River City Six- Ryan Haller
Meet Ryan Haller, chief development officer at Point Development Company (PDCo), who is developing the new Ovation by Avamere (www.ovationbyavamere.com) community at Heartwood Preserve in Omaha.
Tell us a little about your business.
PDCo is a real estate development and advisory firm. As a part of the Avamere Family of Companies, we have a total of 8,900 employees in 18 states. Our newest development, Ovation Heartwood Preserve, will be opening in Omaha in late 2020. It is designed to be a vibrant, secure, and active lifestyle village offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally?
Learning how to work with the slower-pace of the Pacific Northwest. Being a native Nebraskan, work ethic was not an option—it was mandatory. In the private equity industry, cadence and velocity are paramount.
What has been your most important achievement professionally?
It’s yet to happen. That said, I am very proud of the work we are doing at PDCo to enhance the lives of seniors. We’ve earned a reputation for being disruptive thinkers in how we design seniors housing for the Baby Boomers generation.
Tell us a little about your family.
My wife Laura is from Waco, NE and works for Under Armour. My son Maxwell is three years old, and I have a daughter due this month!
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life?
Marrying my wife. Everything good in my life has come from the day I met her.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?
Days off are rare for me but when they happen, I love spending the day with my son. We love catching a Dodgers game.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know?
My wife is a twin, and I have twin sisters. Yet, somehow, genetically I was able to starve off twins.
Who inspires you?
My mentor, Rick Miller. He is the consummate visionary, businessman, family man, and Christian.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be?
Maverick. I am not afraid to stand up for what is right.
If you had a theme song, what would it be?
“Omaha” by the Counting Crows. I owe much of my life’s success to the lessons I learned from my family, teachers, mentors, and friends in Omaha. I am grateful for the strong work ethic, unnegotiable moral compass, and convictions I got from my time at St. Wenceslaus and then Millard North, where I graduated from.
What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why?
We started our own foundation at PDCo called the LYD Foundation, through which we strive to help our employees and residents, in addition to charities in Los Angeles, Portland, and Bend, where our employees office.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read?
Powerful by Patty McCord. I run my business off the Netflix philosophy, and I believe this book really supports that vision.
What is your favorite movie?
Rudy, the ultimate story of how hard work and determination conquers all.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be?
Ronald Regan.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?
Contact my assistant, Amy Howard, at amy.howard@pointdevelopment.com. Go online to: www.ovationbyavamere.com.