In the world of business excellence and entrepreneurial pursuits, a gentleman's journey often intertwines passion, resilience, and adaptability. Meet a cadre of successful individuals, each with their unique path. Their stories resonate with the essence of perseverance, innovation, and integrity. Learn from this Gentleman's Guide to Success—where shaking the status quo is not just a mantra, but a way of life.
When it comes to pursuing one's life-long passion, Josh Blake is doing just that as the owner and general manager of European House For Imports. He took over this business a few years ago, after working there for over a decade.
“What makes us stand out is our attention to detail,” said Blake. “I am a meticulous person. We don’t see ourselves as better than anyone else, but we try our hardest to make sure that at the end of the day, we do things right.”
That work ethic has helped make European House For Imports a premier destination for auto repair service in Southern Nevada. Located in Summerlin, Blake and his team pride themselves on giving customers the very best service. Their business specializes in European automotive brands and Blake said the secret to his success is treating every customer with respect and integrity.
“I have turned people away before or sent them to another shop if I don't feel we can give them the service that is right for their budget," said Blake. "We believe in treating people right, over anything else.”
He says what has helped his business grow is word of mouth and finding community support, which is critical when times get tough.
For Managing Partner of The DRIPBar, Nathan Atkins, he is also no stranger to challenges in his entrepreneurial journey. He and his wife opened their business about two years ago. The DRIPBar, located on West Flamingo, offers customers a variety of IV Vitamin Therapies designed to boost overall wellness. Atkins, whose background is in the technology space, said going into a new industry meant being ready to take big risks.
“Trust me, there are many days when we said we should have bought a sandwich business! Everybody eats sandwiches, it was just a matter of getting them to come to yours,” said Atkins.
But Atkins said he and his wife have a passion for health and wellness, so they pushed through with their dream to open the DRIPBar franchise and offer their clients the best preventative approach to health and wellness.
“What keeps us on this path is having an open mind and being willing to pivot, when necessary," said Atkins. "You need to show up when it gets hard. There will be days when you don't get much momentum, but we keep showing up. That's our secret."
Another gentleman who recently launched his entrepreneurial journey is Dr. Ed Soumi. His new Summerlin-based medical practice, Concierge Medicine of Southern Nevada, combines his passion for functional medicine with the desire to achieve a work-life balance. He and his wife, Elissa, who is a registered nurse, launched their venture at the beginning of 2024. Their mission is to provide every patient with VIP access to the highest standard of care.
"Right now, we are in the trenches because we are building our dream, but my wife and I believe that our commitment to our marriage is the model that we can use to also make our business a success," said Soumi. "It sounds like a cliché, but when we feel overwhelmed building this thing, we look back on all the ways that we never gave up on this commitment between us and now we are living a dream marriage."
Dr. Soumi is a board-certified internal medicine specialist with over 20 years of experience working in major hospitals across the country. Now with his own business, he feels that he can offer personalized medicine with a holistic focus.
As for his recipe for success in and out of his medical practice, Soumi said it’s about taking that leap of faith and aligning your work with your values.
"Remember that this is your personal journey. Don’t compare yourself to other people," said Soumi. "Things can be messy but at the end of the day you just got to do it. You just have to try."
For Jeff Jacobs, CEO of LOGIC Commercial Real Estate, he said he spent over a decade in the corporate accounting and finance world before adjusting to doing part time work in commercial real estate during the big financial crisis in 2009.
"I fell in love with the industry and once the real estate market stabilized, I moved into this field full time and I haven't looked back," said Jacobs.
Today, Jacobs oversees operations for his offices, in both Las Vegas and Reno. His independent and full-service commercial brokerage firm has built a stellar reputation through a dedicated team of skilled real estate professionals who connect buyers and sellers in all kinds of commercial transactions. When it comes to what keeps Jacobs at the top of his game, he said it comes down to good communication and relationships.
"There's so much competition in this business and our clients want to work with people that they can trust," said Jacobs. "We pride ourselves on giving them timely and accurate information that's going to help them make sound investment decisions.”
Jacobs also believes in giving back and mentors students at UNLV, his alma mater. He said it’s important for young people to understand that when it comes to success, it's essential to keep that passion to learn, no matter where you are in your career.
"You need to always be a student of the game," said Jacobs. "As a broker, our job is to be a local market expert, to know the data inside and out, and use that knowledge to educate clients. You need to have substance in everything that you are doing."
Joe Cain is Partner and Chief Legal Officer for LEV Group. He is also no stranger to a career pivot that he didn't necessarily envision. After Georgetown University undergraduate school, Cain graduated from Boyd Law School at UNLV and became an attorney working for a big business firm in Las Vegas. In 2006, he started doing work for what today has become the LEV Group, and he said the rest is history.
"I never thought my career would end up in the hospitality and food and beverage world, but here we are," said Cain. "I wear a lot of different hats for the company, but I love it. The best part about my job is being involved in the big decisions. I like being creative and helping solve problems that come up along the way."
Cain said overcoming unexpected challenges is the secret to success, especially in his industry. He said you always have to provide the best service for your customers but also have to take good care of your employees, who are the key to any business' success.
"Problems come up and you just have to deal with them," said Cain. "You have to improvise and make adjustments and not get bogged down on things that don't matter. You can't let roadblocks stop you in your tracks. You must figure things out and move forward."
Based in Las Vegas, Lev Group now oversees nearly a thousand employees and dozens of full-service restaurants and franchises throughout Southern Nevada and Southern California, including Harlo Steakhouse & Bar. When asked what keeps him going over the years, Cain said it's being excited about the journey and what's to come.
"We are always looking for that next opportunity," said Cain. "I have been in Vegas since 1996 and this town has changed so much. The city has been through rough patches for sure, but you have to keep at it. Stay flexible and know that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel."
"What makes us stand out is our attention to detail." - Josh Blake
"What keeps us on this path is having an open mind." - Nathan Atkins
"Remember that this is your personal journey. Don’t compare yourself to other people." - Dr. Soumi
"I fell in love with the industry... and I haven't looked back." - Jacobs.
"The city has been through rough patches. Stay flexible and know that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel." - Joe Cain