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Gosder Cherilus
Gosder Cherilus
Title: Managing Partner, Eagle Development
Age: 33
Experience: 7 years
A nine-year career as an NFL lineman prepared Gosder Cherilus for the competitive world of Greater Boston’s commercial real estate industry. A native of Haiti whose family moved to Somerville in his teens, Cherilus played at Somerville High School and Boston College before going pro. Retiring this spring after eight knee surgeries, Cherilus had a career to fall back on at Eagle Development Partners, a Stoneham-based real estate company where he’s been a managing partner since 2010. Eagle Development is providing construction management oversight for the mixed-use Woburn Landing development and partnering with the Arcand family on a 40-unit apartment complex at 446 Cambridge St. in Allston.
Q: What’s it like to put your NFL days behind you?
A: I’m excited but nervous at the same time. When you talk about 21 years of mastering a profession, that’s what I know. That’s how I used to find my peace of mind. Every day I woke up and it was all about football. Now you tell me I have to put on a suit, put on a different hat. I’m excited. I love new challenges.
Q: In evaluating post-NFL careers, why commercial real estate?
A: I’ve got a good story for you. When I was 14, my buddy and I used to work out every day. One day on our way back from working out, a gentleman said, “You guys look pretty big – do you want to work? Clean this house out, and I’ll pay you.” I was picking up gravel and rocks and throwing them in the dumpster. My whole body was sore and I told myself I’d never get involved with construction. (Eagle Development Principal) Tom Macone said, “There’s a way to work smarter, not harder.” He started telling me about flipping homes, and when I first got to the league, I wasn’t comfortable giving all my money to one financial adviser. I reached out to Tom and (Eagle Development Principal) Andrew Copelotti and I told them what I wanted to do.
Q: How did you originally meet Tom Macone?
A: Tom met me at the YMCA when I was a young boy. We’d work out together. We’ve been friends since I was 14.
Q: What were your goals forming your charitable foundation?
A: It was always a personal goal of mine to help people out. When I was at Boston College I volunteered to do some work at a small school in Charlestown, Edwards Middle School. We’d go there every summer. They needed guidance. We’d drive down and go to the school and try to teach them a different way of seeing things. We came from the city, so we understood some of the kids’ anger. You have a kid who woke up at 6 a.m. and at 7 he’s on a bus. He’s hungry. We came in and saw some gang members. The truth is they didn’t have any guidance. That’s where we came in.
We had a pen pal program with schools all over Massachusetts, and we’d invite them to B.C. to have a picnic. With the pen pal, we’d pair them up with a student at B.C. The quickest way to be successful is to be educated. And come back home and teach your siblings. I started my own foundation back in 2009 and we got our hands dirty and started doing some work around here in Massachusetts and Detroit where I was playing.
With the (2010) earthquake in Haiti, being Haitian and being in a position to help, I couldn’t sit back and watch. Myself and the president of my foundation put together a team of 36 doctors and nurses to send to Haiti to help out. Every year after that we’ve done different charity trips to Haiti, building schools and latrine toilets in a small town.
Q: What advice would you give people considering CRE for a second career?
A: Know the job, know what’s going on and see if it’s for you. It’s a beautiful career if you’re willing to put in the work and do all the due diligence. It’s extremely tough competition. There’s a right and wrong way of doing things. You’re not trying to cut corners. You play by the rules and make the right connections and build your base the right way, especially here in Boston with all that we have going on with the Seaport area, the casino and Boston being more populated every day. If you do it the right way, there’s plenty of work for all of us. The sky’s the limit, if you come in early as a young guy and build yourself up and make the right connections.
Cherilus’ Five Favorite Places To Visit:
- Monaco; perfect weather
- Barcelona; great seafood paella and red wine
- St. Lucia; the hospitality and the positive mindset of the locals
- Anywhere on Lake Winnipesaukee; great for fishing and peace of mind
- Haiti; love their resiliency and gratefulness
