This week’s ‘Five Minutes With’ features Tyler Morse, CEO of MCR and MORSE Development, whose project – TWA Hotel – is a 2020 Awards Finalist for Excellence in Hotel Development.

Who has had the greatest influence on your career and what was the best advice he or she gave you?
My parents — they taught me that the foundation of everything in life is a core set of values, especially respect for all people.

What qualities do you think are essential to be an effective leader?
If I have been an effective leader, it’s all because of the dynamic team I’ve been lucky to have as my partners, supporting MCR’s projects and goals at every step along the way — from the union tradespeople who restored and built the TWA Hotel to the phenomenal men and women on MCR’s property teams throughout the country.

As a ULI NY Awards nominee, what makes you most proud of your project?
I’m most proud that we have been able to return the TWA Flight Center, Eero Saarinen’s greatest architectural treasure, back to the people of New York and the world. After decades of being shuttered, this magnificent structure is now open for all to visit and enjoy — New Yorkers and tourists alike, fans of the 1960s and TWA, families, architecture buffs, aviation fanatics and dogs, of course! I’ve had the occasion to spend time with Saarinen’s children, Susan and Eric. When Susan told me, “Daddy would be so proud,” that was a pretty remarkable moment for me.

I’m also very proud of our first-of-its kind cogeneration plant — the TWA Hotel runs on renewable energy and is entirely off-grid.