David Riedman

President & CEO, Riedman Companies

Years in current role: 25+

What was your biggest success in 2021?

Perseverance! I have been inspired from the beginning of the pandemic and throughout 2021 by our team and what we accomplished in spite of new and different challenges that arise every day. There is no playbook for operating in a pandemic. Visibility can sometimes be limited, particularly in the trenches. Nerves are frayed. The environment we operate in is fragile. Despite that backdrop, we continue to excel and our team arrives each day willing and able to deliver outstanding results. Those results are seen in the growth of our revenue. More importantly, they’re seen in the satisfaction of our residents, the strength of the partnerships we have with our business partners and the dedication of our team members to each other and to our mission.

What are your expectations for 2022?

2022 will continue to present challenges similar to those we have faced over the last 18 months. Many of those challenges existed pre-COVID and the pandemic just amplified them. We will continue to reassess every business process we have to find smarter ways to work more effectively in facing those challenges.

What is your biggest takeaway from dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic?

It’s imperative to stay disciplined and keep a focus on the long view. We were very careful not to overreact to the ever-changing set of circumstances in front of us. We made short-term decisions to deal with the issues at hand but never altered our long-range plans or strategic thinking. Becoming flat footed for a post-pandemic world was never an option.

What is your favorite thing about the Rochester community?

This community has an awful lot to offer. I don’t know that I can say it any differently than I did last year. Many factors contribute to Rochester’s quality of life including an affordable housing stock, accessible health care, some of the nation’s best secondary schools, competitive and sought after higher education, world class cultural attractions and a wide array of natural resources in a convenient, mid-size city with moderate density.

If time were no issue, what would you do to help the community that you aren’t already doing?

Spend more time promoting common sense! The myopia of some obstructing the efforts of many never ceases to amaze me.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 100 list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.