Adam Rose, senior project coordinator, has been helping clients develop new housing for more than eight years with Travois. Learn more about him as he answers eight questions below.
1. In your own words, what do you do for Travois?
At Travois, I help build relationships and partnerships that enable complex housing transactions to be able to happen using other people’s money. While helping our tribal clients plan and develop low- and moderate-income housing, I also help ensure those projects can be financed to leverage limited resources to the greatest extent possible with the needs of low-income tenants always in mind. I am here to help our partners create housing opportunities that will be assets for many generations, providing quality, well-designed, affordable housing for those most in need in Indian Country.
2. What do you find most rewarding about working in your position?
Working alongside friends in Indian Country is often tremendously inspiring. Our partners operate in unique and challenging real estate development environments with complexities other developers may not be accustomed to. Despite these challenges — whether it is financing, dealing with governmental agencies, or meeting demand for quality housing often in rural communities — our partners are models of innovation, progress and determination to provide housing for families throughout Indian Country.
Our clients epitomize what it means to help others. While dealing with the challenges and complexities of major projects, our clients are committed to a basic necessity for stability and growth — quality housing. To be able to help in that capacity alongside talented and dedicated team members here at Travois is rewarding.
3. Before you joined Travois, what did you do?
Before Travois, I spent a year volunteering immediately after Hurricane Katrina. After the storm devastated communities in Mississippi and Louisiana, I spent most of the year in Pass Christian, Mississippi — a small town that was completely destroyed — including all governmental offices, police and fire services, schools, grocery stores, and the vast majority of housing. Immediately following the storm through September of the following year, I lived in a tent while helping manage temporary housing constructed by the Navy Seabees for residents displaced by the storm.
4. And before that?
I graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. After volunteering for a year, I returned to school and received a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with an emphasis in real estate finance and development.
My wife and I met while at Marquette. Other than the cold winters, we loved our time in Milwaukee before we moved to Kansas City. We have two daughters, 6 and 3, and our third child, a boy, is due to arrive next month. Our kids keep us busy playing Candy Land, restaurant and lots of teatime and babies.
5. What do you love about Kansas City?
I love Kansas City because of the small town feel with big city amenities. It’s easy to get around while also having the opportunity to be able to enjoy professional football, baseball and soccer.
6. What do you do outside of the office?
I currently serve on the Fair Housing Committee of the city of Overland Park. The committee is responsible for advancing fair housing interests in the city and investigates and conducts hearings on fair housing complaints. I also serve on the board of Kim Wilson Housing, a supportive housing service provider that focuses the homeless and special needs populations in the Kansas City metro area.
My family is actively involved with the monthly food drive coordinated through our parish. This opportunity has provided a great opportunity for our young daughters to participate as well, helping load the truck with canned goods collected throughout the month.
We are also actively involved with an immigration relocation program that provides permanent housing to refugees displaced as a result of religious or political persecution. Many of the refugees are from Myanmar or Thailand and do not speak English and have never been to the U.S.
7. Who has the most influence in your life?
For me, my grandfather continues to be a tremendous influence. His dedication to his family, neighbors, community and those in need — regardless of their background — never wavered. I hope I can be 1/10th as successful as him at working hard for others.
8. What’s the best gift you ever received?
In a large family with 35 first cousins, I am right in the middle. My grandmother gave me the diamond from her wedding band when I proposed to my wife. To this day, I don’t really know why she picked me, but that is a gift I will never forget.