Following his completion of the Architecture program at Syracuse University (B. Arch.) and the Urban Planning Program at the Accademia di Belli Arti a Firenze, Italy (M. Arch.), Roger joined the family construction business in Pennsylvania. Upon relocating to California in 1977, he served as Director of Realty Development for Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company. In 1981, Roger formed Griffin Realty Corporation, which has developed a number of significant and successful commercial real estate projects throughout Northern and Southern California and Nevada. He subsequently formed Griffin Advisors, Inc., and Griffin Structures, Inc., which along with Griffin Realty Corporation were integrated into the Griffin Holdings organization. To date, the companies have been directly responsible for the completion of over $3 billion in regional, national and international projected.
Roger’s extensive, successful involvement in virtually all aspects of real estate development, project finance, and construction provides Griffin Structures with specialized expertise in both the conceptualization and realization of complex and challenging projects. He is considered an expert in forward planning, finance, entitlements, public/private partnerships , project delivery methodologies, and community-based participatory planning: all critical to success in today’s complex political and economic environments. He also has a considerable expertise in sensitive renovation projects and in the adaptive re-use of historical structures.
Roger is a licensed contractor and a member of the Associated General Contractors of America, the Construction Management Association of America, the Design-Build Institute, and the Society for Military History. His public service has included serving as a founding member of the Board of Governors of the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art in Orange County, California, as the Chair of its Facilities Committee during its phased expansion and renovation. He also served as Facilities Chair for Kidseum of Orange County. Additionally, he served on the Board of Directors for the Historic Fox Theatre in Fullerton, California, and was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam War Museum, among other services to non profit organizations serving local communities.