Elias Bahar, Balfour Beatty Construction
2016 TREC Young Guns Chair
If you had an hour of free time, how would you spend it?
I would spend it reading about airplanes or flying in general. Over the past few years, I’ve become enthralled by all things flying and hope to obtain my private pilot’s license in the next year.
What’s the number one thing on your bucket list?
The number one thing on my bucket list is to travel to the Middle East. My father grew up in that part of the world and has shared childhood stories of things I could never experience. The beauty and history that encompasses the Middle East is hard to compare. The timing is no good though and I plan to wait for things to calm down before making the trip. It will, however, remain at the top of my list until I can check it off!
Why did you choose a career in commercial real estate?
Growing up, my father had a residential construction side business. He was basically a handyman and I worked for him in the summers or after school. His motivation and excitement about construction pushed me towards this industry. Having experienced the labor intense side of the field, I opted for the managerial side while I was in school. The challenges and versatility that construction offers have become a passion of mine.
What is a skill you’d like to learn and why?
I’d love to learn how to weld steel. Metal working is a hobby of mine and I know how to cut it and bolt pieces together, but welding is not in my repertoire. I plan to add it to my New Year’s resolutions for 2017.
As chair of TREC’s Young Guns, do you have any advice to share with your fellow young professionals?
Get involved. The reason I am currently in the position I’m in, is because I got involved. Dive in head first and throw yourself into it. Helping others has always been important to me, so I enjoy working with TREC Foundation. The organizations TREC Foundation works with are truly top notch. Dr. Henry Link once said, “We generate fears while we sit. We overcome them by action.”
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