June 26, 2024
United Group is pleased to celebrate Jeff Smetana, Chief Development Officer, for reaching his five-year milestone! Jeff was welcomed back to United Group in 2019 as Executive Vice President of Development and has continued to be instrumental in growing United Group's development portfolio. Jeff has been with United for a collective 16 years!
Over the last five years, he has directed the development of The Apex at Crossgates, The Arbella at Bramble Hill, City Station North, The Arbella at Blue Hills, and The Arbella at Ashland. His passion for development and creating vibrant communities is evident in his everyday work and United Group is delighted to celebrate him.
To learn more about Jeff's journey within UGOC, read his Q&A below.
Congratulations, Jeff!
Questions:
1.) Take us back to day one! What was it like? What do you remember about your first day?
This is actually my second iteration as a United Team Member. My first rendition began in 1998 and continued (with a brief interruption) until 2009, when I went on a ten-year sabbatical. So, upon returning in 2019, that first day was a lot like déjà vu-all-over-again with Michael, Tom, Tim, Karen, Joan, John Peterson, Tommy, Graham, Mark and others all still hanging around.
2.) Walk us through a typical workday!
Yes, it’s trite, but there is no typical day. You start each day planning on advancing current projects through their construction, planning, design or financing process, while building momentum for new opportunities. But then you get distracted trying to put out unexpected fires, so by the end of the day you’re wondering what you’ve gotten done.
3.)What is your favorite memory (so far) from your time at UGOC?
The ground breaking event for the Apex at Crossgates is a great memory, as it brought so many people together out of the office at an actual construction site of an excellent and significant project. Particularly now, when there are so many challenges for any new development, it was especially enjoyable to see everyone taking it all in and seeing some of the results of the work they do.
4.) What advice would you give yourself reflecting on the last 5 years?
It’s a lesson I’m sure I knew and forgot, but the advice is – never argue with Tom. You’ll only lose.
5.)How has your role changed over the years? (If at all possible)
What evolves in your own role is understanding everyone else’s. Our development work involves working with seemingly everyone throughout the organization in some capacity, so over the years, who I interact and engage with has changed and will continue to change, which is fun.
