In 2018, I had the privilege of taking over the retail division, stepping into the role of vice president halfway through the year. I’m excited by all we accomplished, working with leading brands to evolve with the retail landscape and build their best brick-and-mortar locations yet. We continued our relationships with repeat partners like Bottega Veneta, Chanel, and Apple, and new clients including Watches of Switzerland, COVERGIRL, and Tamara Mellon. I look forward to leading the division in 2019, welcoming the opportunities that will accompany the continuing shift in retail—leveraging technology and data, repositioning malls and shopping centers, and embracing smaller-format locations.

Our retail division wouldn’t continue to grow and succeed without the talented builders on our team. We were thrilled to be named a Best Workplace by FORTUNE Magazine for the third year in a row, which wouldn’t be possible if our people didn’t bring their best to work every day. I’m proud to be leading a group that is passionate about everything they do, including giving back—whether riding on Team Shawmut in the Pan-Mass Challenge, putting their skills to work for Rebuilding Together, or mentoring students through PAVE, ACE Mentor, and Posse Foundation.

As I look ahead to 2019, I’m motivated by our projects, including the Times Square Theatre redevelopment, Puma’s flagship on Fifth Avenue, Forty Five Ten at Hudson Yards, Baccarat in Miami’s Design District, and a mixed-use development in Venice, CA. We will continue to explore ways to grow and improve retail, challenging ourselves to find the best way to execute our projects and be the best partner to our clients.

By: David Margolius, Vice President of Retail