John brings extensive international, national and local real estate experience to his clients, having been responsible for the acquisition, development and sales of over $2 billion of real estate in the U.S., Europe and Middle East over his 30 year real estate career. John has been a major real estate figure in Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley since 1985. He came to Aspen in that year as the head of the development team for The Ritz-Carlton, Aspen which today is the St. Regis Hotel. Presently, John is the co-developer for the new W Aspen Hotel and its Sky Residences. He also co-chaired the citizens group that master planned and redeveloped the Aspen Meadows, home of the Aspen Institute, Aspen Music Festival and School and the Aspen Center for Physics. He was one of the developers and very active in the sales and marketing of the Residences at the Little Nell in Aspen, one of the most successful fractional, private residences clubs in the country. He has also developed and sold luxury condominiums, single family homes and ranches in the Aspen area. John received his law degree from George Washington University, was a Rotary Scholar at the Australian National Universtiy and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Indiana University. Given his education as a lawyer and his many years of successful experience in putting together complex real estate deals and sales, John’s negotiation skills are widely respected in the community. Also known for his integrity, people skills, hard work, getting things accomplished, and love and knowledge of the Aspen community, John has been a leader of many organizations. He was the Chairman of the Board of the Aspen Valley Hospital for 11 years and the CEO for 1 year; currently Chairman of the Aspen Institute Community Forum and former President of Leadership Aspen. He has been a real estate board member on the Aspen Chamber Resort Association and former board member for the Aspen Rotary Club. He lives with his wife of 37 years, Jan Jones Sarpa, Ed.D., a practicing psychotherapist and they have one daughter, Emily who lives and works in New York City.