Passion for work, Las Vegas bring commercial developer success by Tony Illia, Building Nevada
Executive Profile: Bruce Familian
“I always wanted to be a builder,” confesses Bruce Familian. “I’m not the corporate type. I like to make my own rules.” Indeed, the 40-year-old entrepreneur has a unique approach to business. His five-year-old Familian Group, based in Las Vegas, oversees every facet of a project from purchasing the property to building and brokerage to tenant improvements. The firm expects to top $10 million in sales this year. Nevertheless, the company employs less than a dozen people, including relatives and family members. “I am a solid believer in running a lean operation, ” Familian said. “Sometimes you can be just as successful with six people as you can be with 60. I place importance upon experience.”
The experience Familian refers to has helped him develop such well-known, mixed-use office parks as the 65,000-square-foot, 11-building Hacienda Center, the seven-building, 52,000 square-foot Sandhill-Post Center and the 35,000 square-foot, six-building Arville Center. “We are a very control-oriented company. It allows us the flexibility to rely on as few people as possible,” said Familian, who admits doing things himself is sometimes better. “I deal with every phase of a development, from site assessment to construction to property management. I have done it all. I even built my own house.” Additionally, he has learned how to perform every task necessary within the Familian Group. If the receptionist is out sick, he can operate the phone system; if the accountant has left for lunch, he can cut a check. “I believe you have to know how to do everything in your business.”
Familian, who is warm and friendly, understands the value of relationships. In fact, he makes it a point to meet with every property owner. Often times, they end up becoming friends. The personal touch has paid off. “I treat people honestly and with respect,” Familian said. “You would be surprised how many [businesses] don’t do that. Consequently, it has created a number of opportunities for us.”
One such opportunity is City Stop - an upscale fast-food convenience mart with a brand name identity. Familian currently owns two stores in Las Vegas. “I see City Stop as being a huge part of our growth during the next five years.” Familian, in his typical hands-on style, will control the gaming machines in each of his stores. In most instances, he will not only purchase the site but develop and build upon it as well. He plans to open five stores next year. Ultimately, his goal is to have 25 locations throughout the valley. Although competition in the convenience store industry is fierce, Familian appears undaunted. “We want to do it better than anyone else,” he said. “We are being very particular in selecting City Stop sites and paying close attention to details.”
In part, Familian’s detail-oriented perspective might stem from his love of computers. A self-professed computer junkie, Familian grew up in Southern California, where his father was both a builder and one of two Atari distributors for the state. His older brother is a computer science professor at the University of California, Santa Clara. “I learned a lot from my dad,” reflects Familian. “He was my mentor.” Hard work and success seem to follow the Familian family. His grandfather started Familian Pipe and Plumbing Supply in 1926. When the highly regarded firm sold in 1987, it posted annual sales in excess of $500 million.
Lean and athletic-looking, Bruce Familian radiates an uncommon level of poise, drive and commitment. It appears to be second nature for him. At 18, armed with only a real estate license and a youthful verve, he started cold-calling prospective clients from a phone room. Today, they call him. For instance, the Las Vegas Business Press honored him as one of the top community achievers in Southern Nevada last year, naming Familian to its coveted “Top 40 Under 40” list.
A family man with one son, Familian likes to scuba dive and extreme-ski in his free time. He even raced on the ski team at Denver University where he majored in business. Clearly, Familian’s competitive spirit is deeply ingrained. Once a year, he flies to Canada to do what he calls “Warren Miller-type skiing.”
Although he has accrued a list of accomplishments that would be impressive for someone twice his age, Bruce Familian is just beginning. He possesses a natural energy and passion for what he does that translates into prosperity and prominence on a universal scale. Finally, it all seems to boil down to an unbounded joy for life. “I love Las Vegas. I love what I do,” said Familian. Who could ask for more?
