Derrick Evers is one of three leaders behind Kaizen Development Partners who led suburban office development with the One Bethany office park in Allen and District 121 in McKinney. But his latest project, The Link at Uptown, is the company’s crown jewel. Kaizen was in the middle of constructing the 25-story office tower at the intersection of Victory Park and Uptown when the pandemic hit. Instead of halting work, Kaizen pressed on with the project. The risky move paid off, as the speculative project was nearly fully leased upon opening. Next up is Field Street District, a massive mixed-use project in an emerging downtown market. As a result, Evers was named Developer of the Year in D CEO‘s Commercial Real Estate Awards.
In Evers extended 2022 Dallas 500 Q&A, he talks about the advice that has fueled his career, his key hiring strategy, and more.
Education: Harvard Business School (OPM), Texas A&M University (BArch-Construction Science)
Birthplace: Madison, Wisconsin
Best Advice: “‘Humility is not denying the truth, but it’s acknowledging the source!’ We didn’t get here alone, so always honor those that helped you along the way!”
Destination of Choice: “Italy…the culture, the food, the architecture: they do a lot of things right.”
Dream Car: “Probably a Jeep; it is laid back, unassuming, and fun. Good vibes!”
Proud Moment: “We are blessed to be in development and the gestation cycle of what we do tends to be longer, so even with the pandemic, our business has continued to grow. We don’t take that for granted, rather we are extremely grateful.”
Drink of Choice: “Tito’s and Tonic socially—otherwise, good ol’ H2O is great for me.”
Future Forecast: “Through crisis comes opportunity. With all that has happened in the world and our communities, I am excited about the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that is growing.”
Favorite Sports Team: “Since my hometown Detroit Lions are a constant sore spot, the Dallas Cowboys have become a must watch ritual.”
Walk-up Song: “‘Music’ by Erick Sermon (feat. Marvin Gaye). It’s pretty chill with an old school vibe. Now my wife picking her theme song would be a better question … she gets a little hype!”
Hobby/Passion: “If we are not doing something family related, I love playing golf. (More like attempting to play golf.)”
Local Fare: “Tei-An is one of my favorites for sure. The sushi is amazing and the seaweed salad is insanely good!”
Key Hiring Strategy: “We hire for talent and train for skill. That being said, we will always choose character and those that are impeccably trustworthy over ‘chasing stars.'”
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