Don Becker, executive vice president of real estate development and strategic projects, began working with the Minnesota Vikings organization in January 2007, working side-by-side with the Vikings ownership and executive team on identifying the best location, creative design and construction of U.S. Bank Stadium. Serving as Project Executive, Becker coordinated all design and construction activities for the stadium project, which was awarded the International Stadium Project of the Year by Stadium Business in 2017.
Becker supported the key executives working on the project financing, legal agreements, sales and marketing initiatives, entitlements and sponsorships, branding and signage, transportation improvements, and other stadium-related projects. Partnering with the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, the State of Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis, the Vikings leadership team developed the largest public-private project in Minnesota history. Becker also worked with ownership and the executive team on the NFL initiative to bring the Super Bowl to U.S. Bank Stadium in 2018.
After completing U.S. Bank Stadium, Becker worked with the Vikings executive team and the Wilf family in securing the land and initiating the design and construction for the new Vikings headquarters and practice facility, Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, in Eagan, Minn. As a member of the MV Eagan Ventures development team, Becker continues to assist with the buildout of the 200-acre, mixed-use development know as Viking Lakes. Having designed and built the Twin Cities Orthopedics medical office building, Innovation Center, the 320-room, four-star Omni Viking Lakes Hotel, and over 800 residential apartments units at the Viking Lakes Residences, the ongoing commercial and residential development and event business has validated Viking Lakes as a true live-work-play destination. Becker also managed the development of the 204-unit residential apartment tower at 240 Park Avenue in Minneapolis.
Becker is an Alternate Governor with Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Wilf family's ownership of the Orlando City and Orlando Pride soccer teams. Sitting on the board for the Orlando teams, Becker works with ownership and both the soccer and business executive teams on strategic initiatives and opportunities for the growth of soccer in Central Florida and the U.S.
Becker is a principal and project executive for Garden Homes Development based in Short Hills, N.J., and Skyline Developers in New York, N.Y. In his role with Garden Homes, he works with members of the Wilf family and other team members in designing and constructing mixed-use development projects in Manhattan, and working on debt financings and equity investments undertaken by the Wilf family.
Becker graduated from Pace University in New York with a BBA in accounting and MBA in taxation and finance. He has a JD degree from Rutgers Law School and an LLM degree from New York University School of Law. He has received his CPA certificate and has been admitted to the Bars in NJ and PA.
Becker lives in New Jersey with his wife Julie, and they have three children, Anna, Caroline and Daniel.
