M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal — Thriving Over 40 — November 2023 — 5A
www.marej.com
T hriving O ver 40 Exec. VP expands opportunities & forges new partnerships in the CRE landscape Leif Dormsjo spearheads growth and innovation at Redgate
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over the course of your career. Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in, about your current position, and why you chose the field/ profession you are in today. I began my career in the Baltimore Mayor’s Office with a focus on public works and transportation. I was there for two years, and then I got my Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School. After completing my Master’s, I went onto work for the Baltimore Department of Transporta- tion and then the Maryland
Department of Transportation (MDOT), where I had held several roles such as Chief of Staff, Senior Advisor and, lastly, Deputy Secretary. Be- fore joining Redgate, I also held executive roles in the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and in the private sec - tor at Louis Berger. Now, in my role at Redgate as Executive Vice President, I have a unique opportunity to be involved with the project sponsors and see development through an owner and investor perspective, which is a new continued on page 26A
hat is your most notable project, deal or transac-
Leif Dormsjo Executive Vice President, Mid-Atlantic Market Director Redgate
tion? I am particularly proud of my involvement with the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in Washington, DC. I was responsible for overseeing the planning, design criteria, and procurement process of the project, which replaced a swing- bridge from the 1950s and re- connected southeastern DC. to the Capitol Riverfront and Navy Yard areas. For me, this design-build project was about much more than just building a bridge. In completing the larg- est public infrastructure project in the District’s history, we connected vital communities to- gether, provided intentionally bicycle, pedestrian and park access, and spurred $91 million of minority- and women-owned business development. It’s an incredible piece of architecture, which took a fabulous team ef- fort to deliver. How do you contribute to your company and / or the industry? One thing that sets Redgate apart is the diverse, interdisci- plinary backgrounds of its team members. Everyone brings different specialties, which gives us the opportunity to col- laborate, share ideas, and offer input from what we’ve gathered in our own experiences and areas of interest. I’ve been able to offer my infrastructure and policy ex- perience to Redgate projects. After spending much of my career thus far in the public sector, I’m able to give more context in respect to public agencies, their functions and their constituents to my col- leagues and clients. I also can offer clarification on any proj - ects related to transit-oriented development, which is another area I’ve spent a great amount of time. It’s great to be able to tie in that expertise into our advisory practice. Who or what has been the strongest influence in your career? My current and former col - leagues continue to be some of the most important influences in my career. I’ve learned that the people who were amazing colleagues when you were in your 20s are still doing amazing things when you’re in your 40s. They didn’t stop being great; they’ve continued to solve prob - lems, act as leaders and be
inspirational. That’s one of the many reasons I always do my best to stay connected to people I’ve worked closely with over the course of my career, even if we are in different places now. These are also the people who remind you who you were
when you worked together and can help you see how far you’ve come, how your focuses have evolved, and how you’ve grown from the mistakes you’ve made. Maintaining long-standing re - lationships gives you more self- awareness and can help you
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