Every business first begins with a person and a vision and Omni Realty Group is no exception to this rule. Mike Kushner, owner of Omni, began this commercial real estate business with a passion for helping fellow business owners find the ideal locations to grow successfully.
We have shared the story behind Omni Realty, but we haven’t yet fully shared Mike’s background and story. To understand the inspiration that fuels Omni day in and day out, you must first get to know Mike. Let’s take a look at a fun and personal Q&A with the owner of Omni who gave the business its vision and purpose.
Q: As a child, what did you think you wanted to be when you grew up and how has this tied into your career in commercial real estate?
Mike: I don’t think you can lay out a path in life to get exactly where you want to go. A lot of it happens by accident or circumstance. I was always entrepreneurial as a child, starting with a paper route, raking leaves and shoveling snow for neighbors. In my early teen years, my older brother had a landscape business and I worked for him. It was hard work, and along with my parents, this instilled in me a strong work ethic. Each of these early work experiences taught me to do every job, no matter how small or menial, to the best of my ability which is something I absolutely carry with me in my commercial real estate business.
Q: Did you have a mentor or someone who inspired you to pursue commercial real estate?
Mike: My older brother was an early pioneer in the redevelopment of Midtown Harrisburg (Pennsylvania). He was rehabbing properties in the city in the early 1980’s when the area was best known for crime, drugs and prostitution. It was his vision, entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic that inspired my interest in commercial real estate.
Q: What have been some of the highlights throughout your career in commercial real estate?
Mike: Looking at just the numbers, I have been directly responsible for the successful repositioning and redevelopment of over 500 apartment units and 8 million square feet of retail, office, industrial, and residential product in Central Pennsylvania. I have also consummated lease and sales transactions in excess of $100 million. While these are certainly “highlights,” I would say the most rewarding parts of my career have come from the repositioning and redevelopment of functionally obsolete and distressed real estate. It is amazing the impact a revival of a certain part of a city can have on the whole community. I enjoy helping people and real estate is my means of doing this.
Q: Is there a special meaning behind the word “Omni” or a reason why you chose this for your business name?
Mike: Wikipedia defines Omni as a Latin prefix meaning “all” or “every.” When I was considering various names for my company the Omni moniker defined my commitment to represent “ALL” tenants and buyers in finding solutions to meet their real estate needs.
Q: Besides commercial real estate, what are some other passions and interests you have?
Mike: For me, it’s all about keeping things in perspective and focusing on maintaining a true work-life balance. Zig Zigler once said, “I believe that being successful means having a balance of success stories across the many areas of your life.” You can’t truly be considered successful in your business life if your home life is in shambles.
I try to order my life – God, Family, Work. I serve on the Board of Trustees at the Janus School. The school’s mission is to help individuals with learning differences access their potential by providing excellence in education, research and community outreach. I also serve on the Board of Sierra Leone Missions and Development – an organization dedicated to bring hope, help and healing to the people of Sierra Leone.
Q: What quote or saying inspires you?
Mike: “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” I love this outlook because simply waiting for the right opportunity to present itself is not enough. You must also constantly work to prepare yourself to seize this opportunity to the best of your ability.
What other questions for you have for Omni Realty Group’s owner, Mike Kushner? Share your thoughts by commenting below and Mike will personally answer you!