When Danville real estate developer Jerry Hunt builds a shopping center, he knows firsthand what those stores represent to their communities. The son of a china merchant in Santa Barbara, he logged hours after school working with his father selling silver, china and other gifts.

"I learned so much about business and how to work with people and how to be diplomatic," Hunt said. "Some of my richest lessons and best time I spent in school was the time I spent in the store."

Hunt's China Shop was a fixture in Santa Barbara for years and the place to register for wedding gifts. That's one reason why Hunt feels a responsibility to the communities in which he builds stores, knowing that they are not just places to buy things but social centers where people bring their friends and families.

Hunt and partner Brad Blake formed Blake Hunt Ventures in November 2000 after they merged their previous company, Western Properties Trust, with Pan Pacific Retail Properties. Blake Hunt started out as a retail shopping center developer but has now expanded its focus to dense retail, reuse of real estate and mixed use projects.

How he caught the real estate bug: Since college, it was my goal to to be in the commercial real-estate business, and shortly thereafter it was my goal to be in the development business. The first project I was involved in developing was at Spieker Properties, a shopping center in 1994-95 out in Antioch called Deer Valley Plaza. The way Spieker was structured then, you were more like the developer and the company was more like the bank, so it allowed a really phenomenal soup-to-nuts development experience. When I developed that first project is when I really knew I had the fire in my belly for the development business.

Why he loves development: It's so much more than just putting up bricks and mortar and leasing buildings. It's about creating something that can have a positive influence in people's lives.

How he knows a project makes a difference: You know that you have had a positive impact on some people's lives when they come to you at a grand opening with tears in their eyes and give you a big hug and embrace and they say, "Thank you for bringing respect back to our community."

Most rewarding experience as a developer: (Plaza de San Jose), in east San Jose, an area that was blighted, a high crime area. It was a five-year process and at times tumultuous and nevertheless we all persevered. And ultimately we were able to create a place the community could be proud of.

Business philosophy: Our philosophy is to try to do projects that matter. We sincerely approach every project as if we are guests in the community.

• Management style: Focus on the things you do (well) and find good people who can help cover your blind spots and don't micromanage them. Let them do what they do with trust and faith and, I'd say, confidence too.
• Best part of the job: Meeting new people every day. No two days are the same.
• Biggest challenge: Patience. There are no fast projects. The type of projects we work on, they are not cookie-cutter. We are not dropping Costcos on cornfields, so each one is a Rubik's Cube.
• Personal hero/mentor: My father; Ned Spieker; Brad Blake.
• Favorite way to relax: Watching my daughters play softball; spending time at Catalina; working out.
• Favorite CD: Anything with Aerosmith on it.
• Favorite book: "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry.
• Favorite movie: "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."

Jerry Hunt
Title: Partner/co-owner
Company: Blake Hunt Ventures
Address: 411 Hartz Avenue, Suite 200, Danville 94526
Phone: 925-314-2700
Web: www.blakehunt.com
Education: B.A., University of the Pacific
Residence: Danville
Age: 40