I asked Mel how he sees the market, from an Calgary/Alberta centric developer’s perspective, over the next 90 days?
… “very good”! Demand for community based food anchored retail remains strong. We are building several right now. Sav-on foods are coming to Calgary. Our business is influenced by interest rates and we are confident they won’t spike.
Over the next 5 years?
Environmentalists are making oil a dirty 3-letter word – but the market here is strong. I’m an optimist.
What qualities distinguish your preferred colleagues, collaborators and suppliers?
… sincerity, they ‘believe it’, truthful, enthusiasm, quality, price, a je ne sais quoi quality
What distinguishes you that causes people to choose Mel and Royop to do business with – why are you selected over your competitors?
… not pretentious. We have great people. Basic things – following up, being sincere, be on time, do what you say ...
What do you lose sleep over, what do you worry about?
… friends with health troubles, things I can’t control and interest rates. I worry about people more than things. Someone said “stress is created by something really important to you that you have no control over”. Second-guessing whether something is going to pop up at the last minute.
Who or what influenced you most – that has made a difference in your life, or that was a major turning point?
... two great ones stand out. Percy Ford at Daon many years ago. Harvey Thal – who taught me "there is nothing worse than a bad partner". He’s a great visionary . . .
Work life balance?
… a little bit of many things – traveling more (went to Viet Nam recently) now that three children are grown, some golf, fishing at Alberta Beach and visiting family, renovating the big house, Rotary.
What are you reading?
… non-fiction mostly. And some recent reads - The Headmaster’s Wager by Vincent Lam, The Lotus Eaters but Tatjana Soli, A Perfect Spy by John le Carré . The Inferno by Dan Brown is next on his list.
His ride?
… 2012 BMW 535 .... a purchase that came with a great story. "I needed a new car. I bought it on-line after using a search service to post everything I wanted, that went out to dealers. First, and best, response was from Valentino Almeida from Brian Jessel BMW in Vancouver; we was aggressive, followed up, had the best price and made the sale".