"I guess I proved my worth," the 18-year veteran tellsGlobeSt.com, "and they feel I'm right to take the office to thenext step and expand the presence of LNR in the Southwest."Kristofek's territory includes Austin, Houston, San Antonio andDenver plus the home base in Dallas, where there are six employees.Oklahoma and New Mexico also are on his exploration map.

Kristofek says he's actively scouring Houston for developmentsites. LNR's forte is to buy land and build, crisscrossing allproduct types as an opportunistic developer. "We look for supplyconstraints and more demand than what is being met," he says.

LNR has started rough grading its 305 acres in North Fort Worthto begin work on the first phase of the Presidio.Kristofek, who holds a master's degree in architecture, will managethe Presidio's development, which will end up with one million sfof retail and restaurants, 1,300 residential units, 750,000 sf ofoffice, fitness and hospitality space.