Part of the fabric of Portland for 65 years and beyond.

Some people come to Portland for the scenery. Others come for the way of life. When New York-based Melvin Mark, Sr., first visited the area in the mid 1940s, it was nothing more than a quick visit to look at property investment opportunities. Liking what he saw, he sent his son, Pete Mark, to take care of business. Taking care, he did, loving the area so much he decided to make Portland his home. With that, Melvin Mark Companies was born in 1945.

Before long, Melvin Mark, Sr., made an investment in historic downtown buildings that remained a cornerstone of the company for more than five decades. That same year, he handed the management reins of the new company to Pete. For more than 35 years, this second-generation Mark expanded the company from our roots in historic buildings to include modern high rises and office campuses.

Pete was responsible for innovating the company's "Melvinizing" touch, our singular attention to service and detail that distinguishes us from other commercial real estate companies. Pete began decades worth of work in downtown revitalization, energizing many others to join the cause. In 2001, the company's leadership was turned over to Pete's son, Jim Mark, with Pete assuming the role of chairman of the board. Jim has carried on his father's commitment to the community by investing time and resources in expanding economic opportunity throughout the region.

As our footprint began to expand, so did our services. We created separate companies for brokerage, construction and development— all under a single umbrella company — allowing us to manage the quality of our commercial real estate services in-house. In 2010, we expanded again and formed the Melvin Mark Capital Group to serve the mortgage banking needs of the real estate market. This strategy of interconnected services under one roof helped us attract a strong team of highly qualified people regarded as experts in their fields.

While times have changed, our commitment to Portland is as strong today as it was in 1945. We continue to rank as one of Oregon's Most Admired Companies by other Oregon CEOs; we've received awards for our work in sustainable real estate practices; and we've been honored as one of the area's leading corporate philanthropists. Now 50 employees strong and with more than 2.8 million square feet of commercial space in our portfolio, Melvin Mark Companies is uniquely qualified to provide a catalyst for growth for the generations to come. And, as always, we are proud to have a continuing voice in shaping the city we call home.