Xavier Wasiak, senior vice president for industrial real estate brokerage Jones Lang LaSalle, represents clients who are interested in warehousing, distribution, manufacturing and e-commerce, facilitating acquisitions, sales and leases. His specialty is industrial services, including selection and acquisition, and built-to-suit development, and he has executed transactions up to $24 million. A longtime Las Vegas resident, Wasiak studied mechanical engineering at UNLV.
What is the best business advice you’ve ever received?
The obvious is to not take anything personally. There’s too much rejection in this industry to take failures to heart; just get up and keep going. The not-so-obvious is that despite the fact that your clients will demand and deserve much from you, and also that they will replace you if you do not perform, they will appreciate an individual. So be true to yourself. Be more of yourself. That’s how you stand out.
If you could change one thing about Southern Nevada, what would it be?
Summers are hot! Touring property with clients and meetings in unfinished warehouses can leave you tired and drenched after a long, hot day.
What has been your most exciting professional project?
There are too many to tell. One of the best rewards of what my colleagues and I do is the number of talented, fascinating and exceptional people we get to do business with and learn from. Whether it is helping Bed Bath & Beyond build a 525,000-square-foot fulfillment center in North Las Vegas, Levi Strauss & Co. a new depot, or an innovative rising company get started in the Las Vegas Valley, we are continually challenged to push the limits of how we’ve done our job in the past. What more can you ask for?
What are you reading?
“Unbroken,” by Laura Hillenbrand. And anything about how to make 3-year-olds bend to your will.
What do you do after work?
Spend time with my awesome 3-year old son, Parker, his beautiful mom, and try hard to stay in shape so as to not get myself in trouble in the mountains pursuing my hobby of rock climbing.
What do you do as secretary-treasurer for your SIOR chapter?
With the help of the entire board of directors, I try to help keep our fiscal responsibilities up to date and in line with the goals of our association and local membership.
Where do you see yourself and your company in 10 years?
I love what I do. JLL will continue to dominate tenant representation in Southern Nevada and grow into more agency work. Our office is small compared with other markets we’re in and we plan to grow.
What is your dream job, outside of your current field?
I love to teach. My mother was a teacher and I always admired her for that. She never hesitated to remind us how incredible and wondrous this world is.
If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be?
Never-ending road trip! Barring that, we’re happy right here. We have community, family and friends, and great opportunities for travel. What more could you ask for?
Whom do you admire?
Conrad Anker. He’s a climber, mountaineer and adventurer with over four decades of experience. He’s as tough as nails and is still dreaming of high places. With tempered optimism and intense drive, he’s managed to be one of the most successful professional climbers, ever, across a variety of specialties. He continues to inspire and teach.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Long, useless phone calls I can’t avoid. That, and mean people. There’s just no need.
Where do you like to go for business lunches?
We’re lucky to be able to take advantage of all the variety downtown, and walk there. It’s hard to pick just one. Some personal favorites are the Stuffed Pig and Le Thai.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Well, I took a pretty good fall climbing two years ago that left me staring at the tail end of my tibia poking out of my leg for about 30 minutes until I was taken to surgery. Yes, I think I’d like to change that. Otherwise, I’m good.
What is something that people might not know about you?
Ever since I was a kid, I wanted a truck that was painted with zebra stripes. I have a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder with 190,000 miles on it that I use as my beater/adventure truck. I think this year it gets done.