Real Estate
Rex E. Jensen
PRESIDENT & CEO, SCHROEDER-MANATEE RANCH, LAKEWOOD RANCH
Owning 50 square miles along I-75 in Sarasota and Manatee counties, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch employs 350 people in agriculture, mining, real estate, recreation and habitat management. But its main business is the company’s 45-sq.-mile Lakewood Ranch, which is home to some 66,000 residents. Jensen has been with SMR since 1990 and has led it since 2002.
EDUCATION: Michigan State University (BS), University of Michigan (JD)
READING: A Land Remembered
INSPIRING FLORIDIAN: Jeff Vinik inspires me for his commitment to community and willingness to invest in creating win-win outcomes beyond the scope of his own organization.
MOTIVATIONAL MANTRA: The formula for success is patience, long-term thinking, persistence, and focus upon quality.
WHAT I’VE LEARNED
“Successful deals benefit all participants. One-sided deals ultimately fail.”