The Team
Our success is the result of many talented people working together to create sustainable places
Bob Gerding
1938–2009
Robert (Bob) Gerding was an outdoor enthusiast and Oregon native. His passion was for making the built environment more sustainable and helping people understand that sustainable development benefits more than the environment. It contributes to the social and economic vitality of communities. Bob also believed—and proved with Gerding Edlen co-founder Mark Edlen, in several successful public/private ventures—that it’s possible to work constructively with government while making a fair profit.
Prior to retiring in 2006, Bob managed all aspects of development and was well-known for his expertise in structuring complex projects. His responsibilities included establishing and maintaining relationships with members of the development team, coordinating with government and private groups and raising capital, including equity and debt. He also managed lease and sale transactions and provided general oversight of the development process. Until his passing in 2009 following a long battle with cancer, he continued to be involved with the firm and remained active in various civic and philanthropic ventures.
Bob’s personal commitment to education and the arts profoundly impacted his professional life. Believing that a strong, major university is critical to the health and robust development of the region, he contributed development services to Portland State University for multiple projects. Bob was an avid supporter of the arts. The recently renovated Portland Armory, now a performing arts center, was renamed the Bob and Diana Gerding Theater in recognition of Bob and his wife’s support of the arts in the community.