Ross Drucker All Star Card

Ross Drucker was born and raised in Roslyn, New York, a New York City suburb on the north shore of Long Island, known for its historic sites and tight-knit community. From an early age, he was introduced to the real estate industry by his aunt and uncle, who were affordable housing property managers. During the summers, he’d accompany them and see firsthand their work with tenants, learning the ins and outs of the complicated world that makes up NYC real estate. 

At 17 years old, Ross discovered another passion and joined the local fire department as a volunteer. He had always enjoyed giving back to his community, and this provided him with the perfect outlet to fulfill that goal and build a lifelong bond through camaraderie. Although he felt a sense of purpose through helping others in times of emergencies, he was still drawn to the real estate industry. Ross attended Long Island University to study business and received a full scholarship by serving as an Emergency Medical Technician for the school.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration with a concentration in finance, he lived in Manhattan for several years. Ross joined Freddie Mac in 2015 as an underwriting associate on the Conventional team. Not long after, he made the move to Production & Sales on the Small Balance Loans team, and has continued to thrive ever since. After over eight years with Freddie Mac, Ross now manages the SBL Production & Sales Team, overseeing the Northeast region. 

Even with all the great work he does here at Freddie Mac, Ross still finds the time to volunteer at his local fire department. Let’s hear from him about how his unique experience has contributed to his success at Freddie Mac.

In honor of National Responder’s Day, what qualities do you embrace as a first responder and how does that translate into the workplace?

First, I’d say the ability to triage situations and having a firm understanding of task prioritization. In other words, adapting in a fast-paced environment, approaching any situation with clarity, assessing the urgency of the items at hand and managing the information effectively. Clear communication is also vital — getting across relevant intelligence and acting upon it in a timely manner. Finally, I’d say having a strong sense of responsibility and purpose in everything I do, which applies to my work at Freddie Mac as well as in the emergency services field.

What are some activities you enjoy doing outside of your job?

Aside from my volunteer duties as a firefighter, I enjoy playing and watching tennis. However, having recently become a new father to our baby girl Zoe, my latest hobby has been reading up on the most current parenting books. My wife Marley and I also have a two-year-old Goldendoodle, Cooper. We got him in the middle of the pandemic, and we love spending time with him too.

Ross with daughter and puppy

Ross with his daughter, Zoe, and Goldendoodle, Cooper

What advice would you give to someone who recently joined Freddie Mac?

Network internally to meet as many people as you possibly can. Something that you’ll constantly hear at Freddie Mac is that our people are one of the company’s greatest attributes. With that, I think that taking the time to connect with people you don’t interact with on a daily basis is one of the best things you can do. You never know who you’re going to end up working with or for, so it’s always good to put yourself out there and make a good impression.

Ten years from now, what would you like to say you have accomplished here?

I’d like to say that I’ve made a meaningful difference for our customers by delivering exceptional service and innovative solutions. I also want to be able to look back and be proud of the work I have done in carrying out Freddie Mac’s mission and doing my part in making home possible. I recently read an article that said that your manager may have a greater impact on your mental health than your doctor. With that, I’d like for those who I’ve managed in my career here to say that I fostered a supportive environment that contributed to a healthy workplace, and that they felt empowered by leadership. Lastly, I want my team to feel as though I helped them grow both professionally and personally.

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