Kirchert Pakonen is a team of two trusted Minnesota real estate veterans, Blaine Kirchert and Rich Pakonen. The developers have set their sights on the beautiful northwestern coast of Costa Rica for new luxury condominiums. Their first project, Sombras (“The Shade” in Spanish), will soon be unveiled in Playa del Coco in the country’s North Guanacaste region. The development will feature Guanacaste architecture, a style defined by clean lines and rough stacked stone walls, among other elegant elements. Noted partners include Zurcher Arquitectos, one of Costa Rica’s most acclaimed architects who takes inspiration from the country’s breathtaking landscapes and wildlife, and ConstrucTom, an award-winning construction company.

Kirchert is a real estate veteran with more than 17 years in the industry. He worked as a licensed Realtor from 1988 until 2000, earning the No. 3 Realtor title in Minnesota one year with more than 300 home sales. In 2001, Kirchert joined River Run Properties, turning his attention to real estate development and acquisition. He became sole owner of the company in 2005. River Run Properties, a realty, title, mortgage, construction and development company, has closed or is in the process of closing more than $130 million in development projects.

Pakonen founded PAK Properties in 1994, an entrepreneurial real estate company that has reenergized downtown St. Paul with three successful redevelopment projects, including The Lowry, The Rossmor and the Produce Exchange Building. Pakonen received his MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management in 1993. He has been honored with several awards, including The Business Journal’s “40 Under 40,” a prestigious distinction for successful Twin Cities professionals.