Rachel Bardis

Rachel Bardis is a second-generation real estate developer whose career spans two decades of shaping communities in California. She currently serves as Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Somers West Development, where she is leading one of the region’s most ambitious projects: Braden, a brand-new town being built from scratch just outside Sacramento. In this role, Rachel oversees everything from big-picture planning to day-to-day execution for a development that will ultimately include thousands of homes, schools, retail centers, and parks. Translation: she’s juggling more moving parts than a theme park juggler – and doing it with a smile. Her ability to manage complex projects with a steady hand comes, in part, from her background in risk management (her “secret superpower” ¹), which helps her anticipate challenges and navigate them gracefully.

Before joining Somers West, Rachel co-founded Bardis Homes in 2012, continuing a family legacy of homebuilding. With Bardis Homes, she delivered several innovative housing communities in the Sacramento area. Most notably, she helped create The Mill at Broadway, a transformative urban infill project on a former lumber mill site ². The Mill introduced over 1,000 modern homes at affordable price points for young professionals – think open floor plans, smart home features, and even a 4-acre park ². It proved that “if you build it (smart and affordably), they will come” – attracting first-time buyers who might otherwise be priced out of new housing ². Under Rachel’s leadership, Bardis Homes earned praise for its hands-on approach and community focus. In fact, in 2017 she was recognized as Developer of the Year by CREW Sacramento, honoring her contributions to innovative development ³.

Rachel’s influence extends beyond her own companies. In 2018, she became Chair of the North State Building Industry Association (BIA), representing homebuilders across the Sacramento region ⁴. She was one of the first women to hold that role, reflecting her status as a trailblazer in what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. Colleagues describe her as an energetic, collaborative leader. As BIA Chair, she launched education initiatives for builders and worked on housing policy advocacy – earning respect as a “powerful leader” who brings people together ³. (She jokes that after wrangling contractors and city officials for years, leading a board meeting is a piece of cake.)

Educationally, Rachel holds a degree in Business and Economics (with honors in Finance) from Saint Mary’s College of California ⁵. Initially, she planned a more traditional finance career. But after a short stint in insurance, she “didn’t understand why it was so boring” ¹ compared to the dynamic world of construction sites she grew up around. So, she pivoted back to her roots in development – and hasn’t looked back since. Growing up, she spent summers working on job sites with her father and uncle, learning the business literally from the ground up ¹. That hands-on apprenticeship instilled in her a deep understanding of how homes (and neighborhoods) get built – and a passion for doing it right.

On a personal note, Rachel is known for her approachable leadership style and sense of humor. She often quips that she didn’t so much choose the development life as it chose her – “development was already in me,” she says, given her upbringing ¹. When she’s not wearing a hard hat overseeing Braden’s progress, Rachel is an active mentor for women in construction and development, frequently speaking at industry events to encourage more diversity in the field. She’s also a mom of twins and proudly notes that her “work family” at Somers West sometimes rivals her actual family in group text volume.

In summary, Rachel Bardis is a seasoned operations executive, an innovative homebuilder, and a dedicated industry leader. From building thousands of homes (and even whole towns) to championing new ideas in housing, she has forged a reputation for making big visions a reality. Her journey reflects a blend of entrepreneurial grit, community-centered values, and a dash of irreverent fun. Conference attendees can expect to meet a leader who is as comfortable discussing zoning ordinances and capital budgets as she is swapping stories from the construction site. Rachel’s work isn’t just about building structures – it’s about building community in every sense of the word.