Roger Gaudette

Roger Gaudette is a seasoned leader in construction, development, and real estate strategy with more than 30 years of experience guiding complex industrial, commercial, and civic projects from vision to execution.

He currently serves as Strategic Development Director at The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc., where he helps shape growth initiatives that integrate civil engineering, environmental consulting, and large-scale construction management across public and private sectors.

Roger spent nearly two decades at Ford Land, the real estate arm of Ford Motor Company, where he held multiple executive roles and played a pivotal role in reshaping the company's global real estate footprint.

As Executive Director of Detroit Development, he led Ford's initial evaluation and acquisition strategy for the historic Michigan Central Station and oversaw early-stage contractor partnerships that restored the landmark into Ford's mobility innovation hub.

As Director of the Dearborn Facility Strategy, Roger authored the Dearborn Campus Master Plan, reimagining more than seven million square feet of office, research, development, and manufacturing space. He introduced data-driven workplace strategies, conducted comprehensive facility assessments, and led long-term capital forecasting for Ford's largest corporate campus.

Earlier in his career at Ford, he directed Planning, Estimating, Engineering, and Global Asset Management. In that capacity, he oversaw pre-programming for manufacturing facilities, improved equipment redeployment efficiencies, and led surplus asset monetization initiatives worldwide. He also managed Engineering, Construction, and Decommissioning, coordinating environmentally sensitive plant closures and real estate dispositions alongside regulatory agencies.

One of his most formative leadership roles was as Director of Rouge Site Services and Construction, where he spearheaded the Heritage 2000 Project. This large-scale transformation of the historic Rouge Center included the construction of the new Dearborn Assembly Plant, a state-of-the-art body shop, a visitor center, and a campus-wide utility overhaul, all while advancing early sustainability initiatives and working closely with labor leadership.

Roger's expertise spans construction and program management, master planning, environmental remediation, asset optimization, and stakeholder coordination at every level, from union leadership to executive teams and municipal officials.

Trained as an architect, he holds both a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Michigan. His design-conscious perspective informs every technical, financial, and operational decision.

At Story House, Roger provides strategic oversight for land planning, entitlement strategy, infrastructure coordination, and long-term master planning across the Story House Village and broader real estate platform.