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Key Influencers • Arts, Community and Business Leaders • Bay Area Personalities • Industry Experts.
What makes them tick? Find out . . .
In 25 Words or Less
Updated: March 18, 2016
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THE BASICS
Editor’s Note: Alan is one of the most accomplished African American real estate development professionals in Northern California, currently managing or developing over $1.5 billion in development projects.
Name: Alan Dones |
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Age: Mature • Status: Single • Kids: No |
Place of Birth: Oakland, CA • Place Raised: Oakland, Berkeley & El Cerrito, CA |
Professional Background: Alan Dones, Managing Partner of SUDA, LLC, specializing in large-scale, innovative, public, private partnerships in construction and mixed-use development. He is a long-time entrepreneur, a licensed general engineering construction contractor, and community advocate of equal opportunity in employment and contracting. |
What achievement or position are you most known for? Developer of Major Mixed-Use Developments in Oakland |
Contact/Follow: Website • Email |
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25 WORDS OR LESS: WORK
Job(s) held that is most unlike what I currently do now: Musician (Bass) and Published Song Writer |
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Field #1: Real Estate Development |
Yrs of Experience: 20 |
Title: Managing Partner |
Company: Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC (SUDA) – Oakland, CA |
What it does and what I do: Real Estate Development |
Current Big Project: Various Mixed Use Developments in Oakland’s Uptown District – Mandela Village at West Oakland BART Station. |
Staffing/Resource Needs: Summer Interns Needed |
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Field #2: General Engineering Construction Contractor |
Yrs of Experience: 32 |
Title: CEO |
Company: ADCo, Inc. – Oakland, CA |
What it does and what I do: Engineering Construction Contractor |
Current Big Project: OUSD School Lease Leasback Projects & East Bay MUD Large Diameter Pipe Rehabilitation. |
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25 WORDS OR LESS: PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Significant Challenge: Managing pragmatic and efficient organizational growth with limited capital resources. |
Significant Mistake/Regret: Inability to raise the capital required to close on a real estate transaction. |
Significant Accomplishment: Bouncing back from business adversity to successfully complete my largest development project in downtown Oakland’s Uptown District.
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Biggest Strength(s): Perseverance and the ability to transmute adversity into strength. |
Biggest Weakness(es): Difficulty saying no when necessary. |
Career Advice: Always focus on creating value for everyone that you come in contact with. All the world covets their MVPs. |
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25 WORDS OR LESS: PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Significant Challenge: Staying relatively balanced – spiritually, mentally, and physically. |
Significant Accomplishment: Staying relatively balanced – spiritually, mentally, and physically.
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Life Advice: T’is better to give than to receive. It’s also OK to give generously-for selfish reasons! |
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25 WORDS OR LESS: OFF THE TOP
Trait(s) most admired in others: An attitude of gratitude!
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Some causes/organizations I support: Child development and education |
Hours of “personal” downtime/week: 10 |
Favorite activity(s) in my personal downtime: Study of music composition and arrangement
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Some of my favorite local hangouts: Pican, 1300, SF Jazz and Yoshi’s |
Some of my favorite TV shows: CNN, KQED FM, Mornings on 2
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Favorite Vacation Spot(s): Maui |
Place(s) I would like to visit: Bai Brazil |
Favorite Pastime/Hobby(s): Music Composition |
Favorite Book(s): The Half Has Never Been Told, by Edward Baptist (currently) |
Some of my most-admired people (excluding parents): Nelson Mandela |
Something about me that may surprise you: Never married… |
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