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Martin D. Howard's Bio
A Southern California native and life-long cyclist who competed in the 1988 Olympic Trials, Martin Howard projects the type of self-assurance that is common in those who have proven themselves time and time again.
In 1972, Martin's father, Michael Howard, started a small construction business out of his garage after teaching himself the trade and obtaining his contractor's license. Martin grew up working “in the trades” surrounded by the business he learned by being hands-on while working side by side with his father on the weekends and after school.
Following his graduation from Whittier College, Martin competed in the United States and Europe as a member of the US National Cycling Team. In 1988, he returned to his roots, continuing with the family business and working in the field seven days a week.
Now, with close to 40 years of experience in the industry, Martin has grown the small, family business his father began into a successful, multimillion-dollar company with over 45 full-time employees. Over the years, he has been involved in many successfully completed commercial, industrial, hospitality, medical and mixed-use developments. The company's more prominent achievements in construction include the Laemmle Theatres, Orange County School of the Arts, Otium Restaurant and SteelCraft. In the realm of development management, notable projects consist of The Pike at Rainbow Harbor, City Place in Long Beach and The District in Tustin.
Martin is still very much involved in cycling and in the Long Beach community, where he, his wife Cynthia and their three children make their home. He is a founder and active member of BIKEable Communities, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to champion bicycling as a viable, safe form of transportation in order to create better places to live, work and ride. He has also played a major role in the revitalization of a mile-long commercial corridor along Long Beach Boulevard in Bixby Knolls.
Martin still rides six to seven days a week, clocking in 8,000-10,000 miles a year on his bike. In addition to cycling, he enjoys golfing, skiing, spending time with Cynthia and keeping up with their three children.
Steve C. Phillips's Bio
Steven Phillips got his start in the construction industry in 1986, when he went to work for Transpacific Development Company, completing numerous low-, mid- and high-rise office buildings throughout California. After his tenure at TDC, he held Project Director positions at Janss Corporation and Westfield before joining Howard CDM in 1996.
Steve heads Howard CDM’s development services department, providing entitlement, financing and development and construction consultation on various projects. His diverse experience includes the construction of:
High- and mid-rise office buildings
Mixed-use residential/retail projects
Regional and neighborhood shopping centers
Restaurants
Industrial buildings
Parking structures
Mega-plex theatres
Hotels
Many of these projects involved public/private partnerships in their development. In addition, Steve has also coordinated and built over 5 million SF of tenant improvement space.
The development services team is currently performing development management services for Arclight Theatres, a continuous client since 1999, nationwide. They are also working with Seritage Realty Trust to convert several Sears stores into multi-tenant retail stores. In addition to the Sears store reconfigurations, they are investigating the conversion of multiple Sears Auto Centers into multi-tenant retail buildings.
EDUCATION AND LICENSES
University of California Irvine, Certificate – Commercial & Industrial Development Management
California State University Long Beach, BS – Business Administration option in Real Estate Finance
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Member, International Council of Shopping Centers
William Burkett's Bio
With HCDM since?
1997
Professional or charitable participation?
Executive Board Member + Treasurer of BKBIA – 2006-2012
Former Executive Board Member of The Guidance Center
Treasurer of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church
Best HCDM memory?
Karate Battle Royale between Doug Haley and Gabe Shyu OR Toasting the acquisition of our first piece of commercial real estate (3777 LBB) on the roof of the building in 2002 OR a scrappy and spry Bill Robbins turning over rafts and dunking employees at the Howard CDM American River Rafting Trip.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten?
Two Dodger Dogs, a bag of peanuts, and a beer at Opening Day Dodger Stadium.
Greatest album of all time?
The Wall by Pink Floyd
Read any good books lately?
Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President by Candice Miller
William G. Burkett's Bio
William Burkett has over 25 years of experience in accounting and finance in the real estate and construction industries. He manages Howard CDM’s accounting, human resources, asset management, property management and information technology departments. Before he began with Howard CDM, he held positions as staff accountant and controller with other organizations in construction and property management.
Since joining Howard CDM over 20 years ago, William has helped grow the organization’s financial maturity by upgrading and implementing more sophisticated accounting software, by reforming and evolving policy and procedure and by initiating an annual CPA review of the company’s financials.
William views the role of the accounting/finance department at Howard CDM as needing to exercise cautious and conservative policies as a steward not only of Howard CDM’s capital, but also that of our clients. This is why his department adheres focus to getting timely payments from clients and turning them around quickly to subcontractors, while strictly enforcing insurance, licensing and lien law compliance with each of them.
EDUCATION AND LICENSES
University of California, Los Angeles – Economics
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Board Member and Treasurer, Bixby Knolls Business Improvement
Association Member and Candidate, Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) Alumni, Leadership Long Beach, Class of 2007
Treasurer, Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church
Estimating, Purchasing & Preconstruction
Gerry Parker's Bio
With HCDM since?
April 2017
Professional or charitable participation?
U.S. Green Building Council
SWIM Long Beach Masters Swim Team
Seal Beach Sea Monkeys
Best HCDM memory?
Chicken Taco Wednesdays!
Describe your perfect day.
Waking without an alarm to a beautiful sunrise and spending the day outdoors enjoying nature, then watching the sunset at the ocean.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten?
Hometown Buffet with my St. John Bosco H.S. wrestling team after a very long season of cutting weight.
Greatest album of all time?
The Velvet Underground’s 1967 Album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, produced by Andy Warhol.
Greatest personal achievement?
Purchasing my first home here in Long Beach.
Raymond Ramos's Bio
With HCDM since?
August 2017
Professional or charitable participation?
Children's Ministry - Calvary Chapel El Monte (Teaching 4th – 6th graders with my wife)
Missionary - Greater Hope Orphanage - Takeo, Cambodia (assisted with the design and layout of a new school)
Missionary/Sponsor - Water of Life Orphanage - Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Best HCDM memory?
Meeting the HCDM team.
Describe your perfect day.
Road trip anywhere enjoying the scenic route.
What is the best meal you've ever eaten?
Lobster in Puerto Nuevo, Mexico.
Greatest album of all time?
U2 – Joshua Tree
Depeche Mode – Violator
Jose Alfredo Jimenez – "El Rey"
Read any good books lately?
The Bible ?
What advice would you give your childhood self?
Invest in Microsoft and Google stock.
Greatest personal achievement?
Marrying my beautiful wife Mary and having our beautiful baby Russell.
Operations
Desirae Ramirez's Bio
With HCDM since?
July 2018
Best HCDM memory?
Friday office lunches because taking the time to share a meal is often taken for granted.
What is the best meal you’ve ever eaten?
Christmas Breakfast, fresh homemade tamales and menudo.
Greatest album of all time?
Sublime
What advice would you give your childhood self?
Don’t be in such a hurry. Just stop and enjoy the now.
Isaac Yi's Bio
With HCDM since?
September 2017
Professional or charitable participation?
Church choir at Grace Ministries International
Best HCDM memory?
Watching coworkers walking down the corridor in their Halloween costumes.
Describe your perfect day.
My perfect day would be to stay home all day, with my wife, while my children are at their grandmother’s house. So my wife and I can watch movies, read books, and enjoy our favorite foods and drinks. Normally, I can only do these things with my kids either hanging on my arms or sitting on my shoulder.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten?
Meals prepared by my wife on any given night.
Greatest album of all time?
2Pac – All Eyez on Me
Read any good books lately?
Bible, LEED V4 BD + C Reference and study guides
What advice would you give your childhood self?
“Time flies.”
James McFarlane 's Bio
With HCDM since?
January 2018
Professional or charitable participation?
USGBC LEED Green Associate
CMAA (Construction Manager’s Association
LAHQ (LA Headquarters Association)
SCDF (So Cal Development Forum)
Phantom Theatre Project
Best HCDM memory?
Burning the midnight oil on a proposal deadline while breaking down and qualifying sub proposals with a motivated team, pizza and a beer…The Christmas party, just watching the entire team enjoying each other…Hanging in the first row at The Rams game was kind of cool too.
Greatest album of all time?
Depending on my mood – Hotel California by The Eagles, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John, Paris by Supertramp, Moving Pictures by Rush, anything by YES or Genesis, but lately…Twenty-One Pilots
Read any good books lately?
Reading for the 3rd time – “Hinds Feet on High Places” by Hannah Hurnard, THE HERO’S JOURNEY by Joseph Campbell, and a biography on Robin Williams.
What advice would you give your childhood self?
Drink more water, slow down and enjoy the moments, see more plays, write more often and make time for yourself and for others when you can.
Kent Wells's Bio
With HCDM since?
June 2012
Professional or charitable participation?
In the construction industry for 30+ years
Best HCDM memory?
The day I was hired to be a part of the Howard CDM team.
Describe your perfect day?
At my house in the desert riding my dirt bike.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten?
Charthouse at the break wall in Redondo Beach.
Greatest album of all time?
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
Kevin Zhu 's Bio
With HCDM since?
July 2018
Professional or charitable participation?
Beach City Sports Flag Football League
Best HCDM memory?
The day I was introduced to the exciting projects I get to manage!
Describe your perfect day.
Wake up in the catamaran and have the lobster meal ready with my beer.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten?
The very first meal I enjoy with my childhood friends whenever I travel to hometown.
What advice would you give your childhood self?
Be smarter, and don’t do anything stupid!
Max Dang's Bio
With HCDM since?
August 2017
Best HCDM memory?
My most memorable HCDM memory was the annual Howard CDM Christmas Party. A lot of fun was had by all and I doubt I will ever appreciate a breakfast burrito that much in my life again.
Describe your perfect day.
A perfect day for me means being at the beach. I could spend all day drinking, laughing, and partying down by the sand with my friends and loved ones, before ending the day camped out by the bonfire, watching the sunset.
What advice would you give your childhood self?
I would tell myself to cherish the moment more often and live in the present.
Greatest personal achievement?
My greatest personal achievement so far is becoming the first person in my family to graduate from a university, while working almost full time at the worst fast food restaurant of all time. Working a 7-hour shift every day, and then heading off to school, smelling like French fries all day long, was definitely an experience to remember.
Parker Cole's Bio
With HCDM since?
December 2013
Best HCDM memory?
Working on Vespertine helping bring such an ambitious vision to life. Winning the Grand Prize for the LA Architectural Awards of Excellence (and eating there) was the cherry on top.
Describe your perfect day.
I would wake up in Mammoth and go skiing until noon, then take a private helicopter over to Pebble Beach to play 18 holes before the sun sets.
Greatest album of all time?
Without question, Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
Read any good books lately?
David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell. It challenges the way we see obstacles and provides examples on how being an apparent underdog can actually be advantageous.
Tyler Turpin's Bio
With HCDM since?
September 2017
Professional or charitable participation?
Long Beach Red Shoe Society
Best HCDM memory?
Eating fried chicken with Pat.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten?
My wife’s stuffed chicken and homemade fettuccine Alfredo.
Greatest album of all time?
Everything by Garth Brooks
Business Development, Marketing & Sales
Jennifer Le's Bio
With HCDM since?
December 2015
Professional or charitable participation?
Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher
Public Relations Society of America Member
Certified Cheerleading Coach
Best HCDM memory?
Laughing until I cried at the outrageous White Elephant gifts given at our 2015 holiday party.
Describe your perfect day.
Take a heated yoga class first thing in the morning, spend the rest of the day at the dog beach with my pups, and stick a handstand for more than 30 seconds.
What's the best meal you've ever eaten?
Freshly caught sun-dried octopus and whole grilled sea bream overlooking Ammoudi Bay in Oia, Santorini.
Greatest personal achievement?
Spent a summer in Melbourne, Australia teaching and facilitating a yoga teacher training program.
Finance & Accounting
Shanni Zamora's Bio
With HCDM since?
July 2017
Professional or charitable participation?
CSULB Alumni Association
Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA)
Best HCDM memory?
My favorite HCDM memory has to be the 2017 Christmas white elephant exchange. I like to pride myself in being a pretty good gift giver and this was my first white elephant. Working within our budget, I spent an hour each day cross stitching a cool shark with the phrase “live every week like it’s shark week” – technically it only cost me about $1.50 + some man hours. My gift was chosen early in the game and immediately started getting pushed on people to steal it. Ouch. The game continued and I settled on the reality that my gift “sucked” to the person that chose it. You know who you are. Then, SOMEONE STOLE my gift. Not just anyone. Martin Howard stole my gift! The sense of pride and delight that someone would appreciate it was fantastic! So there you have it, my favorite memory… so far, with countless more memories to come.
Greatest personal achievement?
My greatest personal achievement was graduating from CSULB while holding down two jobs, as an accounting intern and as a server at a restaurant. As I used to say, “Accountant by day, server by night, and full-time student in between.”
Read any good books lately?
Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
But all time would be Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
What is the best meal you’ve ever eaten?
Stacked enchiladas New Mexican style!
Shannon Rowan's Bio
With HCDM since?
April 2018
Professional or charitable participation?
Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society
Best HCDM memory?
I have so many! Every day is blast and I’ve been fortunate enough to go on some awesome outings. It’s a toss-up between the hike up Mt. Wilson and cooking the most amazing spaghetti dinner with the girls at the annual HCDM Girls’ Trip!
Describe your perfect day.
My perfect day would start by waking up in a tent tucked away in the Redwoods. I would spend the day hiking and exploring and taking pictures before packing up by sunset. I would end the day by driving home down PCH in my old Jeep with the top down.
Greatest album of all time?
Creedence Clearwater Survival – Keep on Chooglin’
What advice would you give your childhood self?
Join the Peace Corp
Greatest personal achievement?
I once backpacked through the high Sierras during the Winter. It challenged me physically and mentally. It was humbling and incredibly rewarding. I would do it again in an instant.
Other
Nancy Infante's Bio
With HCDM since?
August 2018
Professional or charitable participation?
Society for Human Resources Management
Best HCDM memory?
Specifically speaking my first day meeting the entire team was pretty great, I got to know a little on everyone’s history with the company their positions and the history of Howard CDM. Everyone in the office is friendly and welcoming. That’s when I knew I was going to enjoy being a part of the Howard CDM team.
Describe your perfect day.
Morning yoga followed by a tasty French toast breakfast. The afternoon would consist of a beach day in Laguna Beach or San Clemente State Beach with lots and lots of snacks. Then having shrimp scampi for dinner and tiramisu for dessert. Food and relaxation is an important part of making days perfect!
Read any good books lately?
Brene Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfections
Greatest personal achievement?
Venturing out on my own to Costa Rica for a yoga retreat; most recently mastering a supported headstand (Salamba Sirsasana).
