Shelton Haynes at the helm of RIOC
Shelton Haynes, former Chief Operating Officer and the current president and CEO of Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, has been involved with the company since his earliest days to help revitalize this small Island.
He has overseen massive changes that have helped to turn the Island into a top tourist destination on the east coast. It takes work to cut through the noise and be heard. As CEO of Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, Shelton Haynes knows this all too well. But what he does have is a remarkable story of success and hard work. Shelton’s determination and tenacity are paying off.
As Haynes sees it, he was born to build something with Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation that would give back to New Yorkers who need it most. He is dedicated to ensuring that the people who live on Roosevelt Island have access to modern infrastructure and social amenities. Under Haynes’s leadership, the corporation has made great strides in improving the quality of life on Roosevelt Island. His philosophy is to maintain the Island’s historical significance while offering a modern, safe and pleasant living environment.
The challenges of being a leader are not confined to Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation but transcend that. Haynes stresses the importance of being in tune with your market and always striving for innovation. He also urges new leaders to remember that they are entitled to nothing, as everything they have today has been worked for and earned by their own labor.
Haynes does not believe an individual should be responsible for making all the big decisions at RIOC; teamwork and collaboration can only get you so far. The Island is now where people live, work, and play. Haynes appreciates cooperation in establishing a cohesive community.
Haynes has ambitious plans for RIOC, including turning it into a new destination for tourists and city dwellers by creating new educational programs on technology and modern science and improving infrastructure.
These advancements have culminated in the biggest, most ambitious project on the Island under Haynes’s direction. Haynes has been recognized by the city and others as an example of leadership and innovation.