Tom Gears

President & CEO, SWBR

Years in current role: 9

Where do you see the most untapped potential for development in the Rochester region?

Over the last decade, Rochester has made meaningful strides — but our downtown still represents the greatest opportunity. The firms and institutions that have planted roots here are helping to rebuild momentum and reestablish Main Street as a place where people want to be. At the same time, new housing is bringing residents back to Center City. As density increases, so will street life, safety and demand — creating the conditions for stronger retail, grocery, cultural and entertainment offerings. That upwards cycle is what will unlock our shared next chapter.

What’s one challenge in today’s market that keeps you up at night?

The design and construction industry is navigating evergreen, ever-evolving pressures; volatile material costs, labor shortages, heightened risk and increasingly complex financing environments. Those challenges aren’t going away, but what keeps me sleeping well at night is discipline: making thoughtful go/no-go decisions, being clear-eyed about risk, and partnering with clients and construction teams who share our values and long-term perspective.

How do you approach decision-making when facing uncertainty on a project?

My default is collaboration. I listen carefully to the perspectives of key stakeholders and work toward a shared direction that reflects both expertise and consensus. That said, leadership sometimes calls for decisiveness. In moments where clarity matters more, I trust my gut, articulate the rationale, and ask the team to rally behind a clear path forward.

Are there innovations you’ve adopted that have significantly improved efficiency or outcomes?

We’re actively capturing decades of institutional knowledge and structuring it into an internal, AI-enabled “SWBRgpt” platform. The goal is twofold: to preserve the know-how of our most seasoned professionals while accelerating learning for emerging talent. In testing AI agents, we’re creating a living, breathing, searchable treasure trove of information that helps teams get up to speed faster and make well-informed choices.

If you could collaborate on any project in the region, what would it be?

We’re proud to be contributing to several downtown initiatives (from The Neisner and Gateway Building to the former Radisson Hotel) and we’d welcome any chance to partner on projects that advance the revitalization of Rochester’s urban core. Our deep experience across housing, education, municipal, and science and technology work means we’re thoughtfully positioned to help shape places that support how our community lives, learns, works and connects.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal’s Power List for Construction & Real Estate for 2026. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree.