Name: Ellie Solomon
Title: Solutions Consultant
Company: Network Security Associates
# years in the industry: 5 1/2

Where are you originally from and how long have you lived in Las Vegas: 16 years ago, I left Turkmenistan for Las Vegas in search of new opportunities. Las Vegas quickly became my second home, filled with unforgettable experiences, personal growth, and joy. I feel proud of all that I’ve accomplished and am excited for what the future holds.

What has NAIOP provided you that has helped you grow professionally or personally?

I have greatly expanded my knowledge of the latest developments in the CRE Southern Nevada through participating in  workshops and webinars, as well as taking in the insights of captivating guest speakers and panelists at the informative monthly networking breakfasts.

What has been your favorite experience or story that happened at NAIOP event?

I attended a Catholic Workers  event where the goal was to feed the homeless and provide them with care packages. The grateful expressions on the recipients’ faces and the sense of community at the event left me grateful for my own warm home and family, and inspired to continue helping those in need. And it reminded me of the importance of coming together as a community to support those who are less fortunate.

Who have you met at a NAIOP event that has influenced you or that you have become close friends with? 

There have been so many people who have influenced me along the way, both those who I’ve become close friends with and those who may not even know the impact they’ve had on me. But I really want to take a moment to acknowledge the Chapter Leadership. There are a lot of organizations in the Valley, but I have to say that NAIOP is my absolute favorite. It’s run so well, and the connections you make and the education and growth opportunities you get as a member are top-notch. I’m a new member and I already feel like it’s going to pay off in the profits I make.

What do you want your legacy to be in the Southern Nevada community?

My legacy is that of a trusted technology advisor who transformed local businesses with innovative IT solutions. I was the go-to expert for construction firms, engineering firms, and architects, guiding them through the technology landscape. My commitment to streamlining systems, enhancing security, and improving efficiency left a lasting impact and will be remembered as a shining example of expertise and dedication.

Name: Dean Willmore, SIOR
Title: Executive Vice President
Company: CBRE
# years in the industry: 42

Where are you originally from and how long have you lived in Las Vegas.  I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona.  I have lived in Las Vegas since 1988.

What has NAIOP provided you that has helped you grow professionally or personally?  NAIOP gave me a great platform to share my knowledge of Commercial Real Estate with our Members. NAIOP allowed me to participate as a Bus Tour Guide early on, which was invaluable to me.

What has been your favorite experience or story that happened at NAIOP event? I met my wife on the very first NAIOP Bus Tour. She was on my bus and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Who have you met at a NAIOP event that has influenced you or that you have become close friends with? I have met so many great people thru NAIOP, but Lee Phelps stands out as one of the first people I met. We became good friends and he was a very positive influence.

What do you want your legacy to be in the Southern Nevada community? That I was a good Husband, Father and Friend.

Name: Guy Gugino
Title: Vice President / Business Development Officer
Company: Union Bank
# years in the industry: 30

Where are you originally from and how long have you lived in Las Vegas. I’m from Niagara Falls, New York.  My family came here 44 years ago, in the Spring of 1978, after huge blizzards in Western New York.

What has NAIOP provided you that has helped you grow professionally or personally?  NAIOP provides me access to professionals in and related to the development of commercial real estate.  The Monthly Breakfasts, educational opportunities and the Government Affairs Committee provides me valuable knowledge.

What has been your favorite experience or story that happened at NAIOP event? I have a great time at all the events.  I partiality for the Golf Tournament as I have worked on the committee for many years, and always enjoy the event. One of my best experiences is receiving the Rayburn P. Jones Memorial Trophy in 2019.  It meant a lot to me.

Who have you met at a NAIOP event that has influenced you or that you have become close friends with? I’ve meet so many great people though NAIOP.  Rick Myers from Thomas and Mack Development Group is someone who I have gotten to know through NAIOP.  Rick has been a great mentor, friend and professional contact.

What do you want your legacy to be in the Southern Nevada community? I hope I am recognized as someone serves his community well.

Name: Dylan Heroy
Title: Associate
Company: CBRE
# years in the industry: 4
Where are you originally from and how long have you lived in Las Vegas: I’m born and raised in Las Vegas!

What has NAIOP provided you that has helped you grow professionally or personally? NAIOP has provided me with the opportunity to learn from industry experts, expand my professional network and develop leadership skills.

What has been your favorite experience or story that happened at NAIOP event? My favorite NAIOP experience so far has been the DLI retreat. The 2020 DLI Class formed friendship and made memories that will last for a life time.

Who have you met at a NAIOP event that has influenced you or that you have become close friends with? Someone that has influenced me both professionally and personally is Cassie Catania-Hsu. She encouraged me to join NAIOP when I first started in the industry and has been an incredible mentor along the way.

What do you want your legacy to be in the Southern Nevada community? The legacy that I would like to leave in the Southern Nevada community is that I was someone who worked hard, always did the right thing and tried to leave the world a better place.

 

Click here if you’d like to submit a member highlight and return the completed questions and submit your head shot to newsletter@naiopnv.org.

Name: Justin Knippel
Title: Vice President
Company: Bergelectric Corp.
# years in the industry: 25

Where are you originally from and how long have you lived in Las Vegas: I’m originally from Wisconsin but made my way to Southern California where my career at Bergelectric began. I relocated to Las Vegas in August 2008 (yes, 10 minutes before the great recession of 08) and have been here ever since.

What has NAIOP provided you that has helped you grow professionally or personally? Networking Consistency. I took a break from NAIOP for a couple of years, after finding myself too busy to take advantage of what NAIOP has to offer and I decided to let my membership coverage lapse. I know, what was I thinking right? After a couple years hiatus, I renewed my membership and quickly found a lot of the same familiar faces that have been with NAIOP for years. It’s a great place to connect with industry friends and hopefully make some new ones along the way.

What has been your favorite experience or story that happened at NAIOP event? After we all have gone through over the past year, my favorite experience(s) are simple… breakfast meetings, golf tournaments, bowling tournaments, spotlight award dinners, etc. The ability to shake someone’s hand and see people’s faces without masks are some basic highlights! Over the past year, I sure hope we’ve all learned not to take it for granted…. our lives can get turned upside down and we need to be thankful for what we have, when we have it!

Who have you met at a NAIOP event that has influenced you or that you have become close friends with? I have met some great people through NAIOP and throughout this industry. Luckily, a few of them have become close friends and they know who they are.

What do you want your legacy to be in the Southern Nevada community? I’m very fortunate for where I’m at, for my family, for my friends, clients and colleagues. In fact, many of us are very fortunate for all of the same. However, so many in our community are less fortunate, so when we have the opportunity to give back to the community, we need to. Our legacy should not be one of fame, but simply being good people. Help your friends, your family, your neighbors; lift others up and do what you can to help others succeed!

 

Click here if you’d like to submit a member highlight and return the completed questions and submit your head shot to newsletter@naiopnv.org.