In his own words: Gary Mansour of Century 21 Gold West

Northern Nevada Business Weekly: Tell us about Century 21 Gold West Realty and your position.

Gary Mansour: I bought Century 21 Gold West Company with my Partner Gary Morfin. Century 21 Gold West Realty company has been doing business in Elko County for the last 35 years and is the first Century 21 Real Estate office to open in Nevada. Century 21 Gold West Company specializes in single-family, land, income property, commercial property and property management.

I manage the company day-to-day. My goal is to provide the tools to my agents to be very successful. Our philosophy is that to be successful you have to provide the right tools for your employees that is where we will gain more market share. We recently built a new Web site, and we also try to get involved in the community to build community relationships.

NNBW: Why did you decide to purchase the business?

Mansour: The name of Century 21 and the service the company provides its clients. Century 21 is a worldwide real estate company in almost 80 countries.

NNBW: What's the most important thing you have learned in your career?

Mansour: It all about your clients and customer service. Take care of your clients and be fair.

NNBW: What are your greatest strengths as a business owner?

Mansour: Be a good leader and provide your agents with the right tools to succeed and teach them it is all about customer service.

NNBW: What challenges has the mining boom brought to your business, and how have you strategized to overcome them.

Mansour: We are very busy trying to help the mining companies find homes for their new employees by helping them find an existing home or helping them with new construction. Century 21 Gold West Realty represents a few construction companies that build new homes in Elko and the Spring Creek area.

NNBW: Tell us about your dream job. Why aren't you working it?

Mansour: My dream job is real estate, and I am living the dream. I love what I do.

NNBW: What are your favorite hobbies or pastimes? How do you spend your time away from work?

Mansour: I am an outdoor person. I love hiking, camping, snowmobiling and four wheeling. On weekends I like to disappear away from the phone. I also enjoy gardening and spending some time with the family.

NNBW: Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job?

Mansour: I helped a client to build a first-class gym in Elko, Performance Athletic Club.

NNBW: What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Mansour: Treat people right, be good to people and be good to people who work for you.

NNBW: If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?

Mansour: No, I love working.

NNBW: What's the last concert you attended?

Mansour: A Middle Eastern/European concert at the Paris Casino in Las Vegas.

NNBW: What has kept you in Elko all these years?

Mansour: Family, the people who live in Elko County and living in a small-town community.

The basics:

Name: Gary Mansour, Real Estate Broker

Number of years in this job? 10

Years in this profession? 10

Education: Bachelor of Applied Science Management in Technology

Last book read? "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

Favorite movie? "The Godfather" I like that one. But when you have two kids you really don't go to movies.

Spouse, kids or pets? Wife Shireen, two kids: Nicholas and Nicole

What's on your iPod? I don't have an iPod, but my boy has one.