Meet Geoff McGregor, president of Lockbox Storage, a McGregor Interests Inc. company.
Tell us a little about your business. – McGregor Interests Inc. specializes in finding commercial real estate investments, structuring partnerships, and providing a return to our partners on those investments. If you’re looking to diversify into commercial real estate, join our investor group at www.mcgregorint.com and review the latest investment opportunities. Our latest developments are the Lockbox self storage facilities.
How did you get started in the business? – My father Mac founded the company in 1978. I mowed lawns of the properties he managed while I was in high school. Then in college, I started getting my feet wet leasing commercial space. My passion became trying to figure out how to structure deals and building discounted cash flow models, while obtaining my bachelors in business and real estate economics from UNO.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – When my vice president, Drew Strohmeyer, commented that we had developed over 1,000,000 square feet. I laughed and then realized that we actually had! It was very rewarding see that we had crossed such a huge milestone in our 30s.
Tell us a little about your family. – My wife Amber and I are high school sweethearts. We have two strong beautiful girls, Mila (7) and Nora (4).
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – I was at the women’s hospital and my daughter had just been born. I thought Amber and Mila were both asleep. My cell phone rings and it was an owner of a self-storage facility that I had been trying to acquire for a while. They wanted to make a deal. I made a verbal agreement to buy the facility and then hung up the phone. I felt like I was unstoppable. Here I was, a new dad, and negotiating a multi-million dollar deal in the same day. The major turning point happened a couple years later in 2018. My marriage hit a rough patch—we were ships passing at night. Amber’s recollection of that same night at the hospital was a different story. It turns out she wasn’t totally asleep when I took the call. From her perspective, she saw a guy who didn’t stop working, even on the day his daughter was born. It was hard to understand since I love my job, but I’ve come to understand the importance of family time and the need to shut off work when I am with my family.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Hunting or swimming and fishing with my family.
Who inspires you? – My dad.
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – My dad would tell me, “Complaining doesn’t do you any good. Half of the people don’t care, and the other half are glad you got what’s coming to you.”
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Trustworthy.
If you had a theme song, what would it be? – “I’m On a Boat” by The Lonely Island.
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – A boat captain in the Caribbean, playing my theme song.
What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints does amazing things to support the community, and I am happy to attend and support.
What is your favorite movie? – Training Day.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 334-2123; geoff@mcgregorint.com; www.mcgregorint.com.