In his own words: Real estate broker Brian Egan

Northern Nevada Business Weekly: Tell us about your company and the duties of your position.

Brian Egan: I'm a independent broker who specializes in two areas. Multifamily investments is a category I grew up around and had my father as a mentor he sold apartment buildings for 30 years, and I was very fortunate to have the better part of a decade under his guidance. I also generalize in sales and leasing in downtown Reno, with a focus on redevelopment and adaptive re-use.

NNBW: How did you get into this profession?

Egan: My family has been in the business for a long time, and I really enjoy the creativity and autonomy.

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

Egan: Be humble my dad said it over and over.

NNBW: How did the recession change the way you do business?

Egan: It made me work harder than I knew I could, and it made me look at the big picture in a more socially conscious way, which I believe has helped translate to doing a better job for my clients.

NNBW: What was your first job?

Egan: I had a paper route when I was 11, and I have held at least one job ever since.

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

Egan: My dream job is to take the experience I have gathered over my life and career and steer more into the principal position of development. I'm actually working on building into it right now.

NNBW: Have any advice for someone who wants to enter your profession?

Egan: It's not for the faint of heart. Stick to a high personal code of ethics and do your best. Put your nose down long enough and you can do anything.

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

Egan: When my dad and brother and I all worked under the same roof for several years, early in my career. It had its challenges, but there was a level of trust, respect and humor that I miss every day.

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

Egan: My dad's mentor, Bud Bertrand (an apartment guy who we lost last year) once explained luck in a way that has always stuck: "The funny thing about luck is that I find that the harder I work, the luckier I get."

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

Egan: I own and manage the California Avenue Apartments, which takes up a lot of time, and I co-own the Biggest Little City Club on California Avenue with my oldest friend (kindergarten at Roy Gomm), Brian Ligon. When I'm not doing one of these "jobs," I'm trying to enjoy time with my kids, whom I coach in sports, and who absolutely make it all worth it.

NNBW: What did you dream of being as a kid?

Egan: I wanted to be like my dad. He was a stud.

NNBW: If you had enough money to retire right now, would you? Why or why not?

Egan: No way there's too much fun to be had and lots of opportunity on the horizon.

NNBW: What's the last concert or sporting event you attended?

Egan: I recently saw Fela in San Francisco. The last sporting event was the final game of the Farm Division Little League Season at Reno National ... coaching my son and 10 other awesome kids.

NNBW: Where's your perfect vacation spot?

Egan: It's a tossup between floating the Truckee River and being on the coast with some small surf.

NNBW: Why did you choose a career in northern Nevada? What do you like most about working/living here?

Egan: I wanted to raise children in this beautiful place, surrounded by their family. I would have probably stayed in San Francisco had it not been for this desire, but I'm very happy to be here. I love the people here who see Reno the same way I do: a beautiful, friendly place filled with happy people who strive to improve our way of life every day.

The basics:

Name: Brian Egan, broker/owner of Egan Commercial Real Estate

Number of years in this job? 10

Years in this profession? I was born into the apartment business and have worked in and out of the commercial real estate industry since high school

Education: Bachelor of arts, University of San Diego. CCIM designation a few years back

Last book read: Funny you should ask: "Real Estate Market Analysis" by ULI ... I'm still working on it

Favorite flick? It's hard to top "The Big Lebowski." "The Razor's Edge" with Bill Murray is a close second

What's on your iPod? Everything from the complete Stevie Wonder collection to the complete Wolfmother collection, and all styles in between (except maybe country)

Spouse, kids or pets? The loves of my life, and pride and joy, are my son Sean Patrick (8), and my daughter Ireland Danielle, who just turned 6!