The Viera Company President Todd Pokrywa on Leadership, Vision, Relationships
A native of Canada, Todd Pokrywa wrote a research paper as a college student in the 1990s on the planned community of Viera. Then, he made his way to that community as he joined The Viera Company in 2014 and ultimately became president in 2018. Pokrywa is actively involved in the community and the real estate development industry at the local, state, and national levels. Read on to learn more about his leadership style, his team’s impact and future vision, and how his passion for hockey relates to all of that.
How has your expertise in developing Viera grown? Do you seek out sources of inspiration?
The top- selling master-planned community of Viera has had a proven track record of responsible and thoughtful development from its inception. I have grown from being the urban planning college student in the early 1990s researching my thesis that focused on the planned community of Viera to leading the team as we further evolve the master plan with innovations in new residential villages and emerging mixed-use commercial hubs.
I draw inspiration to be deliberate in planning our future expansion from working alongside the exceptional team of professionals at The Viera Company and its affiliated businesses as we enter our next phase of growth. It is exciting to get up every morning and go to work with them, and no two days are ever the same.
We are designing and delivering places for people to live, work, play, worship and recreate while enhancing the value of what we will do next with what we are developing today; there are few opportunities in the nation to have a blank canvas and create a new town like Viera.
Bringing a unique perspective can sometimes be a challenge. How do you keep your edge?
I research best practices and lessons learned by being involved in organizations such as the Urban Land Institute where I have the opportunity to tour and gain insights from a wide variety of development projects across many geographic areas. Collaborating with the many public and private stakeholders in the Space Coast market and bringing a different perspective to our challenges and opportunities continue to move our community forward.
In addressing the issues before us, I highly value the importance of building relationships and forging partnerships with the major employers in our region, the Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, Brevard County Government, Brevard Public Schools, and a whole host of nonprofit organizations. I also interface with those in the real estate development industry and counterpart master-planned communities through the Association of Florida Community Developers where we come together to address issues of importance at the state level.
You have a passion for hockey and this is evident in various physical elements you have brought to the community and in various charitable participation. How has your passion for this sport worked for you in the ways you communicate your leadership style?
We all come from different walks of life, a variety of places, and bring distinct skills with unique experiences to our respective positions in the community, but it is imperative we work together as a team to achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves. The same is true with a successful hockey team in that everyone has a position to play, but no one can do it all alone — not even the captain.
This doesn’t necessarily mean we achieve what we set out to do because everyone in their positions are the best at what they do; it is how well we complement one another and work in unison by following a common mission and vision to reach the target. As Herb Brooks, the coach of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Men’s US Olympic Hockey Team, once said, “All-star teams fail because they rely solely on the individual's talent. The Soviets win because they take that talent and use it inside a system that's designed for the betterment of the team.”
As a leader, I believe it is essential to equip the team with the tools and resources they need to be successful in performing their responsibilities at a high level and to encourage their continued development while recognizing the many accomplishments along the way.
How often do you need to use topical debate in your management style?
My management style involves an open sharing of perspectives and ideas. Topical debate amongst the group can lead to identification of some of the best pathways relative to with who, what, where, why, when, and how we move forward as a team in pursuit of our goals.
Have you ever had to offer a blueprint in times of crisis? Or rather, speak of an experience where your experience really shined either during your time leading Viera, working with the Melbourne Chamber or working with the charities you are fond of.
Providing motivation and steady direction during the pandemic with many uncertain circumstances, high emotions, and unpredictable shifts in the economy and societal responses was critical to helping the team successfully navigate through an unprecedented time. This was a period that began with an early evaluation of what projects could be deferred in anticipating the potential impact of the crisis on the real estate market and quickly shifted to what developments could be accelerated to respond to unanticipated and increased residential and commercial demand in Florida.
Learn More
The Viera Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of A. Duda & Sons, Inc., manages commercial and residential development of the company’s nonagricultural property and is the master developer of the masterplanned community of Viera in Brevard County, Florida. The company’s integrated real estate operations include Viera Builders, Viera Commercial Properties, the Addison Village Club and the Duran Golf Club in Viera.
Facebook: /TheVieraCompany, /vieraflorida
Instagram: @thevieraco
YouTube: Viera Discovery Center
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-viera-company
Viera Vision: Viera.com/Viera-vision
Meet Our Thought Leader
Todd Pokrywa became president of The Viera Company on Sept. 1, 2018. He is responsible for overseeing the planning, development, marketing and sale of land owned and managed by The Viera Company, primarily the ongoing expansion of the masterplanned community of Viera.
Todd is actively involved in the community and the real estate development industry at the local, state, and national levels. He graduated with honors from the University of Waterloo, Canada, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning. He earned a master’s degree in administration with a specialization in organizational leadership from the University of South Dakota. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Todd relocated to Florida in 1995. He is an avid ice hockey enthusiast. He lives in Brevard County with his wife, Cyndi.
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