“Once you’re in, it’s hard to break out.” “What a long, strange trip it’s been.” Those two phrases have stuck with me throughout my career. Granted, one is more of a cliché and the other is a lyric from the famous Grateful Dead song “Truckin’.” But they are both relevant as I reflect on my default...
I was born outside of Chicago, but I spent most of my youth living between Argentina, Brazil and California. It was my time in Argentina, living with my grandparents, I remember the most. My grandfather was a bricklayer. He spent his life building homes and buildings all over Argentina. He was an...
I was raised in Tampa, Florida, where my parents ran an Italian butcher and deli shop. So, my work ethic started at a young age. I swept the floors and helped out where I could. Sometimes, it meant staying up late to get the job done. I got my first paying job at age 12 at the local mall, managing...
When I graduated college, I realized I had a choice: suit and tie or construction boots. I chose the latter. Subconsciously, this may have been my first step toward becoming an entrepreneur and eventually the founder of Walnut Street Finance. I wouldn’t say that my career path was always a...
Drive, thick skin and a customer-focused approach propelled Brandon Guzman’s quick rise in the industry. You could say I grew up fast. I was a latchkey kid from Puerto Rico with a single mom. I didn’t have any rules. If anything, that fueled my drive to create something, succeed at something....
Self-challenge leads to a lifetime of opportunity. Someone once asked me how I view my success. After thinking about it, I replied that success is a journey of self-exploration and of constantly challenging one’s self. If you improve, good things happen. If you don’t challenge yourself, life is...
Don Wenner has enjoyed many successes, but it all started with an unexpected opportunity that he accepted. Sometimes the most life changing events are those that occur when least expected. That’s exactly what happened to entrepreneur Don Wenner when he was introduced to the world of real estate as...
Greg Rand watched his mother work hard to build her real estate business, even though realtors often didn’t get much appreciation. He was determined to change that image. By Greg Rand My earliest business memories are related to real estate because my mom, Marsha Rand, launched her real estate...
That’s what the illustrious headline would read to describe my career shift to the real estate and property management industry!
