Robert Foote

Robert Foote, founder of the largest running relay race in the world, has built a successful career through ingenuity, flexibility and a commitment to diversification.

A former University of Oregon varsity track star, Foote launched the Nike Hood-to-Coast Relay in 1982. This modern Renaissance man also maintained a decades-long career as an architect, leaving his position as partner in a large firm in 1991 to devote more time to his sports production business.

An avid investor, Foote began working with Robert Smith of Oregon 1031 Investments in December 2006 after a friend recommended he look into the opportunities available through 1031 exchanges.

“I never try to put all my eggs in one basket,” Foote said. “The work that Robert does fills an important niche in one’s overall portfolio and fulfills the goal of diversification.”

“When you come into these things very inexperienced, you have to rely on the broker a great deal for his judgments and recommendations,” Foote said.

“I’m a person who likes specialists, not generalists. Robert is an extremely knowledgeable, very bright person who really knows his product,” Foote said.