J.David Heller
J. David Heller is the President, CEO and Cofounder of The NRP Group.
Over the past 29 years, NRP has become one of the largest multifamily development, construction, and property management companies in the U.S. Since its founding in 1994, The NRP Group has developed more than 50,000 apartment homes and currently manages over 26,000 residential units across its fifteen-state footprint.
The NRP Group ranks consistently in the Top 10 largest developers and builders in the U.S. by the National Multifamily Housing Council and by Affordable Housing Finance. The NRP Group is a winner of the National Association of Home Builders Multifamily Pillars of the Industry award for “Builder of the Year,” and a four-time recipient of the Pillar Award for “Development Firm of the Year.” The NRP Group has become the top multifamily developer in the U.S. that creates both affordable and market rate communities at national scale.
Prior to founding The NRP Group, Heller worked as a consultant for The Townsend Group where he was responsible for more than $3.6 billion in real estate investments over a two-year period. Developments included office, industrial, retail, single family, and multifamily construction projects. Additionally, he helped direct portfolio diversification, asset management, investment strategy and project underwriting. Heller then spent five years at Arthur Andersen & Co. in Chicago as a manager in the real estate consulting division. He performed feasibility studies and market analysis, created strategic plans, and audited real estate partnerships for major clients of the firm.
Heller is deeply committed to community service and has a long history of leadership positions in civic organizations. In January 2009, the President of the United States appointed him to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. In 2010, Ernst & Young Cleveland recognized him as “Entrepreneur of the Year.” He joined the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund Board in 2008 and continued to serve after the board reappointed him in 2012, 2016 and 2020.
To support the multifamily sector, Heller currently serves on the executive committee and is past Chairman of the Housing Credit Group for the National Association of Home Builders. He serves on the advisory board for the Campaign for Affordable Housing and the editorial advisory board for Affordable Housing Finance magazine. He also serves as a board officer for the Housing Advisory Group. A certified public accountant, Heller is a member of the AICPA.
In the broader community, Heller serves on the boards of University Hospitals of Cleveland, Parkwood Corporation, United Way of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Heller also serves on university boards including Case Western Reserve University, the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, and formerly served on the board of Cuyahoga Community College and chaired the board of Northeast Ohio Medical University.
Heller also devotes himself the Jewish community in Northeast Ohio and around the world. Following his role as Campaign Chair in 2013 and 2014, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland named Heller Board Chairman for the 2019-2022 term. He served as an officer of the Federation from 2007-2018 and served on the Executive Committee of the Federation’s Board of Trustees. He is a past chair of the Federation’s Government Relations Committee, past president of Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, past president of Ohio Jewish Communities, and past vice president of Gross Schechter Day School.
Heller holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan and in 2017, the Ross School of Business honored him with the David D. Alger Alumni Achievement Award that recognizes alumni who have brought distinction to themselves, credit to the school, and benefit to their fellow citizens.
Heller lives in suburban Cleveland with his wife Rebecca. They have four children, Lindsey, Ben, Ellie and Sam.