REX E. JENSEN

PRESIDENT & CEO, SCHROEDER-MANATEE RANCH, LAKEWOOD RANCH

Jensen has been with SMR since 1990 and has led it since 2002. A century-old company, SMR owns 50 square miles along I-75 in Sarasota and Manatee counties, employing 350 people in agriculture, mining, real estate, recreation and habitat management. But its main business is the company’s 45-square-mile Lakewood Ranch planned community, home to about 66,000 residents, 27,000 homes, 18,000 jobs and nine golf courses.

EDUCATION: Michigan State University (BS), University of Michigan (JD)

FIRST JOB: Worked on our family farm from the age of 5. First job outside of that was bagging groceries. Job after that was airport security. Then things really went downhill, and I got into law and then real estate.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: Venture capitalist. I enjoy the process of creating and nurturing a new business.

HOBBY: I build furniture and cabinetry from raw lumber without written plans when the mood strikes.

NONPROFIT PASSION: Meals on Wheels for its extensive local impact and the V Foundation for its national impact.

INDUSTRY TREND: Our industry and all levels of government are falling behind on critical elements of infrastructure including roads, utilities, schools, power generation and distribution, and communication services. We aren’t thinking aggressively, broadly and holistically enough.

SOMETHING SURPRISING
“I completely detest politics.”