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Albers School of Business and Economics

Pigott Building, (206)296-5700

 

About Albers

Albers Mentor Program
Participating Mentors 2007-2008

Mr. Don Becka

VP; Regional Transaction Director, CW Transactions and Investments
Bank of America

Industry:  Corporate Real Estate and Financial Services

Description of Company:

"A message from Bank of America's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer":

Throughout our company's history, we have shared a common purpose - to help all the people we work with realize their dreams.

In fulfilling this purpose, a constant theme in our work is "opportunity." We create opportunities for customers to buy a home; to attend college; to retire with security. We create opportunities for businesses to grow. We create opportunities to build stronger communities in which to live and work.

In 2003 we introduced "Higher Standards" as a way of telling people something very important about our company. We made it clear that we hold ourselves to higher standards of service, performance and integrity in all we do, every day. That commitment will never change.

Having built such a strong foundation for our brand, it's now time for our brand communications to move beyond the phrase "higher standards," which tells people how we do our work, to "creating opportunity," which tells people about the work we do, and the value we can create working with them.

Like our commitment to higher standards - which will continue - we have built our company by recognizing, creating and seizing opportunities for those we serve every day.

Now, we're building our brand on opportunity as well. Today, we begin telling our customers what we have always known about ourselves: Bank of America is the "bank of opportunity."

Kenneth D. Lewis
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Areas of Responsibility - Job Description: 

Responsible for researching property leasing issues, negotiating business terms and coordinating the flow of information among real estate brokers, attorneys, project managers, division contacts. Interact with senior management on projects; keep internal real estate team members informed including preparing status reports and informational updates in the form of presentations involving terms and objectives of transactions, secure appropriate approvals. Work with Finance to develop financial analysis for leases and dispositions including information and financial modeling such as remaining rent liabilities, different rent scenarios, sale lease-backs etc. Project lead for subleasing excess administrative space, identify and qualify select Broker Partners. Responsible for the acquisition and disposition of real estate facilities throughout Western United States Cities, interface with Facility Partner's Transaction Center of Excellence, oversight of transactions involving the acquisition, leasing and disposal of all facilities. Responsible for Real Estate portfolio encompassing 25 Million square feet with occupancy expenses of $500-750 Million Dollars.

Areas of Expertise - Employment History: 

I currently serve as the Regional Transaction Director for Bank of America's Administrative Real Estate Portfolio covering most major Western US Cities. Total real estate portfolio in this area size exceeds 15 Million Square Feet and provides a platform to assure Bank of America's quality service to each customer and employee. Having also served real estate needs for Washington Mutual Banking and Financial Services, The Consumer Banking Group, I performed duties as analyst, asset and transaction manager responsible for the preservation of an ever expanding 7 million square foot retail, office and administrative space. Over the past twenty years I have been privileged to serve several Fortune 100-500 Companies in corporate administration and retail, commercial, office, and investment real estate. While National Director of Real Estate for Tosco Marketing Company (BP Oil, 76 Products, Circle K Stores), my teams guided and facilitated the acquisition, due diligenc e and closing of over than 1.9 billion dollars in real estate related business assets located in thirty-eight States.

Education - Personal History: 

*Graduate of Lewis University - BA with honors,
*National Commercial Real Estate Institute - Designee and Real Estate Investment Instructor.
*National Association of Corporate Real Estate Executives - Program and Class participation and instruction (currently CoreNet Global).
*TQM through the Juran Institute for Performance Management.
*Corporate leadership programs by Senn-Delaney Leadership Challenges and John A. Warden's Prometheus Strategies, Inc.

Any special topic or expertise you'd like to concentrate on this year?:

Whether career, hobby, or investment vehicle for wealth accumulation, every professional should maintain a basic understanding of principles inherent in real estate investment analysis and just how this asset class is valued. I would like to share that basic understanding with interested students.

Civic Organization Memberships or Professional Affiliations: 

* Member, National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Current)
* Education Committee, Commercial Real Estate Institute (Current)
* Member, International Council of Shopping Centers (Current)
* CCIM Designee, Certified Commercial Investment Institute (Current)
* Vice President of Membership, CoreNet Global Northwest Board (2001-2004)
* Speaker/Presenter, Seattle Retail Forums (1999-2005)
* Chairperson, NACORE Oil & Gas Committee (1997)
* Ethics Board Member, National Association of Realtors (1997)
* Speaker/Presenter, NACORE Conference (1997)
* President, NACORE Northwest (1993-1994)
* Vice President, NACORE Northwest Chapter (1992-1993)

When and where do you hold meetings with students? 

Morning or late-day is best ; Monday through Thursday at Seattle University or Downtown Seattle

Any special requirements for students for the first meeting? 

1. - Bring their very-best ideas.
2. - Current list of professional goals, targets and projected time-lines.
3. - Three results anticipated from the mentoring interaction.
4. - A one year career profile (goal).

Mentor since Fall 2005
Will mentor either graduate or undergraduate students



The Albers School is AACSB accredited

 

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