The Breaking Ground Podcast

John Carlson is the CEO of Mark Taylor Companies and one of the most influential leaders in Arizona multifamily. He shares his unconventional path from electrical engineering to leasing apartments after 9/11 reshaped his career, and how that pivot became a 20 plus year rise through every level of the organization. We discuss the mentorship moments that shaped his leadership style, why saying “I do...

In this episode of Breaking Ground, Ryan sits down with Wendy Riddell, founding and managing partner of Berry Riddell, to unpack what really happens behind the scenes of land use and zoning in Arizona. Wendy shares how entitlement strategy works in practice, why approvals take longer than ever, and how developers can navigate municipal politics, staff resistance, and community opposition without d...

In this episode of Breaking Ground, Ryan sits down with Steve LaTerra, CEO of TerraLane Communities, a Scottsdale-based developer of low-density rental housing communities across the Western US and Texas. With more than three decades of experience spanning real estate analytics, capital markets, and development, Steve shares how his career evolved from analyst to operator and why built-to-rent mus...

In this episode of Breaking Ground, Ryan sits down with Mitch Rosen, Development Manager for Papago Park Center, a subsidiary of Salt River Project. With more than 40 years in commercial real estate, Mitch has been involved in landmark projects across Southern California and Arizona, from Tempe Town Lake’s State Farm campus to Rio West Business Park. Today, he oversees the 350-acre Papago Park Cen...

In this episode of Breaking Ground, Ryan sits down with Max Sommacampagna, Construction Director and Managing Principal at Bolzano Construction. A second-generation general contractor, Max blends the craftsmanship of his Italian roots with the grit and precision of the Southwest, delivering high-quality residential and commercial infill projects across Phoenix. He shares his path from brokerage an...

In this episode of Breaking Ground, Ryan sits down with architect Taz Khatri, founder of Taz Khatri Studio. With more than 20 years of experience across Arizona, California, and Oregon, Taz is known for her people-first approach to design and her commitment to equity, inclusion, and community. She shares what sparked her interest in architecture, how her philosophy evolved from aesthetics to human...

In this debut episode of Breaking Ground, Ryan sits down with Nate Sonoskey, architect, developer, and CEO of Blue Lantern Development. Nate shares his unique path from architecture to real estate development, his experience guiding complex infill and adaptive reuse projects across Phoenix and Chicago, and his work leading Fast Permits, a company streamlining permitting processes across Arizona. T...