Q&A with Karim Ders, New Ena President
Storyknife, January/February 2025 edition
Did you know? Through its holding line Ena Holding and its subsidiaries, Calista owns commercial real estate in Alaska, California, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon and Washington. This includes office, retail and industrial properties.
We recently interviewed Ena Holding’s new president Karim Ders to learn more about the holding line’s business objectives and recent activities.
How do you decide where to invest in real estate?
We focus on major U.S. real estate markets that show strong growth and stability. Our goal is to build long-term value while providing reliable financial returns and opportunities for Calista Shareholders.
What actions is Ena taking to reach its business objectives?
In the coming years, we plan to sell properties that don’t align with our goals and reinvest in areas with better growth and income potential. We are focusing more on warehouse properties because they offer steady returns and are less affected by economic downturns.
We’re also working with other Calista holding lines to find ways to collaborate, share ideas, and work toward common goals. Operationally, we’re adopting new technologies and processes and procedures to streamline efficiency, reduce costs and support decision-making.
Tell us a little about your business background and what you’ve been working on since becoming president in April?
I have worked in real estate across the United States, Europe and Latin America, developing expertise in cross-border transactions, asset management, portfolio management and team building.
I have worked for publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and private real estate investment companies, serving clients such as pension funds and insurance companies. My work has included managing property operations, marketing and leasing, transactions, loan origination, and joint-venture structuring.
Since becoming president, I have focused on strengthening Ena’s team, understanding the Shareholders and communities we serve, and conducting a comprehensive assessment of our properties. Visiting Bethel, Eek and Quinhagak has given me invaluable insights into Shareholders’ needs and the unique challenges in these communities. Moving forward, we’ll continue embracing Calista’s core value of Continuous Improvement.
Is there anything else you think is important for Shareholders to know about Ena?
We’re dedicated to creating job opportunities for Calista Shareholders. Beyond hiring, we’re building internship and apprenticeship programs to provide hands-on experience in the real estate field. We’re also setting up training programs to help our current Shareholder employees grow in their careers.
We’re excited to support Calista’s mission and look forward to serving our Shareholders and communities in the years to come.