Roger Gaudette is a seasoned leader in construction, development, and real estate strategy, with over 30 years of experience guiding complex industrial, commercial, and civic projects from vision to execution. He currently serves as Strategic Development Director at The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc., where he helps shape growth initiatives that integrate civil engineering, environmental consulting, and large-scale construction management across both public and private sectors.
Roger spent nearly two decades at Ford Land, the real estate arm of Ford Motor Company, where he held several executive roles and played a pivotal part in reshaping the company's global footprint. As Executive Director of Detroit Development, he led Ford's initial evaluation and acquisition strategy for the historic Michigan Central Station and oversaw the early-stage contractor partnerships that would restore the iconic structure into Ford's future mobility innovation hub. Prior to that, as Director of the Dearborn Facility Strategy, Roger authored the Dearborn Campus Master Plan, reimagining over 7 million square feet of office, R&D, and manufacturing space. He introduced data-driven workplace strategies, conducted deep facility assessments, and led long-term capital forecasting for Ford's largest corporate campus.
Earlier in his career at Ford, Roger directed Planning, Estimating, Engineering, and Global Asset Management, overseeing pre-programming for manufacturing facilities and driving efficiencies in equipment redeployment and surplus asset monetization worldwide. He also led Ford's Engineering, Construction, and Decommissioning division, managing environmentally sensitive plant closures and real estate dispositions in coordination with environmental regulators. One of his most formative assignments was as Director of Rouge Site Services and Construction, where he spearheaded the Heritage 2000 Project—an ambitious overhaul of the historic Rouge Center that included the construction of the new Dearborn Assembly Plant, a state-of-the-art body shop, a visitor center, and a campus-wide utility overhaul, all while pioneering early sustainability initiatives and working closely with labor partners.
Roger's expertise spans construction and program management, master planning and development strategy, environmental remediation, asset optimization, and stakeholder coordination at every level—from union leadership to C-suite executives and municipal officials. Trained as an architect, he holds both a Master's and Bachelor's degree in Architecture from the University of Michigan, bringing a design-conscious lens to every technical, financial, and operational decision.
Whether revitalizing legacy industrial sites or advising forward-looking infrastructure projects, Roger combines architectural discipline with business acumen and a deep commitment to sustainable, community-oriented development. Today, at Mannik & Smith, he continues to help clients navigate risk and unlock opportunity as they plan, entitle, and build the future.
Education
Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Architecture from the University of Michigan.
