Forty Under 40: Rob Coleman
by January 1, 2013 12:00 am 769 views
Fort Smith native Rob Coleman believes working in a family-owned business affords the opportunity to shape his own destiny.
“We’re a third-generation company,” he said. “My grandfather had his piece, my father did his and now it’s my turn to do this piece.”
Instead of pursuing a career in music business at an out-of-state school, Coleman went to John Brown University, graduating in 2003 with a degree in business administration.
He worked for the company, which owns about 4,500 multifamily units in four states, while based in Oklahoma for the next four years before a family crisis — his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer — led him back to Fort Smith to assume a greater leadership role.
“Without his leadership, I don’t know if there would be an ERC today,” Kathy Coleman said of her son.
Rob Coleman deflected credit to other key staff members, some of whom have been with the 56-year-old company for three decades.
He has been a significant fundraiser for the Bost Human Development Center, spearheading the annual Chef and Winemaker Dinner, which has raised more than $350,000 for the organization.
Coleman, who enjoys family getaways to the Colorado mountains several times a year, is also a past board member of the Fort Smith Art Center.