Leadership and innovation is what the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) looks for when giving the 20 Under 40 award to potential industry leaders. In 2016, Omar Martinez, Project Manager for Lewis Retail Centers, was awarded the prestigious 20 Under 40 Award for his excellent work and leadership in the industry.
“The award is given to people who display leadership skills, industrial innovation, problem-solving creativity and are potentially the future leaders of the industry.” – Omar Martinez.
A Pathway to Lewis
While working on earning a Master’s Degree in Construction Management at Catholic University of America in Washington D.C., Omar interned at Matt Constructions:
“When I interned for Matt Construction, I worked on the coolest project: a basketball gym and football field expansion at my old High School in Boyle Heights. The project was special because the High School had played all of its football games offsite until we built the stadium”
From constructing student houses at Whiting-Turner to working on custom high-end homes for Serra Stone in Washington D.C., Omar continued to gain valuable experience that would help him later in the retail industry. While working at Lyle Parks, Omar worked on many retail projects including Redlands Village which introduced him to Lewis Retail Centers.
Now, as a Project Manager for Lewis Retail Centers, Omar has the opportunity to apply his expertise and work collaboratively with Lewis team members:
“As a project manager, I am responsible for reviewing the site plans. I was fortunate enough to work on Lewis projects in general contracting so I know the Lewis product and what to expect. I like to think creatively with projects in general contracting and working to motivate crew members when they are given tight schedules.”
Lewis Retail Projects in the Works
2017 holds many new opportunities. This year Omar will assist in the opening of three projects he is currently working on:
Day Creek Marketplace, a 97,600 SF shopping center in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, will contain a variety of stores opening in 2017. Omar is responsible for site improvements and construction coordination with Stater Bros. and CVS. Click here to learn more about Day Creek Marketplace.
Also opening in 2017, High Desert Gateway West, located in Hesperia, CA, contains 152,700 SF of retail space. The shopping center will serve the existing trade area and future growth. Omar will also be responsible for site improvements for the marketplace. Click here to learn more about High Desert Gateway West.
Renaissance Marketplace in Rialto, CA, spans 505,400 SF, and will have various restaurants and stores in 2017. Omar is assisting with site improvements and working with major retailers such as Burlington Coat Factory. Click here to learn more about Renaissance Marketplace.
Read More
Interested in learning more about different careers at the Lewis Group of Companies? Marquel Pettway, a Leasing Consultant, can give you his story on working for Lewis Apartment Communities. Click here to learn more.