James Ratkovich

Biography: James Ratkovich began his career selling real estate while attending college in San Diego in late 70's when he received his real estate license at the age of 19. Upon graduation from college, Mr. Ratkovich joined his uncle Wayne Ratkovich and others in the formation of The Ratkovich Company, a Los Angeles based development company known for thoughtful, community inclusive developments ranging from historic rehabilitation to large scale mixed-use urban design projects, including office, retail, industrial, and hospitality. Mr. Ratkovich formed James Ratkovich & Associates (JRA) in 1991, working with Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, ING, and Lehman Brothers Holdings in underwriting FDIC controlled Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) real estate portfolios for acquisition, reposition, and sale. In the mid 1990's JRA began acquiring distressed Japanese owned assets in Southern California and Hawaii. This exposure to the Hawaiian real estate market initiated a three-decade period resulting in JRA acquisitions and developments on Maui, the Big Island of Hawai'i, Kaua'i, and Oahu, teaming with Lehman Brothers, MSD Capital and others. After partnering with private equity firm Salem Partners on the acquisition of a strategically located high-rise development site in 2013, Mr. Ratkovich joined Salem Partners in 2014 as a Managing Director of Salem’s real estate equity and development platform. Leadership in large scale development, finance and urban design mark his three decades in the real estate industry. Mr. Ratkovich has planned, developed, redeveloped, financed and managed a diverse array of large-scale projects throughout the West Coast and Hawaii. This experience spans a variety of property types, including multifamily residential, hospitality, commercial, industrial, historic rehabilitation, mixed-use and luxury resort properties. Large scale entitlement successes include lead roles in the formation of several urban design planning efforts, including the Alameda District Plan in downtown Los Angeles, the Long Beach Pike Plan in downtown Long Beach, and most recently, the entitlement of the first two Transit Oriented Development projects in the history of the State of Hawaii in the Ala Moana District of Honolulu. Luxury beachfront residential projects include "Wailea Beach Villas", an ultra-luxury 99 unit, 500,000 sf residential development on the beach in Wailea, Maui, next to the Grand Wailea Hotel; "The Pacific", a 187-Unit, 16-story luxury beachfront residential condominium project located along the shoreline of the City of Long Beach, California; and "Kamalani", a 30 acre oceanfront subdivision located in the Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Additionally, entitlements are currently in process to approve a 170-acre ultra-luxury beachfront resort on Kaua'i. After acquiring the property In late 2013, Mr. Ratkovich initiated the acquisition and entitlement of Hawaii’s first Transit Oriented Development (TOD) project in the Ala Moana District of Honolulu. Entitlements were increased from 2.5 to 10-1 FAR on Honolulu's most traveled intersection, resulting in over 500,000 sf of saleable condominium and hotel space. Subsequently, Mr. Ratkovich led the successful effort to re-entitle and redevelop 1500 Kapiolani, another site within the Ala Moana TOD District that is now fully entitled for a 930,000 sf luxury condo-hotel project overlooking Magic Island and Ala Moana Beach. Mr. Ratkovich currently holds a California Broker's License, as well as Series 63 and 79 Investment Banking Licenses. He previously held a State of California Commercial Appraiser's license for over 20 years.