John D. Rood

CHAIRMAN, VESTCOR, JACKSONVILLE

Rood started his real estate career in 1983, the year he founded Vestcor. Since then, he has focused the company on brokerage of multifamily properties and later expanded into real estate investments, development and construction. Rood is the managing partner for more than 113 investment partnerships. His company’s portfolio includes 105 communities with more than 18,000 units. Rood also formed the Vestcor Family Foundation that provided the initial capital for the formation of two charter schools in Jacksonville. The University of Montana graduate is the current chairman of the Florida Prepaid College Board. He previously served as a member of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Board of Governors of the State University System. Rood served as U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas from 2004 until 2007