Professional Profile: Paul Kruger 2013

Name: Paul Kruger Title: Project Manager Company: Omni Housing Development, LLC Location: Albany, NY Birthplace: Queens, NY Education: MSc Accountancy; SUNY IT, 2012, MBA Finance; Wharton School, 1992, BA Economics; SUNY Buffalo, 1981, BSc Civil Engineering; SUNY Buffalo, 1981 First job outside of real estate: Research engineer working on a U.S. Air Force funded project to develop materials and processes to rapidly repair bomb damaged airfields. First job in real estate or allied field: Construction Manager in charge of the construction of 115 underground chemical-biological protective shelters on U.S. Air Force bases in Germany and Holland. What do you do now and what are you planning for the future? My work at Omni touches all aspects of developing, owning, and managing affordable housing projects. We work principally in upstate New York. My future plans are to continue my professional development and focus my efforts on the lesser served market sectors - such as housing for veterans. How do you unwind from a busy day in real estate? Weather permitting, I fly my LS3a glider with the Adirondack Soaring Association out of Saratoga County Airport. Wife not permitting, we take our golden retriever to local parks for a hike and a swim. Favorite book or author: The Looking Glass War by John LeCarre. Favorite movie: Big Night with Stanley Tucci. Last song you downloaded? Guns and Roses - can't recall the name but it had a good beat - for my running machine. One word to describe your work environment: Fluid. Rules to live by in business: Never underestimate your competition. 90% of success is just showing up. If you could invite one person to dinner (living or dead) who would it be and where would you go? I would go to Bocce's Pizza in Buffalo with my father. He died relatively young and before I got to know him as a person. He spent most of his life as an FBI agent chasing bank robbers and the mafia, and was rather tight lipped about his work. He loved Bocce's and I would hope to get him to share his best stories over pizza and a beer. What is your dream job? Sunken Treasure Hunter.