Starting and growing a housing development company in a market dominated by national builders is Richard Gustafson’s biggest accomplishment. This 38-year-old Point Loma native is president of CityMark Development, the company he began with two partners in 2000.

Most important to Gustafson is helping satisfy San Diego’s thirst for urban homes.

“Our focus is urban infill and redevelopment,” he says. “Into smart growth, we are putting housing closer to jobs.”

CityMark has two Downtown housing projects, CityMark at Cortez Hill, which is sold out, and Doma, under construction in Little Italy. In La Mesa, the firm is developing Paseo, a project that includes town homes and live/work lofts.

A licensed general contractor and certified public accountant, Gustafson has a bachelor’s degree in economics and accounting from Claremont McKenna College. He is affiliated with LEAD San Diego, an educational nonprofit organization that builds leadership skills and is on the master-marketing program advisory board for Centre City Development Corp. He has served on the board of the San Diego Building Industry Association, is a past president of the BIA’s North County division and a member of the BIA President’s Council, as well as a member of the Urban Land Institute.

Father to a 6-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy, he has his hands full outside the office as well. True to his Point Loma background, Gustafson is an avid surfer. He also skis, runs and can be found on the green, when not spending time with his family.

— Maria L. Kirkpatrick