For Mehrdad Moayedi, development begins long before the first home is built. It begins with people, with cities and with the responsibility that comes from shaping places where thousands of families will live their lives. As president and CEO of Centurion American Development Group, Moayedi has spent more than four decades building not just projects, but long-term community frameworks across North Texas.
Moayedi founded Centurion American in 1990 after early work in landscaping and construction introduced him to the development process. Since then, the company has delivered thousands of homes and helped shape more than 75,000 acres of land through master-planned communities, residential developments and public-private partnerships. Centurion’s work spans major Texas markets as well as Colorado, with a focus on aligning growth with civic priorities.
“Mehrdad is a visionary leader whose developments transform communities, elevate property values, and foster economic growth,” the person who nominated Moayedi said. “Beyond his projects, he is deeply committed to philanthropy and civic engagement, supporting education, health initiatives, and community enrichment programs that enhance the quality of life across North Texas.”
Moayedi’s approach is rooted in collaboration with municipalities. He works closely with city leaders to define long-term visions for growth, whether guiding small towns like Gunter and Howe through future planning or partnering with the City of Dallas on landmark redevelopments such as the Statler Hilton and Old Library project.
“I really enjoy working with municipalities and communities on creating a new vision for their spaces,” Moayedi said. “Whether we’re working with small municipalities to define their futures or preserving the past with projects like The Statler, our team loves to find the best in each city.”
That sense of responsibility is deeply personal. Moayedi immigrated to Texas as a teenager during a period of upheaval in Iran, an experience that shaped his view of opportunity and obligation.
“Moving to Texas as a teen during the time immediately before the Shah was removed from power was so difficult,” Moayedi said. “This country welcomed me in ways I couldn’t have imagined, and every day I work to give back for that reason.”
Giving back has become a defining throughline. In 2004, Moayedi founded Operation Forever Free, an organization that provides homes for injured military service members. He has underwritten and supported numerous charitable initiatives across North Texas and was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Friends of the Dallas Police Awards Banquet. His industry peers have also recognized his work with honors including Fort Worth Builders Association Developer of the Year and the John Harbin Visionary Award.
At Centurion, Moayedi emphasizes commitment as the foundation of success.
“The single greatest factor to our success is our commitment: commitment to people, to places and to projects,” Moayedi said. “I have always asked those who work with me to commit to the projects and communities we serve, and we create lifelong partnerships with those cities.”
That philosophy extends to leadership development. Moayedi takes pride in training the next generation of residential real estate leaders, ensuring Centurion’s values carry forward.
Outside of work, he spends time with his two daughters, travels and follows sports, grounding influences that reinforce perspective.
For Moayedi, development is not measured by speed or scale alone. It is measured by stewardship — by what communities look like decades later and whether the people who live there are better for it.
