The RJ Group Story
Built on a Tradition of Stewardship
The RJ Group was founded by Rob Janicki. The Janicki family has been a vital part of northwestern Washington communities for decades. Rob’s parents were first-generation immigrants who worked the land and founded Janicki Logging and Construction—a local company well-respected for its sustainable logging practices that allow forests to flourish and wildlife to thrive. It is one of the few timber companies that specialize in timber restoration and reclamation, focusing on thinning timber stands to make them healthier and more robust, increasing their capacity for supporting biodiversity.
Rob has taken that same thoughtful approach to doing business and incorporated it into The RJ Group’s guiding principles. He and his team weave forward-thinking environmental initiatives into their projects, including LED lighting, hybrid electric car hookups, permeable pavers and solar-ready wiring for roofs. By choosing to focus on small-lot, infill projects and permanently protecting green space and wetlands within their developments, The RJ Group helps to reduce the end users’ carbon footprint, while at the same time adding value to the community at large.
The RJ Group Team
Rob Janicki
The RJ Group founder and managing member Rob Janicki comes from a family of Skagit and Whatcom County entrepreneurs. He began his career at EDS in San Francisco and Dallas, before returning to Skagit County in 1993 to join his family’s company, Janicki Logging. He began investing in and developing local properties shortly after, before forming his company, The RJ Group, in 2010. Since then, his company has earned a well-deserved reputation for smart urban development. Rob has a bachelor of science in physics and mathematics from Gonzaga University, graduating magna cum laude.
Mollie Janicki
Mollie joined The RJ Group in 2015 after completing her studies at Seattle University. There, she received her undergraduate degree in international studies in 2013 and a master’s in business one year later. Mollie’s responsibilities include promoting The RJ Group brand, organizing project financing, and networking with vendors and partners.
Carrie Veldman
Carrie is the Managing Director of The RJ Group where she focuses on building high performance teams to successfully complete residential, commercial and land use development projects. She oversees all stages of the organization’s real estate development portfolio to ensure The RJ Group creates quality built environments.
Erika Scott
Erika Scott joined The RJ Group in 2024 as the Asset Manager. Her prior role as the Director of Operations for a local property management company allowed her to develop expertise in both the rental market and property management as a whole. As asset Manager, she focuses on optimizing each property and ensuring that it performs to RJ Group's standards in all aspects—leasing/sales, proactive/preventative maintenance, hitting financial goals, and so on.
Scarlet Ponder
Scarlet joined The RJ Group as a Project Manager in 2020, working on research/feasibility, design, permitting, and other projects for commercial and mixed-use residential projects in Skagit and Snohomish counties. Her previous experience includes transit planning for municipal government. Her credentials include a bachelor’s degree from Whitworth University in Spokane and a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of Memphis.
Laura Bradford
Laura is a Project Manager and Interior Designer for The RJ Group. Laura’s previous experience includes a multi-faceted resume of projects in the Proptech industry, including selling, designing, and managing renovations for real estate, as well as managing & leading a team of project managers for the NW region. Laura earned her bachelor’s degree in interior design from Seattle Pacific University, a Certificate of Project Management from the University of Washington, and a Digital Badge of Leadership from the University of Washington.
Kate Cloonan
Kate Cloonan is the Office Manager of The RJ Group. Kate joined our team in 2021 and brought with her 30 years of experience. In addition to her Office Manager responsibilities, Kate plays a vital role with our Finance and Asset Management teams.
Daisy Ward
Daisy joined The RJ Group in 2023. She has over 25 years of professional office experience, primarily in legal, insurance, and administrative work. As the Executive and Administrative Assistant, she enjoys working with many aspects of RJG projects and with the team that brings them to fruition.