Dick Anagnost, Godfather of Development

Each day, we profile one member of our 2012 Influencer Index.

While Dick Anagnost is known for some of the state's premier development projects-from the River's Edge health care complex in Manchester to thousands of affordable housing units to the new plaza in Bedford that houses The Copper Door, Anagnost sees his work as developing jobs, and helping the state along the way. He owns more than two million square feet of retail, residential and commercial space in Southern NH, and for every project, he gives something back to the community. With River's Edge, he donated five acres to the city for a park. With the Copper Door project, he is building an ice rink and park in Bedford. He also donates his time and money by serving on numerous nonprofits boards including The Moore Center and Families in Transition in Manchester and serving as chair the Workforce Opportunity Council. (He was instrumental in bringing a Job Corps Center to NH.) We want to attract more outside businesses to the area to bring jobs in, Anagnost says of his main goal.