How did you start in the real estate industry?
​I was raised around the real estate industry in Austin. I was lucky enough to intern at Endeavor Real Estate Group while in College at UT. Following school, I took at job at Endeavor doing retail leasing. 

What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a professional?
I would say some of the greatest challenges in my career currently center around owning and growing our business. I never appreciated or understood how challenging hiring a strong team and fostering growth and improvement inside a team was. 
Who is your mentor?
I have been fortunate enough to be mentored by many industry professionals in my career. I would consider my father, Steve Drenner to be one for sure! I was also very lucky to work for Brian Lent early in my career at Endeavor. Brian is still someone I fortunate to call a friend and mentor. He has been a consistent presence in my career.

What is the best professional development advice you've received?
During a time of transition in my career Steve Leblanc gave me great advise. He challenged me to vision where I wanted to be in 20 years personally, not necessarily what I wanted to be doing in real estate. This helped me filter out what was important to me. 

What other organizations or community interests are important to you?
My wife and I are deacons at The Austin Stone Community Church. I also enjoy coaching my sons in sports. We love to support some organizations that do great things in our community like Austin Achieve Public Schools and KLRU.

How has RECA impacted you as a professional?
RECA has been a consistent presence in my career and my involvement has been beneficial. Coming out of LDC in 2009, I had direction in how I could impact the community. It was clear how necessary RECA is to the interests  of our industry and how important it is to the community.  

As this year's RECA Board Chair, what are your goals for RECA and for ATX?
My goal is to continue to serve the organization in anyway that I can. My hope is that RECA can be a helpful, common sense voice that not only serves the interests of our constituents but all Austinites. In a year with so much change occurring with our council and at a State level, I am very optimistic about our ability to effective in that effort.​

How did you get started in the real estate industry?
I'm not involved in the buying and selling of real estate directly. My involvement is connecting the right parties to determine if the property can be developed and if so, at what cost. Once feasibility is established, we jump into making the vision a reality by utilizing advanced technology to meet deadlines, maintain budgets and deliver the highest quality construction.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a professional?
Consistently managing my time so the majority is spent focusing on my top 2 responsibilities.

Who is your mentor?
Tony Ryan, personally and professionally offers me advice and guidance based on reflection from his experiences.

What's the best professional development advice you've received lately?
It's never to early to make the call.

Where's your favorite spot to have a business meeting?
My office, so everyone is focused on the task at hand and I've got the resources I need to close the deal.

Name 3 artists in your phone?
George Strait, Wade Bowen William, Clark Green

What's your biggest guilty pleasure?
Baked Goods and Candy - My friends call me the "Candy Man"

What other organizations or community interests are important to you?
Professionally I'm a member of ABC Central Texas, NAIOP and ULI. Personally I'm a board member of my neighborhood association and Habitat for Humanity
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What's your favorite thing about RECA?
Networking and industry involvement

How did you get started in the real estate industry?
I received a degree in Construction Science from Texas A&M and started working after graduation for a general contractor. I then moved into the development side of retail construction where, for a decade, I acquired sweeping knowledge of the development process. From there, I settled back into the general construction side of development at Arch-Con® Corporation leading the Retail Division and now Central Texas’ operations for the company.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a professional?
Flawless forecasting is the name of the game in general construction. This means anticipating obstacles to ensure we finish every project on time and budget. This is a constant, inherent challenge. Flawless forecasting is also important when keeping a healthy pipeline of projects for our team of employees.

Who is your mentor?
There have been a number of mentors throughout my career, but no single greater influence than my father on how I do business.

What's the best professional development advice you've received lately?
Don’t get defensive. Listen to your client.  Make sure you hear their concerns and respond thoughtfully rather than react for self-preservation. It is simply unproductive. 

Where's your favorite spot to have a business meeting?
In a social setting, such as a restaurant.

Name 3 artists in your phone?
I have to go with Van Halen, Iron Maiden and The Cult.  I am an old school rock and roll guy. I play bass guitar and am active in several tribute bands and I have several hundreds of artists on my phone. Can you tell this is my favorite question?

What's your biggest guilty pleasure?
Chocolate, for sure.

What other organizations or community interests are important to you?
I have enjoyed my involvement in CREW, ICSC and volunteering at my church.
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What's your favorite thing about RECA?
​The social gathering of like-minded professionals to assist in the common good of real estate and development.