JOHN D. ROOD

CHAIRMAN, VESTCOR, JACKSONVILLE

With 20 employees, Vestcor has developed or acquired over 19,000 multifamily rental units, including market rate, affordable, workforce student and senior communities. Rood founded Vestcor in 1983 and has served as chairman for 42 years. The company also provides third-party development services to nonprofits and local housing authorities. Those efforts support affordable communities for vulnerable populations, including individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, those experiencing homelessness, and low-income seniors. Since 1985, Rood has been active in Jacksonville’s civic organizations, with a focus on affordable housing.

EDUCATION: University of Montana (BS)

FIRST JOB: After college, I worked for Carlson Cos. in Minneapolis. In two years, I learned lessons that shaped Vestcor’s culture: treat employees as you’d want to be treated, pursue continuous improvement, foster a positive and respectful workplace to attract great talent, celebrate successes and value your team.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: Teaching. There are few things as noble as being a teacher.

MENTEE IMPACT: For years we brought in high school interns to expose them to the business world. One student became especially interested in real estate, and we stayed in touch as he pursued a business degree and a master’s in real estate. After gaining experience at a real estate firm, he launched his own company. His journey reflects the lasting impact of early mentorship and our commitment to fostering future leaders through real-world exposure and guidance.

SOMETHING SURPRISING: As chairman of Flagler College, I’ve helped launch a classical institute to train teachers from 50 classical schools statewide. We’ve created a two-year core curriculum attracting students from Florida and beyond. Additionally, we’ve introduced an initiative to establish St. Augustine as a writer’s retreat, supporting an author-in-residence who teaches writing and engages in forums with students, faculty and the broader community.

PASSION PROJECT
“I enjoy practicing yoga, gardening, bee keeping and raising cattle.”