2026 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: JP Aldi, The Washington Trust Company

Who has been a mentor or influential figure in your career, and what is the most valuable advice they have shared with you? I’ve been fortunate to have several talented and influential mentors throughout my career. The advice that has helped me the most is to treat client requests with a sense of urgency because customers are the lifeblood of our business, and to always be responsive. It really does not take a lot of effort to be responsive, and it goes a long way in demonstrating respect for clients and reinforcing how much their business is valued. 

What trends or opportunities do you see shaping the future of commercial real estate? Adaptive reuse and repositioning provide meaningful opportunities in the current phase of the CRE cycle. As certain asset classes face structural change, significant value can be unlocked through the creative re-entitlement or redevelopment of properties – whether into residential, life science, or mixed-use formats. New England’s dense infrastructure and established municipal governments make the region particularly well-suited for this type of transformation.

What inspired you to pursue a career in commercial real estate, and what path brought you to your current role? I first became interested in construction and architecture by observing my father’s work as a general contractor. Seeing how projects move from concept to completion led me to CRE, which allows me to stay connected to development while focusing on the financial/strategic aspects of the business. 

What accomplishment or project so far in your career are you most proud of? Contributing to the development of affordable housing in my home state of Connecticut is one of my proudest accomplishments. Over the past two years, I have collaborated with the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority to support local sponsors in producing much needed affordable housing in central and southeastern Connecticut.