Reid J. Boren has been involved in every aspect of the real estate industry from sales, financing and closings to management and construction, since college. As a Managing Partner with Two Roads Development, the company behind the development of Pendry Tampa, Boren and his team focus on luxury condominiums and hotels, guiding each project from the design phase to fruition.
When I was growing up, I’m not sure I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I certainly was ambitious and entrepreneurial and was quite sure I wanted to own my own business.
My first job was selling remnant rugs out of the back of a U-Haul in college to other students at other schools. I learned how to purchase inventory, create a sales strategy and even hire local labor (fraternity guys) to be my delivery service.
I would say I simply got lucky being introduced to the real estate business in Florida in the early ’90s. Often, it’s better to be lucky than smart.
I think many people think the real estate business is very glamorous, especially when they see us in beautiful magazines like Tampa Magazine. The truth is, it’s constant work and every day is spent trying to catch mistakes before they happen. Each project requires the coordination of hundreds of people. No one will care about your project more than we will, and keeping everything rowing in the same direction takes a ton of time and effort.
I’ve been blessed with an exceptional pair of parents and many good friends. My mother is an author, poet and life coach and my father worked on Wall Street. They taught me the value of being honest, kind and generous. It’s amazing how far being a gentleman will take you. It’s easier to do a difficult job with a good person than an easy job with a bad one.
Growing up in New York was interesting and busy, but I’m slightly jealous of the childhood my kids are getting to experience living in Florida. It’s a much healthier and fun lifestyle.
While I’m not from Tampa Bay, I’ve been living in Florida since 1990 and have seen our state grow beyond anything I thought possible. Tampa, especially, has turned into one of the great cities in the country and, in my opinion, has just scratched the surface of what is possible.
It’s the most livable, fun and dynamic city in Florida, perhaps in the country. If you haven’t been to Tampa in the last few years, then you can’t know how amazing it’s become. It’s such a great community of people and is a vibrant place.
My parents have by far been my biggest supporters, though I’ve also been extremely fortunate to have several older influences take an interest in mentoring me and it’s made all the difference. My senior partner, Jim Harpel, first started investing in us in the mid-’90s and his support and friendship have been life changing.
Outside of business, I’m most proud of the Boys and Girls Club, of which I’ve been a board member for nearly 25 years. Our youths are our future and I am always amazed at the quality of the young men and women that come out of our clubs.
I love being outdoors. I love boating, hunting, fishing, golf and tennis. I also love to read and play backgammon. Additionally, I love cooking, though I’m not great at it. That said, much of my free time is spent chasing after my kids, my son, Alex, and my daughter, Derby.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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