Bob Friedland is the Founder and Chairman of Westrock Development. In 1971, Bob established Friedland Realty Inc. as an industrial real estate brokerage firm servicing the Bronx and Lower Westchester. The company started as a one-man operation in the basement of an office building, with a focus on industrial real estate. Thirty-eight years later, Friedland Realty Inc. is the largest privately owned commercial real estate firm in the Bronx and Westchester area, with more than twenty brokers specializing in Industrial, Retail and Office leasing and sales.
While running Friedland Realty, Bob Friedland began a side-practice of investing in commercial real estate, often putting together syndications and other joint venture deals. For the most part, these deals were value added investments, where some level of development was done in order to make a property realize its intrinsic value. These investments proved to be extremely lucrative for both Mr. Friedland and his investors. It was a natural progression to look for value-added investment opportunities on a full time basis. In the spring of 2001, Westrock Development was created.
In addition to this role, Bob is also the Chairman of Shleppers Moving & Storage. Shleppers is one of the largest moving companies in New York City and the entire New York Tri State area. Shleppers handles residential and commercial moves and ships across the country.
Bob is also the owner and Chairman of Kia of Old Saybrook, a dealership in Old Saybrook, Connecticut that sells KIAs and new cars. Out of this dealership, Bob is also the owner and Chairman of Sensible Car Rental & Sales, a bank that lends money to customers to finance the purchase of used cars.
Mr. Friedland earned his bachelor degree from Bard College, and received an MBA from Adelphi University. Prior to this, he did graduate work in Physics at the University of Connecticut.
Mr. Friedland is a member of the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce, the Westchester Chamber of Commerce, SIOR (the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors), IOREBA (Industrial and Office Real Estate Brokers Association, ICSC (International Conference of Shopping Centers). In addition, Mr. Friedland is involved with UJA, the ADL, and the Masorti Movement.