Executive Profile: Tim Helmig
by Emily Mekinc
THE BASICS
Background: Helmig, 44, would rather be helicopter skiing or jamming to live recordings of The Grateful Dead, but most days he is busy reshaping the Rosslyn skyline, soon to be capped by the region’s tallest building at 1812 N. Moore St. Competitive by nature from his early soccer years, the developer says he’d still rather work with folks who like to have fun.
Education: Bachelor’s in criminal justice, American University
First Job: Camp counselor for soccer camps at Georgetown Prep
Family: Wife Claudia; children Camille, 13, Charlotte 10, and Billy, 8; lives in Bethesda
BUSINESS STRATEGY
Next Big Goal: Our next project in Rosslyn. We are going through some design analysis of another potential redevelopment within Rosslyn. It could be up to 1 million square feet.
Your Impact on Rosslyn: We are developing 1812 N. Moore. It was certified LEED Platinum for design, the first in the state of Virginia. That’s a unique badge of honor. It will be the tallest building in the entire metropolitan area. I think it is certainly going to be a catalyst.
What are you like to work for? I like to see people under me be successful. I don’t really look for personal success. Coming up, playing as a soccer player, I’m team-oriented. I can be a tough boss at times. I’m detail-oriented but I give people the benefit of the doubt.
What do you always ask during job interviews? Do you like to have fun? This job can be stressful — there’s a lot riding, a lot at stake. If you can’t smile and have a good time at certain periods of the cycles, you’re not going to be fun to work with.
JUDGMENT CALLS
Best Business Decision: Joining Monday Properties. I ran my father-in-law’s business for 10 years and then joined forces with my brother-in-law, Anthony Westreich, who owns Monday Properties.
Hardest Lesson Learned: Patience. Particularly being a developer. Timing has to do with patience.
Most Memorable Deal: Probably groundbreaking on 1812 [N. Moore]. Backfilling the former USA Today and Gannett towers when they left right after 9/11, those were probably the two most successful events. Difficult times, plus a lot of space. It was really a pretty difficult recession right about that time.
Biggest Missed Opportunity: I think we could have put more buildings in Rosslyn. That would have been an obvious one for us in hindsight.
TRUE CONFESSIONS
Guilty Pleasure: Bourbon on the rocks
Favorite Movie Star: Clint Eastwood
Personality in High School: Happy and competitive
Your go-to Karaoke Song: “Cold Beverage” by G. Love & Special Sauce
Car: A blueish-black BMW
Favorite Book: “The Unforgiving Minute” by Craig Mullaney
What would you do if not this? I would heli-ski [off-trail, downhill skiing that is accessed by a helicopter] 60 days out of the year, go to the beach 90 days, and go to rock-and-roll concerts the rest.
Favorite Hobby: Going to see concerts with my wife. That was our first date.
Favorite Movie: “Lord of the Rings.” I love that whole series!
Favorite Restaurant: Pines of Rome in Bethesda — it’s a family favorite.
Favorite place outside of the office: Mountain biking on the Cabin John Trail.
What do most people not know about you? That I’m a wannabe musician.
One thing you cannot do without each day: Music — live recordings. It’s the first thing I do in the morning.
What’s on your iPod? G. Love & Special Sauce, The Allman Brothers Band and The Grateful Dead, to name a few.
