, 20k SF of retail, and the preserved historic Hayden House. The development's two new buildings, divided by a large public open space, will be on 2.5 acres at the corner of Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway. With this kind of gateway project, Nich says, the company is committed to Phoenix for the years ahead.