The Lippo Group Hides in Here: PDG [Their latest interest is in Penticton BC Canada with Channel Crossing]

PDG Management Team

Lawrence Rank 
Founding Partner & Chairman

A recognized expert in the field of shopping centers, Larry has served as a principal/senior executive at several notable development companies in North America and Asia. He has been responsible for completing the planning, development and redevelopment of over 60 shopping centers and regional malls (over 31 million sq. ft.) during his over 35 years in the real estate industry.

Prior to forming Property Development Group and PDG Investments, Larry was recruited by Lippo Bank to start up a major shopping mall development group headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia. As the business grew, he relocated to Hong Kong with Lippo Bank to develop a landmark retail mall/mixed-use project in the heart of Beijing, China. Following the completion of his work with Lippo Bank he founded a successful shopping centre consulting firm with offices in Hong Kong and Singapore. Larry then merged his consulting firm with Koll Asia Pacific and relocated to Newport Beach, California to run CB Richard Ellis’ international retail development services group after its acquisition of Koll. Among other development activities, Larry negotiated a joint venture with a major Taiwanese conglomerate to develop mega retail projects throughout Taiwan.

His North American experience included senior positions with Pan Pacific Development Corporation (partner/director based in Vancouver BC) where he was responsible for managing the company’s shopping centre development, leasing and property operations teams throughout Western Canada and the Western United States.

At Cambridge Shopping Centres Limited (VP Development based in Toronto ON) Larry was responsible for creating and implementing a program to expand the company’s portfolio of shopping centres and mixed-use retail projects from 17 properties to 42 properties over a nine year period. Prior to Cambridge Shopping Centres Larry was a senior development officer at Cadillac Fairview Corporation based in Toronto, Ontario.

Mr. Rank has been an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers since 1974.

Keith N. McRae
Partner & Director of Acquisitions & Development

Keith has established an impressive track record in Canada’s REIT industry, primarily by creating and growing Calloway Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: CWT.UN) into a major public REIT and through identifying and acquiring a diversified portfolio of assets, with an emphasis on shopping centres.

Prior to joining Property Development Group, Keith was Vice President Acquisitions/ Operations for Calloway Real Estate Investment Trust, one of Canada’s premier public real estate firms. Keith’s efforts were instrumental in the growth of Calloway from $8 Million Dollars in assets to over $3 billion in assets. Keith was directly involved in the acquisition and financing of over 100 shopping centres with a total value in excess of $2.5 billion. Keith was also responsible for the asset management of Calloway’s entire portfolio, including the development of over 500,000 square feet of retail space.

Keith holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business (University of Western Ontario) and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta.

David Coon
Partner & Director of Leasing & Property Operations

David has extensive experience in the management, leasing and re-merchandising of shopping centre and mixed-use commercial properties. David formed the Warrington Property Group in 1992, based in Vancouver, BC, and built the company into one of the largest privately owned shopping centre, office, industrial and residential property management and leasing firms in British Columbia. David merged Warrington Property Group with PCI in 2005 to form Warrington/PCI Management.

Prior to establishing the Warrington Property Group, David spent 10 years with Campeau Corporation in Toronto as Director of Shopping Centres Operations and as Director of Leasing and 4 years with Pan Pacific Development Corporation in Vancouver as Director of Leasing. David has been involved in all facets of the real estate industry, including development and re-development, financing, leasing, operations, marketing and property sales/acquisitions.

Ken Grassi
Partner & Director of Construction & Development

Ken has extensive experience in the construction and development of major shopping centres, commercial buildings and high profile public facilities. Ken’s construction experience with PCL Constructors Western Inc., Penreal and Pan Pacific Development includes the Pan Pacific Hotel (Vancouver), Eaton Centre Metrotown, Grosvernor Office Building, Strawberry Hill (77 acre commercial/ residential site), Prairie Mall Shopping Centre in Grand Prairie, Alberta (for Lawrence Rank with David Coon) and City Square (for Lawrence Rank), amongst other major development projects.

Previously Ken managed the development and design for the $833 million, 1.1 million sq.ft. Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project (including 100,000 sq.ft. of prime retail space). In addition to his Canadian and U.S. Pacific Northwest development and construction experience. Ken was responsible for managing the design and construction of Chai Tai Riverfest, a 2,637,000 sq.ft. retail/entertainment development in the burgeoning Pudong area in Shanghai, China.

Diane Pugh, RI
Vice President Leasing

Diane has a wealth of experience in retail leasing, lease administration and property management.  Prior to joining PDG in 2012, Diane was an Associate at Northwest Atlantic, Canada’s preeminent tenant mandated retail real estate consulting firm.  After initiating the Director of Lease Administration role, Diane transitioned to the Tenant Representative side of the business providing market and demographic analysis and strategic expansion planning to national retailers including Dairy Queen and Regis Salons.

Diane previously worked with Keg Restaurants as Director of Real Estate for Canada and the US, as well as with Loblaw (Westfair Properties Ltd.) as Director of Lease Administration.  During her tenure with these companies Diane’s responsibilities included acquisitions, dispositions, negotiating new leases, renewals and surrenders.

Diane is a Professional Member of The Real Estate Institute of BC; a licensed Representative with the Real Estate Council of BC; and a member of the International Council of Shopping Centres.

C. Y. (Cheng-Yan) Tay
Director of Finance & Administration

C.Y. has over twenty years of experience in real estate development within the retail, commercial, hospitality & resort and industrial sectors. Prior to joining PDG in 2010, C.Y. was the executive vice president of Leisura Developments Canada, an affiliate of Intrawest ULC and Manulife Capital.  He also consulted to Intrawest in the portfolio administration of the real estate portfolio of Leisura US, jointly owned by JP Morgan Asset Management, Intrawest, and other institutional investors.

C.Y. served on the Board of Governors of the CGA Association of BC for six years and also chaired its Finance and Audit Committees.  He is currently the external public representative on the Audit Committee of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.  C.Y. graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and is designated as a CGA.

Paul Morris
Tenant Coordinator

Paul’s experience has provided him with a unique perspective on how to navigate the fit out process from beginning to end.  Prior to joining PDG in 2008, Paul worked as Sales and Project Manager for H. H. Hawkins Ltd, a manufacturer and wholesaler of institutional laboratory furniture and fume hoods. Today Paul works closely with numerous shopping centre owners and their contractors.  Paul’s primary role involves coordinating the tenants’ work in the premises with their trades while ensuring the work is completed in a timely manner and in compliance with landlord approved plans and specifications.

Paul is currently enrolled in the Construction Management program at BCIT focusing on safety and environmental issues, construction law, finance, construction controls and techniques and other topics relating to construction management.

Tracy Mack
Leasing and Marketing Coordinator

Tracy has over 12 years of commercial retail real estate experience. Prior to joining PDG in 2008, Tracy was initially hired as Executive Assistant to one of the principals at Northwest Atlantic, a retail real estate consulting firm. Tracy then became an Associate where she assisted with site analysis; drafted offers and letters of intent; coordinated marketing materials for tour packages; maintained the accounting records for the office and ensured the company’s compliance with all regulatory filings; handled travel arrangements as well as lending support to other staff whenever it was required.

Tracy received a diploma in Land Surveying and Mapping from B.C.I.T.  Tracy also successfully completed the Real Estate Trading Services Licensing and the Rental Property Management Licensing Courses.