Associate Spotlight: Ben Pobuda – Exploring Every Angle

Ben Pobuda has always been drawn to understanding how things work.

Growing up, Ben visited projects developed by his father, Larry, who leads our Austin, Denver and Phoenix offices. What fascinated him wasn’t just the finished buildings, but the process behind them – the decisions, collaboration and countless details required to turn an idea into something tangible. That same instinct to look closer, ask questions and understand the bigger picture has followed him throughout his life.

After high school, Ben went to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he developed a broader understanding of the world and the people in it while earning a degree in economics and a minor in Spanish. Over six years of active-duty service as an Army Reconnaissance Officer, he lived in five states, traveled to 19 countries and spent 13 months assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Hungary. The experience gave him a love of travel and taught him how to adapt quickly, build relationships across cultures and make decisions in unfamiliar environments.

After leaving the Army, Ben returned to Arizona to be closer to family and to reconnect with his early interest in development. He built experience across commercial construction and investment sales before joining our development team in Phoenix. His unique ability to analyze complex situations, anticipate challenges and pay attention to the details that others may overlook helped guide projects including Deer Valley 30, 59Bell Technology Park and Envision 56.

Recently, an opportunity to join our Charlotte office brought together two things that have guided many of Ben’s decisions: the chance to embrace something new and the importance of staying connected to family. Today, as Director of Real Estate Development in Charlotte, he applies those same instincts to industrial projects across the Southeast.

Outside the office, Ben's interest in the world around him continues through photography. What began with a camera purchased during his freshman year at West Point has grown into a self-taught pursuit that combines his love of travel, the outdoors and discovering places few people ever see. Friends know him for randomly texting photos from his travels and challenging them to guess where he is.

Ben is especially drawn to photographing birds of prey, a hobby that rewards patience, preparation and that willingness to look a little closer. One of his most memorable photographs captures an Andean condor soaring above the Chilean Andes – a rare moment that required a full day of hiking into Patagonia and hours of waiting for the right conditions. For Ben, the reward isn't just the photograph itself; it's the experience of being fully immersed in a place and seeing something most people would otherwise miss.

Today, Ben lives at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where he spends his time exploring the outdoors through photography, fly fishing and travel. Whether studying a development opportunity or waiting for the right conditions behind the camera, Ben is drawn to pursuits that reward patience, preparation and persistence.

Photos: Martial eagle in Kenya, male lion in Tanzania, bull elephant in Tanzania and crested caracara in Chile.

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Our associates are talented, dedicated and knowledgeable. They streamline complex projects and always deliver value to clients. Read more associate spotlights.