CEO
Contact Tre': tgiller@drk-realty.com | Call
Rowland S. (Tre') Giller, III is president and chief executive officer of Metro Development and Donald R. Kenney & Company (DRK). Under his leadership, the company has astutely stayed ahead of major shifts in the real estate market, finding success developing and selling multi-family and single-family communities throughout central Ohio. Mr. Giller’s emphasis on strategic planning, reducing labor costs, and implementing process improvements have led to record-setting growth and profitability.
At his direction, the company was among the first central Ohio builders to pivot its focus from single-family homes to the rental market. Since 2008, the company has constructed and sold more than 20,000 multi-family units in central Ohio, representing more than $3.5 billion in construction. The company also manages more than 3 million square feet of commercial space. Mr. Giller’s ability to identify potential building sites, navigate the zoning process while working with city, county and state government while managing construction costs, have led to Metro’s successful projects.
Mr. Giller, who has held numerous positions at Metro/DRK and its affiliated companies, has gained a deep understanding of the central Ohio real estate market. He has served as a real estate agent, sales manager and later acquired his realtor broker license. He currently is the broker for DRK’s brokerage operations. He foresaw the need for high-end apartments to appeal to young professionals and empty nesters who want amenities without mortgages. His ability to grasp complex issues and offer creative solutions has made him a sought-after partner for anyone looking to buy or build multi-family units or seeking advice about property management. He’s also an entrepreneur who has helped the company expand its services and develop new businesses, including the American Power and Light Company, a utility billing service that generates $40 million in revenue annually and serves 21,000 customers in central Ohio.
While Mr. Giller has been CEO, the company has reduced labor costs by 47 percent and increased its cash flow by 350 percent. Mr. Giller oversees a budget of $350 million and manages assets in excess of $1.5 billion. During his tenure as investment sales manager, his team has sold more than $2.1 billion in commercial and multi-family real estate. In addition to his role with Metro, Mr. Giller also oversees the management and operations of Village Communities, Triangle Commercial Management, American Power and Light and Columbus & Central Ohio Systems.
Governor John R. Kasich appointed Mr. Giller to serve on the Ohio Real Estate Commission Board in 2012, and he served as its president until the term ended in August of 2021. He is active with the Columbus Board of Realtors, the Ohio Association of Realtors, the Buildings Industry Association (BIA), and as a board member on the Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP), of which he was a past president of the organization. He also teaches real estate education courses and leads seminars for real estate professionals and potential investors.
Mr. Giller graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in history and a minor in photography. While at SMU, Mr. Giller was an all-conference football player; after graduation, he joined the Chicago Bears as a free agent. After his free agency with the Bears, he took a position with the Gordon Company, a food brokerage. He began in sales and quickly moved to sales manager before joining the DRK team in 1997
