15 Things You Need to Know This Morning

Title: President/CEO, Shooshan Company.
Company: 8 employees (including two adult Shooshan children – Kelly and Kevin), focused exclusively on R-B corridor – 400k SF under construction; another 425k SF starting this year; 600k SF in pipeline.
Job: Evolved from overseeing development to chief investment officer role, focused on deal cultivation and investor and community relations. 
Most memorable project: Liberty Center – 8 buildings, 2.2M SF in heart of Ballston. Helped transform area. 
Current projects: Replacing Blue Goose (Marymount Ballston building) with 9-story, Gensler-designed, academic/office and 15-story, 260-unit residential. Demo starts next month. Also, 4040 Wilson Blvd., under construction, below-grade parking structure to deliver in April.
Why CRE career: Started teaching and coaching (mom was a teacher too) with intention of getting into business. Interviewed with two people: Oliver Carr, who offered first job, and Jim Clark, who backed Shooshan Co’s first project in 1986. 
Grew up: Bethesda.
Current home: Potomac.
Favorite childhood memory: Redskins games at RFK with dad and son.
School: University of Delaware.
First job: Teacher and coach at Landon.
Job in another life: A senator.
Daily habit: Start day with Catholic mass and end with exercise at gym.
Favorite app: Photo (to show off grandchildren pics).
Favorite movie: Father of the Bride (with Steve Martin).
Favorite restaurant: Cafe Deluxe. (Fav will soon be Kapnos Taverna at Liberty Center.)
Favorite band and song: Van Morrison – Have I Told You Lately.
Favorite vacation spot: Bethany Beach – family home there for 20 years.
Guilty pleasure: Chocolate chip cookies.
Bucket list: Travel US and abroad with wife and family.
Family: Married 41 years; two adult children; and two grandchildren (9 months and 2).
Startling fact: Thought about being a priest.