ESTERO, Fla. — Suffolk announced the promotion of Rod Nobrega to Chief Operating Officer of its Southwest Florida operations. A lifelong resident of the region and a proven leader within the company, Nobrega will now oversee all regional operations and drive Suffolk’s continued expansion in key sectors including healthcare, aviation, commercial, education, and hospitality.
With nearly a decade at Suffolk, Nobrega’s leadership journey has been marked by hands-on experience, operational excellence, and a commitment to mentoring and developing local talent. His project portfolio includes some of Southwest Florida’s most complex and high-profile developments, such as Great Wolf Lodge Naples, Ritz-Carlton Residences Naples, and the Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort.
Currently, Nobrega is leading the $1.1 billion Terminal E expansion at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) — the largest municipal construction project in Lee County history. The transformative project will add 14 new gates (expandable to 19), modernized terminal areas, and enhanced TSA security infrastructure to accommodate the region’s growing air travel demand following a record-setting 11 million passengers in 2024. Under Nobrega’s leadership, the project remains on schedule.
“Rod understands construction from the ground up and exemplifies Suffolk’s standards of hard work, integrity and teamwork,” said Pete Tuffo, President of Suffolk’s Gulf Coast Region and National Gaming. “He’s a respected leader in both the industry and the community. His operational insight and unwavering commitment to excellence will be invaluable as we continue to expand across Southwest Florida.”
A graduate of Estero High School and Florida International University, Nobrega has remained closely tied to his community. He currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Florida Gulf Coast University’s STOCK Development Department of Construction Management, where he mentors emerging professionals in the construction field.
Since joining Suffolk as a Project Manager in 2016, Nobrega has risen through every major project role, developing comprehensive expertise in project delivery. He has overseen over $50 million in more than 40 AHCA-licensed healthcare projects throughout Florida and continues to support Suffolk’s broader community initiatives through partnerships with Home Base Florida, Golisano Children’s Hospital, and The Immokalee Foundation.
His promotion is part of a broader effort by Suffolk to strengthen its presence in Florida, alongside other key leadership appointments including Ben Wilson as General Manager of Southwest Florida and Cary Shippert as Vice President of Healthcare.
