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Business in Vancouver, Top 40 Under 40 -- December 30, 2008-January 5, 2009; issue 1001
Rene David
Principal, Westmana Development Corp., Age: 39
Rene David has a golden eye for sustainable development. His Vancouver-based company, Westmana Development Corp., is the largest land developer in Squamish and is responsible for Ocean’s Gateway, a master-planned community on the Squamish waterfront.
David is a member of the Urban Development Institute, a non-profit association that focuses on building sustainable communities.
The highlight of his career so far has been his ability to build well-planned commercial and residential spaces with a focus on function and environmental responsibility.
“It’s exactly what I guess I’ve had a passion to do from the beginning,” said David.
His projects include the 110,000-square-foot Vancity Savings Credit Union tower in Vancouver, and housing projects include Stride Place in Burnaby and Dunbar Highstreet, also in Vancouver.
After university, he landed a job with Vancity Enterprises Ltd., the real estate subsidiary of Vancity Savings, where he held a variety of positions including development manager, financial manager and eventually VP of acquisitions and development.
“That company turned me from a full capitalist into one that actually considered other contributions,” he said.
In 1996, David founded Westmana while still working at Vancity, and a year later he completed UBC’s urban land program.
In Squamish, David played a central role in the creation of the Peninsula Landowners Collaborative (PLC) that brought the District of Squamish together with its major waterfront landowners to design Ocean’s Gateway.
Now Westmana employs 18 people with an additional operational staff of 25, and administers approximately $150 million worth of land.
In addition to Ocean’s Gateway, his company has several other housing projects on the go, and he plans to develop another 2,100 housing units, but David still isn’t convinced he’s successful.
“Success is always relative. I don’t think I’ve actually achieved it in my mind yet. Some people think I have and I guess I’m trying to get there myself still.” •
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Birthplace: San Fernando, Philippines
Where do you live now: Vancouver
Highest level of education: BComm, finance and real estate
Car or chosen mode of transport: BMW X5, unless I am on the jobsite
Currently reading: The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris
Last CD bought or music downloaded: Get Together by Madonna
Favourite movie: Gladiator
Favourite local restaurant: Cioppino’s in Yaletown
Profession you would most like to try: Run a utility company or design a sustainable golf course
Mentor: Peter Gordon, Dale McClanaghan
Toughest business or professional decision: Going on our own in 1997
What’s left to do: I hope to take Westmana in the global realm
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