ABOUT US

3^rd Rock Development Company LLC (3RockD) is a community development company formed to design, build, and manage mixed-use "green communities" in underserved urban communities across the world. 3RockD's mission is to create sustainable, smart-growth developments, called “3RockD Sites,” that utilize environmentally conscious technologies and materials, and harness innovation to catalyze positive socio-economic growth in the communities surrounding each 3RockD campus. 3RockD synergizes elements of government policy, urban development, sustainable resource development, social development, and economic growth in a way that develop communities that take into account the needs and wants of stakeholders living and working in 3RockD communities. The ability to utilize the extraordinary research and academic expertise of 3RockD management, advisory board, and the company’s collaborators sets 3RockD apart from other community development companies because 3RockD sites are more than just environmentally friendly or "green" developments—they are engines for local economic growth; catalysts for local green development; locus points for community collaboration and participation; and community resources.

Incorporated as a limited liability company, 3RockD is based in Honolulu, Hawaii with local operation centers located at each 3RockD Site. 3RockD is structured as a lean management company that designs and manages each site thorough its subsidiary LLCs who then hire and contract local sub-contractors, construction firms, architects, plumbers, electricians, and other service providers that provide labor, support, administration and service.

Each 3RockD Site is owned and operated by a local subsidiary LLC with 3RockD LLC holding some ownership interest. Each LLC is capitalized through a pool of investors specific to each site—allowing investors the opportunity to take part in local development projects that are making a positive difference in areas of the world that are of interest to them.

Dr. James Spencer, Co-Director, Globalization Research Center and Professor, Political Science, University of Hawaii at Manoa; developed the idea of 3RockD in the fall of 2008 as a way to contribute to the important effort of designing and building sustainable global urban communities. In addition to its business ventures, 3RockD collaborates with universities, international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), and non-profit entities to provide research capabilities, resources and expertise to organizations and entities engaged in the sustainable urban development industry.

3RockD firmly believes that creating sustainable communities founded on participation at the grassroots level not only helps the environment and economy of each location it develops, but also helps to develop greater social cohesion and greater community participation in the adoption of eco-economic behavior that leads to smart-growth practices that are learned, implemented, and sustained at the local and individual and household level. Smart-growth, green development, and sustainable development are land use planning concepts that include consideration of community-wide or regional environmental implications of development, as well as site-specific green building concepts. This includes city planning, social and economic development, environmental planning, architecture, and community building.

3RockD’s first project is the development of a 20-acre mixed-use green village in Qui Nhon, the provincial capital city of Binh Dinh Province, Viet Nam. This project is aimed at helping to establish Viet Nam as one of the first green nations in Asia, and its 88.5 million residents as some of the world’s first green citizens. This location is being dubbed as Viet Nam’s first "Green Village."

FOUNDERS

Dr. James Spencer

Dr. James Spencer (Founder and President), is the Director of the Globalization Research Center and Professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Political Science on looking at ways that developing communities whether they be local or international could utilize multiple sources of solutions that would create a platform to duplicate the dissemination of best practices and provide a framework for the building, management and clinical study that will accompany the process. Dr. Spencer’s research focus is on community level development initiatives in the US and in Southeast Asia.His publications on urban policy, informal community-level institutions providing urban services, and urbanization in Southeast Asia have appeared in some of the major planning journals such as the Journal of Planning Education and Research, Urban Affairs Review, and International Development Planning Review. His professional experience includes work as a Project Co-ordinator for the US NGO Forum on Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos (1992-1993); The Nautilus Institute (1995-96); and the Ford Foundation (1996-2000). Currently he manages a $1 million, multi-year training and curriculum development program for the Ha Noi Architecture University (HAU). His research and training work in Viet Nam has been supported by the Ford Foundation and the National Science Foundation. As specialists in the Viet Nam market, 3RockD has the necessary local expertise and contacts to source and create 3RockD Sites that are lucrative environmental investments.

Diem Van Groth

Diem Van Groth (Co-Founder & Director of Operations), is an urban entrepreneur with extensive experience in a wide range of industries. At age 18, Diem began as an intern in the corporate finance department at Minneapolis based Dain Bosworth, Inc., a regional investment bank, now called RBC Dain Rauscher Inc. While in college, Diem founded Elite Promotions, a service provider for traveling pro-athletes and pro sports teams. After college, Diem rose to the level of Executive Director for a $200M leading International marketing company, INC Magazine’s 1996 Fastest Growing US Company; managed a national team of VAR channel sales companies and service providers for InternetConnect, a $193M nationwide ISP provider of VPN/Added Value Services and Broad Band/Connectivity Solutions; and founded ZGyde, Inc., an urban business development and socio-economic consulting firm which specializes in creating business plans, managing financing campaigns, and directing strategy for several inner-city foundations, junior youth organizations, entertainers and urban entrepreneurs and entities. Diem is a board member of the Pan African Leadership Development Institute and Foundation (PALDIF), a Non Governmental Organization developed by the late Dr. Mosé Tjitendero, the former Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia; and is the former Co-Developer and Board Member of Full-Circle Learning Academy charter school (LAUSD). Currently, Diem is the president and founder of Tisza Wine Co., a distribution company that works directly with Hungary’s elite wine producers as their exclusive North American distribution partner. Diem holds a BA degree in international relations with an emphasis on international economics, and a BA degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

KEY CONTACTS

Below is a partial list of people who support and advise 3rd Rock Development LLC:

• Sesto Vecchi: Partner, Russin and Vecchi Law Firm
• Melvin Oliver: Dean, UC Santa Barbara College of Social Sciences, Former VP of Assets and Community Development, the Ford Foundation
• Lowell Weiss: President, Cascade Philanthropy Advisors
• Chinh Dao: President and Founder, AIC Capital
• Puongpun Sananikone: President PACMAR, Inc.; Board of Governors, East West Center
• N. Bird Runningwater: Media Consultant on Native American issues
• Ben Packard: Interim Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Starbucks
• Thuyen Nguyen: President and CEO, Data Agent
• Agenor Mafra Neto: President and CEO, ISCA Techologies
• Anne Stuhldreher: Fellow, New America Foundation
• Tom Miller
• Truong Tan Nghiep: CEO of a French Pharmaceutical Co
• Truong Tan Nguon: Former Executive of Accor Hotels Worldwide
• Professor Edmond Keller: Chair of Political Science, former Director of Globalization Research Center/African Studies, UCLA
• Andrew Lee: Director of Research and Policy Analysis, Aetna
• Lena Gan: Financial Advisor, Global Wealth Management, Merill Lynch
• Professor Paul Ong: Urban Planning, UCLA
• Ted Okada: Director, Microsoft Humanitarian Systems
• Jean Miao
• Laura Barrientos: VP/Snr Credit Officer, Moody's Investor Services
• Professor Seiji Naya: Economics, University of Hawaii; former Chief Economist, Asian Dev Bank; Former Director Hawaii Dept of Business
• Economic Development and Tourism
• Neil Abercrombie: US Congressional Representative of Hawaii Second District
• Elizabeth Campbell: VP for Programs, Rockefeller Brothers Fund
• Susan Berresford: Former President, Ford Foundation
• Nina Schwalbe: Director of Policy, TB Alliance
• Peter Riggs: Program Officer for Climate Change, the Ford Foundation
• Don Chen: Program Officer for Community Development, the Ford Foundation
• Brian Trelsted: Chief Investment Officer, the Acumen Fund
• Roland Anglin: Faculty Fellow, Rutgers University Bloustein School
• Professor Nancy Peluso: Chair, Dept of Society and the Environment
• Jonathan Scheuer: Director, Land Management, Office of Hawaiian Affairs

• Ministry of Construction
• Ministry of Planning and Investment
• Representatives of the Engineering and Construction Industry
• Citizen Representatives
• The National Environmental Agency, a branch of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment
• Viet Nam National Parks and Protected Areas Association (VNPPA)
• Departments of Science, Technology, and the Environment
• Non-governmental organizations, particularly the Institute of Ecological Economics Prof To Lang: Vice Rector, Ha Noi Architecture
• Prof Do Hau: Director Ha Noi Architecture University Training Center, former Vice Rector
• Prof Do Dinh Duc: Rector, Ha Noi Architecture
• Luu Duc Hai: Director, Viet Nam Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning, Ministry of Construction
• Ngo Trung Hai: Vice Director, Viet Nam Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning
• Hanh: Mid-level professional in Ministry of Planning and Investment
• Dang Nguyen Anh: Vice Director for International Relations, Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences
• Vice Chair, People’s Committee: Thua Thien Hue Province
• Mayor, Hue City
• Tran Du Lich: Member of National Assembly, former Director, Institute of Economic Research, Ho Chi Minh City
• Nguyen Dung: Important HCMC Businessman, son of Former Minister of Tourism, and friend of Vietnamese president
• Nguyen Thi Mai Thanh: Important businesswoman in Ho Chi Minh City, daughter of a famous general
• Gian Thanh Son: Well known journalist who has profiled most of the country’s senior leadership