Company Report: Rohit Group of Companies
Innovative and diverse As it continues to expand its offerings, this Edmonton developer is gaining national recognition.

Since its inception in 1986, Rohit Group of Companies of Edmonton has worked tirelessly to establish itself as one of the premier real estate companies in Western Canada. With a focus on continually innovating its product design, consistent quality and selecting and developing land in sought-after communities, Rohit has garnered critical acclaim from Alberta New Home Warranty Program and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association on the local, provincial and national levels.

“The cornerstone of our company is our people, a dynamic group who understand how their personal commitment and contribution are an integral aspect of the entire team’s success. For example, Michellene Kandert was named Sales and Marketing Manager of the Year in Edmonton,” explains Vice President of Land and Communities Russell Dauk, who joined Rohit in 2004 after spending 20 years in both the public and private sectors.

“As a group we challenge ourselves to push the envelope and continue to evolve. Our vertical integration also distinguishes us – we know our business, from land development to finance and everything in between,” he says.

Dauk’s 15 years as a public sector Planning Manager providesRohit with a built-in advantage over competing firms. “My experience has provided me with a comprehensive knowledge and a prime understanding of processes and requirements that municipalities face. It gives us an advantage in exploring new opportunities,” he says.

Rohit Communities is the leading business unit for Rohit Group of Companies, which includes Rohit Land Development, Rohit Commercial and Rohit Capital divisions. The group employs 100 professional staff and exceeded $150 million in gross revenue in 2009 with its home builder operations in Alberta and British Columbia. Rohit Communities is once again a finalist for the Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA) Awards of Excellence to be presented at the Association’s 67th National Conference on March 6 in Victoria, BC.

HIGH-PROFILE PROJECTS

Rohit recently expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of Copper Point Resort in British Columbia and is moving forward to complete the 106-unit hotel condominium project. “We took it over on New Year’s Eve and think we’ll be able to finish and have it ready for occupancy by the fall,” says Dauk.

The year-round resort in BC’s Kootenay region is 70 percent complete and lies in a region that features lakes, globally-renowned golf courses and the famous ski destination Panorama. “Combined with our strengths in commercial land and condominium development, and the exceptional bones of this project, we can bring to fruition the vision of a vibrant community that has an outstanding future,” says Rohit CEO Radhe Gupta in a press release announcing the acquisition.

The Callaghan Ravines project hearkens back to the company’s roots and continued competency as a multi-family residential developer. According to Dauk, the project also reflects Radhe Gupta’s belief that “in any community you can accommodate the father, the son and the grandfather. Regardless of the home they desire, what they value about quality, aesthetics, price and location will be the same.”

Callaghan Ravines eliminates exclusivity determined by price point and square footage. Instead it mixes entry-level apartment condos of 700 square feet with executive dwellings of up to 2,600 square feet. “The community is a mix of wood frame, concrete mid-rise and luxury apartment buildings, of town homes and duplexes. It’s a variety of product types nestled alongside a ravine and is as diverse as you can imagine. We’re very proud we’ve been able to integrate multi-family with high-end single family,” says Dauk.

Rohit has also been part of several affordable housing initiatives in Edmonton, including a pilot project for first time buyers that involved the development of an unused school site. Rohit is also planning its newest development at Big Lake in North Edmonton; and has recently completed construction of two 30,000 square foot commercial buildings.

BUCKING THE RECESSION

Rohit Group of Companies experienced a record year of revenue and returns for FY2009 and is ahead of the FY2010 forecast for another record year. Good fortune and sound strategy both contributed to the company continuing to prosper during the downturn.

“Part of it is definitely due to luck. However, we had a strategy going in. Our experience in the 1990s allowed us to make a conscious decision to be conservative toward the end of the boom. When the market turned, we were perhaps more fortunate than some of our competitors. As the market came back, we were in a strong cash position,” Dauk explains. That allowed Rohit to ramp up its financial arm, Rohit Capital, with a focus on providing financing for other developers and builders.

“We continue to stay focused on our basic fundamentals. Our preference is to take projects in bite-size pieces with smaller building designs and phasing the build cycles,” Dauk says.

DAY TO DAY

The company’s vast reach ranges 450 kilometers north to Fort McMurray, where it is the largest volume builder and 800 kilometers west to British Columbia. As a general contractor, Rohit Communities maintains its own internal design team and supplies superintendents, project managers and some site labor while subbing out the individual trades.

Rohit has also embarked on some sustainable initiatives toward eco-friendly design and build options. “We have not yet pursued full certification. Instead, we have first selected the items that our home owners have indicated represent the best value and integrated them into our building process,” Dauk says.

The company maintains a full-time safety coordinator and contracts with an independent auditor for site safety checks. The responsibility for regular safety meetings falls to the superintendents at each site. For scheduling and project management, Rohit uses Constellation Homebuilders’ NewStar software.

THE FUTURE

The company continues to grow, its stability reflected by the addition of 16 employees in the final two months of 2009. Rohit has opened an office in Kelowna, is expanding its main office space by 40 percent and hasn’t lost a single salesperson in more than 18 months.

“A year ago, when things were less optimistic, Radhe gave a chuckle and stated ‘every winter, it feels like there is no end in sight, but the summer will come.’ Well, now it’s spring and it already feels great,” Dauk concludes.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

COMPANY: Rohit Group of Companies

CEO: Rahde Gupta

OPERATIONS: Vertically integrated with residential, commercial, land development and finance divisions

ESTABLISHED: 1986

EMPLOYEES: 100

REVENUE: $150 million

www.rohitcommunities.com

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