News - 2007
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RED CAPITAL GROUP CEO WILLIAM E. ROBERTS NAMED LEADER NETWORK’S AUGUST NATIONAL LEADER OF THE MONTH
Roberts Joins Ranks of Former Leader Honorees John Wooden, Lou Holtz, Mike Krzyzewski and Stephen Covey
William E. Roberts
Chief Executive Officer
RED CAPITAL GROUP
Columbus, OH
COLUMBUS, OH – AUGUST 1, 2007 -- RED CAPITAL GROUP, the multifamily comprehensive capital provider, announced today that CEO William E. Roberts has been honored as the August 2007 National Leader of the Month by Leader Network, an organization whose mission is to recognize, connect, and provide leaders with informational and inspirational resource materials. In receiving this honor, Mr. Roberts joins a cadre of influential leaders who also received the honor including Stephen Covey, Lou Holtz, Ken Blanchard, Mike Krzyzewski and John Wooden.
Mr. Roberts was interviewed by Leader Network director Brian McCormick about a wide array of topics, and his leadership insights are captured in the Leadership Podcast Series available online at www.leadernetwork.org.
Leader Network honorees are identified as those who drive others to action through inspiration, not through force of management. Former Notre Dame Football Coach Lou Holtz, a former National Leader of the Month honoree, nominated Mr. Roberts for the recognition.
"A leader is a person that has a vision, a plan, leads by example, and holds people accountable. Bill Roberts excels in all four areas," said Coach Lou Holtz adding, "I have witnessed his leadership with his company, RED CAPITAL GROUP, his family of wife Joyce, son Adam and daughter Summer, and in his civic responsibilities. He is a tireless worker, an excellent competitor, and an admirable golfing partner."
Mr. Roberts is a distinguished veteran in the finance and banking arena and currently leads RED CAPITAL GROUP and its three operating companies including Red Mortgage Capital, Inc., the mortgage banking unit; Red Capital Markets, Inc., (MEMBER FINRA/SIPC), the investment banking entity; and Red Capital Advisors, LLC, the proprietary investment, merchant banking and investment arm.
"William Roberts is a tremendous leader, and it is a pleasure to recognize and honor such a distinguished individual. His positive leadership and sage insights certainly enrich the lives of the people with whom he works," noted Brian McCormick, Director of LeaderNetwork.org. He added, "Mr. Roberts produces commentaries of significant leadership books and gives them to the people at RED CAPITAL as well as other friends and colleagues. These commentaries on worthwhile reading selections are an excellent source of information and inspiration."
Most accounts of Mr. Roberts cite his non-traditional approach to leadership and unwavering dedication to his passions: family, work, philanthropy, the environment and other personal pursuits.
"Bill provides tremendous vision and is extremely articulate. He supports the management team in so many ways, yet he allows us the opportunity to execute our business plan. I have a great personal respect for Bill," stated James S. Chapman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Red Capital Markets.
President and Chief Operating Officer for Red Capital Markets, Craig S. Jones also added, "Leadership is having exceptional vision and one consistently amazing quality Bill demonstrates is to see ‘opportunity’ where everyone else sees impossibility."
Mr. Roberts’s Background
Under Mr. Roberts’s leadership, RED CAPITAL GROUP has evolved from a 10-person operation to more than 250 employees with 14 offices coast to coast. From its formation through year-end 2006, RED enjoyed compound annual growth rates of 20% in revenues and 31% in pre-tax NOI. In addition to his role in forming RED, Mr. Roberts’s accomplishments include developing MBIA's largest bond insurance program, creating a commercial real estate finance, servicing and CMBS investment joint venture between Banc One Corporation and ORIX Corporation, serving as bookrunning senior manager on hundreds of multifamily and municipal bond issues, and leading hundreds of project financings. Prior to organizing RED CAPITAL GROUP, Mr. Roberts served as Chairman and CEO of Banc One Capital Funding Corporation, Co-Chairman of Banc One Mortgage Capital Markets, and Vice Chairman of Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. In addition, he co-founded Cranston Securities Company and Cranston Mortgage Company in Columbus, Ohio in 1979, worked with Westpac/Pollock (a primary government securities dealer) in New York and began his career in 1973 with Colonial Mortgage Company and its successor, Waterfield Mortgage Company in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Mr. Roberts graduated with Honors from Indiana University and holds a Masters Degree from the University of Notre Dame where he was a University Fellow.
TESTIMONIALS ABOUT WILLIAM E. ROBERTS
"I have known Bill since 1980. It has been wonderful to see him blossom. He is a leader who continues to improve year after year. Early in his career I knew he would be successful but he has exceeded my expectations. He is a true leader. He learns from his mistakes. He is a team builder. He is a listener. He gets the most out of his people. He handles adversity in a positive way. He leads by example. Most importantly, he is fair and doesn't let his ego get in the way."
John B. McCoy, Retired Chairman & CEO of Banc One Corporation
"Bill worked in my chain of command when I was working at National City, and [he] managed a very high performing unit consistently over the years. I have been personally as well as [professionally] taken with the way he leads people: His creativity and the passion that people have working for him is just incredible. You get the feeling that people would do just about anything for him…Some of the most positive reasons for that are the way he communicates in both written word as well as verbally when he meets with his troops either one-on-one or in groups. He just has a way of presenting messages that relates to the audience. [His messages] are often quite sophisticated, and yet, when speaking to a less sophisticated audience, you would not know it. He makes it happen, such that they can understand…[Considering his unit and organization], you hate to use the word ‘cult,’ because it sort of has a negative connotation, but he has got a chemistry in his division and in his company that is very, very special. It is really something. [RED CAPITAL GROUP] has been one of the top companies to work for in Columbus [for years] as rated by their employees. He certainly deserves this kind of recognition."
William E. MacDonald III, Retired Vice Chairman of National City Corporation
"One of the biggest attributes in working with Bill is [that] Bill is a guy who has tremendous focus. The reason I say that is that Bill and I worked together at Bank One at a time when Bank One had merged with First Chicago NBD, and the leadership of the bank was in transition. Bill’s business didn’t fit with the top of the house’s view of where they wanted to go. So there was a desire at the top to sell Bill’s business, but they really didn’t understand Bill’s business very well. [Therefore], Bill had to do two things: he had to run the business at the same time that he had to do his best to sell the business and maximize value for the shareholder…Bill was able to do all of that. [He] said, ‘We need to find a good home for the employees and maximize value for the seller, and we also need to run the business successfully while we are doing all of this so that we don’t have a down period.’ [First and foremost], it really takes an executive with great integrity to acknowledge that. Second, [it takes] focus on what [the leader’s] priorities are and what the right objectives are to ensure that he gets those things done. Bill just did an outstanding job, and I was pleased to be a part of that and see that process work out successfully for all parties…Bill is a first-class guy, and he runs an outstanding business."
John "Jack" E. Neal, Board Member of Equity Residential and The Calamos Funds
"I have known Bill since 1980 and have observed him in a number of capacities. I was his lawyer for a number of years, off and on, and am doing work for him now. I have spent a lot of time with him and watched him in three different companies that he was involved in, so I have a pretty good sense of what I have observed…Bill is a brilliant guy. That is pretty obvious. He has great vision. One of the things that I appreciate the most about him is that while he is very cerebral, he has a quality that doesn’t always come with that, and that is that he is a pragmatist. That has really helped provide success to his businesses. [A question I have considered is], ‘What is Bill’s strongest leadership attribute?’ …[When this quality] is effective--as it has been with Bill--you will see employees who are loyal and who are dedicated and enthusiastic. That is the workforce that Bill has. I really think Bill’s greatest quality is his sincere concern for his employees. He is the real deal. It is legitimate. His most difficult times are in trying to make sure that his employees are being treated fairly. I have seen him struggle with that [because] he has a keen sense of fairness…He ensures that all who participate in the business are rewarded financially, emotionally, and professionally. I think that if you check, you would see a great deal of stability in his employees, and I think that is the reason... I have a measure of a man: I call it the foxhole analogy or the foxhole test. The question is, ‘Would I want to be in a foxhole in a war with him?’ I would have Bill anytime. If you [have] to be with one guy who has your back, he is the guy that I would consider as a true colleague and a friend…I believe it is an honor to have made his acquaintance and his friendship, and I treasure it…"
Lee J. Dixon, II, Esq.
"Bill Roberts practices and attracts loyalty because of his genuine concern that clients and employees come first. Serving their interests, ethically, fairly and professionally are far more important to Bill than any personal success he may achieve."
E. Joseph Knoll, Esq., Krooth & Altman LLP
"The thing that impressed me about Bill is that he really wanted to maximize the potential of everyone around him, including himself. [Bill’s] feelings were that you only live once. [Therefore], you’ve got to maximize what you do here and take advantage of all the things that are available to you. [Bill] goes about that on a daily basis, trying to understand how he can make a bigger, better contribution to his life and to [the lives of] everyone around him. That results in a tremendous focus and a tremendous desire to have a vision and achieve all of the potential that has been given to us."
Jack Luikart, Retired Chairman and CEO of Sutro & Company"The man is a visionary…He has [RED CAPITAL GROUP] on a pretty steep growth curve, and there is no question in my mind that they will achieve it because of his leadership…He is a master of handling change and transition…and has been able to maintain RED CAPITAL’s culture, identity and uniqueness [throughout much change that his organization has encountered]…He really seems to have mastered the ability to steer his ship through rough waters from a ‘change management’ standpoint and turned [dealing with change] into an advantage…Bill has actually perfected the idea of leveraging change to his advantage; a lot of leaders talk about it, but very few can actually execute it…[Bill has] an acute ability to spot talent and bring top people on board...[Additionally], he seems to have an uncanny ability to be able to not only bring that talent in but to maximize the use of that talent and keep [talented people] around. He has accumulated a very, very smart and talented executive team around him… [In visiting with numerous associates at RED CAPITAL], one thing that was really consistent was that no matter what people’s positions were, and no matter how strongly they agreed or disagreed with Bill and his approach to life, every single person I ever talked to in his company would have walked right off the cliff with him if he said, ‘Let’s go.’ He inspires a great deal of loyalty amongst his people, and I think that shows in their very low turnover rate and in the tenure of their top people…"
Dan Kendall, Managing Director, Global Consulting Partnership
"As a young professional, I couldn't ask for a better role model/leader than Bill. He encourages everyone to aggressively take advantage of the opportunities both at RED and within the industry; all the while maintaining a focus on learning and being a good person. My opinion is that a true leader leads by example, and it is with no doubt that Bill has practiced what he preaches for his entire career. The success of RED exemplifies this."
J. Paul Smith, Assistant Vice President, Red Capital Markets, Inc.
"Though I do not know Bill Roberts well on a personal level, I certainly can attest to the type of corporate environment he has created and encouraged at RED. His passionate leadership style permeates all levels of the company through his various methods of inspiration. From early elementary school through college I was continuously immersed in competitive athletic surroundings. For this reason, I personally find the words team, leader, motivation and inspiration to hold great meaning. As a young person new to the corporate world, I never expected to find a company so distinctly based around these words and values. After joining RED I can now happily say that I have been proven wrong! We were always taught in sports that attitudes are contagious, for better or for worse. I think that RED is a great example of the former because of the positive tone set by Bill. It is evident that he cares about what he does and the people his actions affect, be it customers or colleagues, since he views both as equally important. Anyone can notice the extensive thought he puts into everything he does. The word "caring" may not be one of the top five adjectives typically listed when describing a leader, but in my opinion it is the most important. Mainly because it all comes down to physics in the end: eventually everything trickles down. If a leader does not care, it is likely that those being led will ultimately follow suit. A high standard of values has been established and a tone has been set here at this firm. Add to that over 250 hard-working individuals committed to maintaining these values and you have a successful company like RED."
Andrea K. Jennings, Apprentice, Red Mortgage Capital, Inc.
About LeaderNetwork.org
The website www.LeaderNetwork.org is a resource for leaders. The website aims to promote positive leadership and pursues that mission by recognizing remarkable leaders, highlighting resources available for leaders, and providing information about leadership. Core aspects of the website include the National Leader of the Month feature, the Leadership Podcast Series, the Leader Resource Spotlight, and the Focus on Leadership: Book Review.
Proud to be a National City Company
The RED CAPITAL GROUP companies are members of National City Corporation (NYSE:NCC), one of the nation’s largest financial holding companies. National City operates through an extensive banking network primarily in Ohio, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Pennsylvania, and also serves customers in selected markets nationally. Its core businesses include commercial and retail banking, mortgage financing and servicing, consumer finance and asset management. For more information about National City, visit the company’s Web site at: www.nationalcity.com.
About RED CAPITAL GROUP
RED CAPITAL GROUP provides debt and equity capital, along with advisory services to the multifamily housing, seniors housing, commercial real estate, and health care industries. RED consists of three operating companies that together provide solutions through a full range of capital executions. Red Mortgage Capital, Inc. is a top ten Fannie Mae DUS® lender, the nation’s top Fannie Mae DUS® lender for Seniors Housing in 2003, 2004, and 2005, a top ten FHA/MAP mortgage lender, an active CMBS/Capital Markets lender, and a leader in the financing of Critical Access and other smaller community and rural hospitals. Red Capital Markets, Inc. (MEMBER FINRA/SIPC) is a leader in the underwriting of developer-driven multifamily housing bonds and the syndication of low income housing tax credits. Red Capital Advisors, LLC is RED’s proprietary investment, merchant banking arm and provides asset management services for both third party equity investments and RED’s proprietary holdings.
RED CAPITAL GROUP is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, employs approximately 250 people and maintains fourteen offices nationwide. Since 1990, the bankers of RED CAPITAL GROUP have provided over $35 billion in taxable and tax-exempt first mortgage debt, mezzanine level capital and equity to multifamily, seniors housing, health care, and other real estate properties nationwide. Red Capital Markets, Inc. currently remarkets approximately $1.5 billion in adjustable rate, tax-exempt and taxable tender option bonds secured by housing, health care and other properties. Red Capital Advisors, LLC has more than $1 billion in third-party real estate equity investments under management. Red Mortgage Capital, Inc. services more than $8.0 billion in income property mortgage loans.
LEADER NETWORK ORGANIZATION
Brian McCormick, Director
815-238-8953
brian@leadernetwork.org
