Andrew Rosti is director of investments at Grubb Properties in Charlotte. The most satisfying part of his job, he says, is “working through unique capital structures and working creatively to attract new capital.” What helps him do his job well is also what he considers his greatest leadership strength: a well-developed sense of patience.

Patience and a determination to overcome obstacles are two traits that served Andrew well recently, while working on the Park at Perimeter Center East in the Atlanta suburb of Dunwoody. Grubb Properties had been working with local officials to redevelop a large site there that had once been home to parking lots and Dunwoody’s town hall. Its initial plan was facing rejection when Grubb took a different tack, substituting condos for apartments in a mixed-use plan that added 500,000 square feet of office space to the site. Andrew says Perimeter Center East is among the most interesting challenges he has faced.

Prior to joining Grubb, Andrew worked for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Housing Partnership; before that, he spent several years in development and acquisitions for PNC Realty Investors. He credits his membership in ULI for broadening his connections in the industry and for being “a great source of ideas on how [to] improve our urban environments.” That’s playing out with the Dunwoody project, as Grubb has emphasized connectivity between the project and its neighbors.

Andrew is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics before heading to Johns Hopkins University to complete a master’s in real estate. He is a native of Salem, Va., in the southwestern part of the state. Growing up in the mountains had a big impact on his life, and he draws inspiration from many family members. Andrew credits his great uncle H.A. Street, a lawyer and real estate entrepreneur working primarily in small Appalachian communities, for setting a good example, in terms of humility and a dedication to service. The last book Andrew read was Hillbilly Elegy, J.D. Vance’s sobering portrait of life in Appalachia. Charlottesville remains a favorite place to visit.

His career advice? “Never be afraid to ask someone how they got where they are and what they do and do not like about their job.”

Andrew and his wife, Lindsay, have two young daughters and an infant son.