Erik Nelson

Age: 31

Job title/company: Broker, Kiemle & Hagood Co.

Education: B.A., Gonzaga University.

Tell us about your career so far. I began my career with Kiemle & Hagood Co. in 2006 while I was a junior at Gonzaga.  I have learned the business through the years from some wonderful mentors in the retail and office industry.  Currently, there is a team of three of us who specialize in commercial real estate sales, leasing, and investments.

What are your aspirations? My aspirations are to continue to grow personally and professionally. I would like to continue to expand our business throughout Spokane and help companies understand how great Spokane is for their employees and lifestyles. On a personal level, I would like to grow my personal real estate portfolio and continue involvement with giving back to the amazing community I call home.

Tell us about your mentor, or someone you look to for inspiration. I have two wonderful mentors that have helped me through the learning curve of commercial real estate. My business partners Mike Livingston and Craig Soehren have not only been great mentors to me professionally, but they have also helped me grow personally. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t have their guidance and friendship. The other mentor in my life has been my dad, Roger Nelson. He has been there throughout my life through the good times and bad times, and I can’t thank him enough for the opportunities he has provided me.

What generational stereotype do you feel strong about? Being a millennial has a bad reputation in the news. I disagree with this thought process of being lazy, changing jobs too frequently, and enjoying avocado toast so much it will cause us not to retire. We may approach life differently than other generations, but that makes us who we are, and the stereotype could not be further from the truth in my experience as a millennial.

Something interesting/random about yourself. I usually get between 65 and 70 rounds of golf in a year.  Growing up in the Southwest, this has always been my passion. I hope to play it late into my life at places around the world.