Cushman and Wakefield - One World Trade Center

 

As the founder and president of the Viking Real Estate Group, Tom Velken has overseen thousands of real estate transactions for his customers. Tom Velken created Viking in 1995 in Lafayette, California after having worked in a number of real estate investment firms, including the well-known commercial broker Cushman and Wakefield.

Cushman and Wakefield is responsible for the development of a number of world class properties as well as being the leasing agents for many iconic buildings that include One World Trade Center. Awarded the leasing assignment by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey while the project was still in development, the contract was continued when the Durst Organization took over as the owner of the property.

Designed by architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, One World Trade Center features a 104-story tower that provides 3 million square feet of space and sits on eight acres of land.

Kansas City vs. Memphis: What's the Difference in BBQ Styles?

 

Real estate executive Tom Velken is the owner and president of Viking Real Estate Group in Lafayette, California, and possesses more than two decades of experience with real estate acquisition and development. In his leisure time, Tom Velken enjoys cooking, particularly barbecue-style dishes.

Two of the best-known styles of barbecue in American cuisine are Kansas City style and Memphis style. But what are the differences between the two? Here’s quick primer on what separates these two types of barbecue.

Kansas City style is generally considered the most prominent type of barbecue in the country. Grocery stores across America are lined with different sorts of Kansas City barbecue sauce, which is so popular that the city itself is home to the largest barbecue society in the world and is often referred to as the “Mecca” of barbecue. Kansas City style barbecue is distinguished by thick, tomato-based sauces that contain lots of sugar. The rubs are sugar-heavy as well but mostly use brown sugar; consequently, Kansas City barbecue has a sweet and tangy flavor and is typically used on pork, pork ribs, and chicken.

Memphis style, while similar to Kansas City style, doesn’t contain nearly as much sugar. Rather, Memphis style barbecue is typically spicier and - most notably - is often served without sauce. In the rare occasions sauce is used, though, it typically is employed as a pork dipping sauce and is thinner than Kansas City sauce. Pork ribs and pork butt are the two most popular proteins for Memphis style barbecue.

The Early History of California Ski Racing

The president and owner of Viking Real Estate Group, Tom Velken leads a Lafayette, California, company that offers full-service property investment and finance services. An avid skier, Tom Velken particularly enjoys family vacations at resorts such as Kirkwood and Heavenly Valley in the Lake Tahoe area.

Ski racing in the Sierra Nevadas dates back to the early 1850s and the Gold Rush. La Porte, California, was an epicenter of miners waiting out harsh winters. The first ever organized ski competition took place in La Porte in 1867 and was led by Charles Nelson, who was experienced in what was then known as a Norwegian sport. He created shaped wooden boards 12 feet long that became popular among the local miners, who subsequently invented ski wax. The 1867 Alturas Ski Races attracted several hundred spectators and had a purse of $600.

An 1869 Sacramento Union article detailed the exploits of early skiing legend Snowshoe Thompson, who created a slalom-like track with stakes set up every 100 feet that he had to pass through. The next major evolution of skiing in California occurred in 1928, with the establishment of the first jump hill at Lake Tahoe’s Tahoe Tavern. The skiing industry as we know it was born. In addition to the Sierra Nevada mountains, Tomas Velken enjoys skiing in Colorado and Utah.