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If the development sector’s performance is measured in peaks and valleys, 2010 left Gramor Development sitting on top of the world.

While the recession idled many local projects, Gramor found financial backing for some major developments. In July, the company’s president, Barry Cain, announced the Tualatin-based company had secured a $45 million loan from U.S. Bank to start work on Progress Ridge TownSquare. The $60 million, 325,000-square-foot project has been in the works since 2005.

Gramor will contribute $15 million toward the 20-acre development, which is set to open in September. Located on Southwest Barrows Road near the unincorporated neighborhood of Bull Mountain, Progress Ridge will be anchored by a 41,000-square-foot New Seasons Market to the east and a 50,000-square-foot luxury theater called Cinetopia to the north. A Big Al’s Family Bowling and Entertainment Center anchors the south side of the property. Nine other leases have been signed by people representing a credit union, restaurants and a host of nail and hair salons.

Cain believes the development will attract tenants that will create 800 to 1,000 permanent retail and office jobs to the area. The project also is expected to generate up to 2,000 construction jobs.

In August, Gramor broke ground on a Costco-anchored development called Lacamas Crossing in East Vancouver, Wash. Gramor will develop the 154,000-square-foot Costco and another 27,000 square feet of retail space for 15 businesses.

About 50 percent of the retail space, excluding Costco, is leased within the $40 million development, which is located at the intersection of Northeast 192nd Avenue and Southeast First Street. Lacamas Crossing will employ 500 people, including 350 full-time positions at Costco. About 1,000 construction jobs are anticipated throughout the course of development.

Gramor also is anchoring the team working to re-connect downtown Vancouver to the Columbia River, where it will lead a Pearl District-type redevelopment of 32 acres of waterfront land that was once occupied by Boise Cascade. Construction is expected to start in early 2013.

With some 60 projects in Portland and Vancouver under its belt, Gramor’s projects to date encompass more than three million square feet of commercial space worth $1 billion. The company manages two million square feet of space housing about 400 tenants.

What was the best piece of advice you ever received?

“Don’t actually buy the land until you know you can use it and you’re ready to start construction.”

Who was your mentor, and how did he or she help shape you as a person?

“Bob Beaupre, who originally hired me. I learned a lot from him by how he would keep working on a project until it was finished and how he treated his customers.”

Tell me something about yourself most people wouldn’t know.

“I like to spend a lot of my spare time playing piano. It’s kind of a new passion for me, and I started taking lessons about a year and a half ago.”