Amy Cara of East West Partners

Amy Cara brings a woman’s touch to Denver’s building boom, operating as a leader in a field still dominated by men. In September, Cara stepped fully into her new role as managing partner of the Denver office of East West Partners. The firm developed 25 acres in Denver’s Central Platte Valley into Riverfront Park and spearheaded development of the Union Station neighborhood. Since 1986, the company has developed and sold more than $3 billion in residential and commercial real estate.

Cara's skill set runs the gamut. “I’m active in construction processes underway and prospective projects we’re chasing. I work with the sales team on strategy. I attend meetings on strategic levels, making sure the big picture and long run are considered in construction meetings. I’m out scouting for new opportunities, negotiating opportunities to develop new places.”

On any given day, Cara interacts with architects, contractors, and construction managers. “I work with men 90 percent of the time,” says Cara. “Women have been a significant part of real estate as agents and brokers, but development and construction are not historically women’s roles. It’s still a man’s world to some degree, but our construction manager is a woman,” Cara says.

By Colleen Smith