BIO

Mr. Sarpa has extensive international, national and local real estate experience, 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 40-year real estate career.

He 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. He also co-chaired the citizens group that master planned and re-developed 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 residence clubs in the country. He has also developed and sold luxury condominiums, single family homes and ranches in the Aspen area. Most recently, he was the co-developer and investor in the W Aspen Hotel.

John received his law degree from George Washington University, was a Rotary Scholar at the Australian National University 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. Before he rejoined the Aspen Valley Hospital (AVH) Board of Directors in 2024, he had chaired the Board for 11 years, was Chair of the AVH Foundation Board of Directors for 11 years, is a board member of the Valley Health Alliance and Chair of the Aspen Institute Community Forum. He was a former President of Leadership Aspen, the real estate board member for the Aspen Chamber Resort Association and board member for the Aspen Rotary Club. He was the 2013 recipient of the Defy Ordinary Award from the Aspen Chamber and the 2015 Denver University Legacy Award for contributions to the real estate industry and community. He is a Founding Board member of Trojena, the mountain region of Neom, Saudi Arabia.

He lives with his wife of 43 years, Jan Jones Sarpa, Ed.D., a practicing psychotherapist, and they have one daughter, Emily.