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HOLT Group is the largest caterpillar equipment dealer in the world and has garnered a myriad of awards and accolades, including Dealer of the Year, Texas Family Business of the Year, and other workplace awards. Its subsidiary, HOLT CAT, has become an industry leader in selling, renting, and servicing caterpillar machines, engines, and generator sets from the Red River to the Rio Grande in Texas.
As vice president of real estate and development for HOLT CAT, Kalinka Ivanova oversees and manages all real estate and facilities activities including location and selection, site acquisition, leasing, land and facilities management, property development, construction, and more. She also evaluates all real estate and facilities for purchase and sale to maximize portfolio value while evaluating potential sites based on demographics, property cost, and market potential.
In that capacity, she prides herself on being a results-driven leader who believes she can learn something new every day and add value to the company—a trait she credits to her upbringing.
“Having been born in Europe and having the opportunity to travel and live in North America for the past 30 years has really broadened my mindset,” says Ivanova, who was born in Bulgaria and has lived in three continents and four countries. “I approach work with a humble attitude as I focus on efficiency, organizing tasks, and fostering teamwork by empowering my team. My appreciation of different cultures is further enriched by my ability to speak six languages. I’ve found that my multilinguism helps facilitate connections with diverse people to foster trust and enhance communication and collaboration.”
When she isn’t interacting with the large Spanish-speaking population that Holt Group serves in Texas, speaking Bulgarian or French with her kids, or listening to songs in Greek, Spanish and Russian Ivanova speaks the language of the business in ways that facilitate its Holt’s growth and strengthens Holt’s value-based leadership culture.
Since joining HOLT in 2022, she has helped implement project management software to drive efficiency and productivity, leverage analytics to bolster employee retention, empower her colleagues to become more resilient and set forth initiatives to inspire innovation among her high-efficiency team.
She has also spearheaded several transformative projects. One includes a multimillion-dollar renovation project in IrvingMain, at a pivotal operational hub that houses functions like sales, service of heavy equipment, parts, rental, and others. The goal of the project, which is one of the most ambitious renovations in the history of the company, is to optimize workplace functionality and bolster employee welfare.
“By strategically reimagining the workspace and operations with this two-year project, we’re setting new standards for excellence that aligns with our values as a company,” Ivanova says.
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Building for the Future: The Pre-K 4 SA Project
That’s not the only ambitious project Ivanova and her colleagues have in the works. They are also constructing a new education center in southeast San Antonio. Through a unique partnership with the City of San Antonio, HOLT CAT is donating eight acres of land and will build early educational center for Pre-K for San Antonio to address the growing need for high-quality early childhood education in the region.
Talks about building a new center started in July 2022 with Sarah Baray, CEO of Pre-K 4 SA. “This project is not just a model for designing schools with the unique needs of children ages birth to four in mind; it’s a powerful example of the role business leaders can play in ensuring every child has access to high-quality early education and achieving a vibrant community,” Baray says.
After consideration, the generous owners, Peter Holt and Corinna Holt Richter, decided to support by financing the project, donating the land, and leading the construction with the contractor G.W. Mitchell Construction and seven design teams.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have Kalinka as a key partner. Her unique background and extensive experience bring a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective to our projects,” says Bill Mitchell, president of G.W. Mitchell Construction. “Kalinka’s commitment to efficiency, organization, and teamwork has profoundly impacted our collaborative efforts.”
The new facility is built on eight acres land donated to the city through a private-public partnership with the Texas Caterpillar dealer, the Holt Group, with construction site at 3510 S WW White Rd. By the beginning of the new school year in fall 2025, San Antonio Southeast Side will have 350 new early education spots thanks to a new Pre-K 4 SA learning center under construction. After completion, the $33M facility comprising 53,000-square-foot building will belong to Pre-K 4 SA, and the city will own the land donated by Holt.
For Ivanova, HOLT CAT’s role in the project is another example of Holt Group commitment to the community. “Our CEO believes education is critical and that we just can’t rely on the government to fix things for us,” she says. “HOLT Group has existed for 90 years and are known for its work in the heavy equipment space. We’ve never built an education center for a third party before, so this project has been challenging and really rewarding.”
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From Railways to Caterpillars
Before joining HOLT Group, Ivanova spent her commercial real estate career honing her expertise in all areas of the business, including acquisition and dispositions, asset management, real estate investment portfolios, and property management. She has served as a general manager at Regus, a real estate negotiator at the City of Calgary, president of Tron International Group, director of real estate for the Canadian Pacific Railway Co., and more. She wouldn’t trade her leadership journey for the world.
Her transition from leading a team in Canada, where she worked on maximizing land asset value for a national railroad across a broad US and Canada territory, to a smaller-scale environment in Texas and Oklahoma has been a learning experience. Despite the differences in scale, Ivanova is grateful for the opportunity to potentially make a meaningful impact across various aspects of Holt’s operations.
“What sets Holt Group apart is its values-based culture and unique mission. We prioritize empowering individuals to grow personally and professionally, providing them with the tools to contribute effectively to the company. I’m inspired by the role our workplace plays in fostering a culture of well-being and continuous improvement.
“I often remind my team that challenges are simply opportunities in disguise, waiting for us to find creative solutions,” she continues. “It’s a philosophy that guides us as we navigate the complexities of our work here at Holt.”
Ivanova believes that commercial real estate takes a lot of discipline and tenacity when it comes to finding the right property. “It also takes diplomacy, education, and humility to better understand your ROI and your position in the market,” she says. “You need to understand how to maximize the value of every parcel of land, be creative, get the right people in the right places, and come up with a strategy that will bring the best for the company.”
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Pre-K 4 SA is honored to be part of the innovative public-private partnership with HOLT Group to provide land and help build our new South Education Center. We would especially like to Kalinka Ivanova, vice president of real estate development, for spearheading this partnership. The new state-of-the-art education center will help bring high-quality early learning to a traditionally underresourced region, opening the door to possibilities for San Antonio children and families for years to come.
G.W. Mitchell Construction’s partnership with HOLT CAT marks a proud chapter in our 103-year history. Both companies, headquartered in San Antonio, share a deep commitment to excellence and core values. HOLT CAT has been a leader in the heavy machinery industry and has expanded into commercial, energy, technology, and training sectors. Similarly, G.W. Mitchell Construction has built a reputation for quality and integrity over four generations. Together, we leverage our shared values to support HOLT CAT’s growth and facility expansion, ensuring a future as strong and enduring as our histories.
