Leadership
Jon Rooks
Jon Rooks is the Founder & President of Parkland Properties.
Jon started Parkland in his early 20’s and over the last 30 years, grew Parkland into one of the largest real estate firms in West Michigan while developing some of the most well-known projects in the area.
At a young age and while flipping homes, Jon acquired a passion for finding creative ways of taking something old and useless, and making it useful again. This mindsight would later spur him to transform the abandoned Union High School into Union Square Condominium, the old Berkely Gay Furniture Factory into Boardwalk Condominium, a Greek Revival office building into Cityview Condominium, and to perform many other iconic projects that define the West Michigan landscape.
Jon is credited as being the pioneer that brought thousands of residents into downtown Grand Rapids in the early 2000’s to help support the transformation of downtown. Jon is also responsible for bringing another 200 full time residents to downtown Muskegon and has been the largest private real estate developer in downtown Muskegon in the last 30 years.
Jon is actively involved in Parkland’s operations and strategic planning.
Jon was the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow from the Rotary Foundation, and the 2012 University of Michigan/Urban Land Institute ‘Real Estate Excellence’ and ‘Lifetime Achievement’ awards. These awards recognize individuals for their community contributions and their real estate, civic, charitable and philanthropic efforts. Jon is also consistently identified in the Crain’s Grand Rapids Business 200 List, which recognizes the most influential executives in West Michigan.
Jon attended Calvin College and the University of Michigan Business School.
Rory Charron
Rory Charron is Chief Operating Officer of Parkland Properties.
Rory started his professional career assisting attorneys on complex real estate and business transactions. Rory joined Parkland’s real estate development division in 2015; in 2020, became Parkland’s Director of Operations & Real Estate; and in 2024, Rory became Parkland’s Chief Operating Officer.
Since 2015, Parkland has expanded the Wharf Marina, developed the 70-waterfront homesite community at Terrace Point Landing and the 9-story Highpoint Flats apartments, renovated the Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor to the Delta Hotels by Marriott Muskegon Convention Center, and developed the Muskegon Convention Center in collaboration with the City and County of Muskegon. More recently, Parkland is redeveloping the abandoned, former Shaw Walker Furniture Company into over 600 residential units, with complimenting retail and office space; and redeveloping the 123-acre former Sappi Paper mill site (known as Windward Pointe) into over 2,000 residential units with supporting retail, a marina, and an in-and-out boat storage operation.
Since joining Parkland, the company has grown from an average of 150 employees to over 250 employees across 20 different businesses in West Michigan. Rory oversees the operations of Parkland’s portfolio of properties and is involved in the company’s strategic planning.
At the age of 31, Rory was recognized by the Crain’s Grand Rapids Business Journal in their 40-under-40 edition. This award recognizes emerging leaders across West Michigan that showcase “the grit, resolve and intellect needed to help propel their companies and the region’s economy forward in the coming years”.
Rory was also the recipient of the Future 15, which is an award by the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce recognizing outstanding and up-and-coming young professionals that are excelling within their workplace and in their service to the Muskegon lakeshore region.
Rory attended Grand Valley State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in legal studies and business.