2015 40 Under 40: Bradley Tollefson

Bradley Tollefson: Aviation Chose Him

Vice President Development

Westfield

Age: 39

Years In Aviation: 6.75 

Did you know?

He missed his true calling as a football announcer. Tollefson regularly proclaims commentary from the announcer moments before it comes through the television. 

Bradley Tollefson did not choose aviation, aviation chose him. He explains he has a diverse background in traditional real estate and through a series of circumstances, which he deems fate, he found this very exciting and rewarding career. Tollefson is passionate about developing and re-imagining the built environment with a particular focus on projects that have a significant impact on people’s everyday lives. During his nearly seven-year career at Westfield, he has successfully led numerous projects in large airports including significant projects at Boston Logan International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport as well as major airport developments including the transformation of the international terminal at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and the greenfield development of Los Angeles International Airport’s Tom Bradley International Terminal. He serves as the development lead managing the overall process and directing the finance, design and construction activities. His current efforts also include culling the global aviation landscape to bring the best ideas together in Westfield’s ongoing ideation process aimed at pushing the envelope in delivering the airport experience of the future, today. Prior to starting his aviation development career at Westfield in 2009, Bradley gained a broad spectrum of experience that included construction management, real estate finance and development. Bradley graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Building Construction as well as a minor in Business Administration and three years of formal training in architectural studio design. Upon graduation he moved to Washington, D.C. to work for a global construction management firm in multiple roles including project management and estimating/preconstruction. In 2005, Bradley received a Master’s degree in Real Estate Finance from New York University. While living in New York City, he worked for a real estate investment banking firm on a variety of deals and financial products. Just prior to joining Westfield, Bradley worked in development and acquisitions on multi-family and retail mixed-use projects. Bradley resides in Northern Virginia with his wife and their four children but can often be found in airports and airplanes throughout the country.