Entrepreneur Of The Year
Staying balanced
How J. David Heller uses four guiding principles to make him a better businessman
Smart Business Akron/Canton | July 2008
J. David Heller believes that the measure of your success in
the world of business goes beyond what you accomplish within your own company. A truly successful leader should also
have an impact on the industry and in the community, while
not sacrificing faith or family.
That’s why Heller, the principal at The NRP Group LLC, a
Cleveland-based housing development company, strives to maintain balance through four guiding principles: be honest in business,
practice your religious beliefs, raise your family and repair the
world.
That fourth principle — repair the world — is what led him to
create and build The NRP Group, which specializes in building
housing for lower-income families. As a fledgling company 13
years ago, The NRP Group built 40 homes. Today, the company
has constructed more than 5,200 homes in 105 different projects, largely by using tax credits, tax-exempt bonds and by partnering with nonprofit agencies.
The impact of The NRP Group has been felt nationwide. As the
company has grown, Heller has been able to take on more ambitious projects. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Heller
moved one of his company’s developers to Louisiana to spear-head a 160-home project.
Heller also demonstrates his core values through his leadership and community involvement. Professionally, he is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
and past chairman of the Housing Credit Group for the National
Association of Home Builders.
Away from work, Heller is active in the community, serving on
leadership boards for a number of organizations, including
Jewish Community Housing, Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation,
The United Way of Cleveland, the Jewish Community
Federation of Cleveland and the Jewish Education Center of
Cleveland.
Heller aims for his company to continue to grow in the market
rate housing business while maintaining its offering of lower-cost housing, allowing him to branch into new markets and continue to repair the world, one house at a time.
HOW TO REACH: The NRP Group LLC, www.nrpgroup.com or (216) 475-8900
