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For nearly thirty years, Missoula entrepreneur Bruno Friia has made
his mark on western Montana.
Friia, who is part-owner and CEO of Lambros Realty, the largest real
estate company in the Three Rivers area, says he doesn’t intend on
slowing down any time soon. Perhaps this is most evident when
looking at Friia’s new office. Friia recently moved himself and the
rest of his company into a 26,500-square-foot building located
behind Barnes & Noble, just off of Reserve Street. About a third of
renters in the Missoula area probably already visit this building at
the beginning of every month. According to Friia, Lambros currently
rents one out of every three rental properties in Missoula.
Yet Friia remains very modest when he is asked about the success and
expansion of his company.
“We don’t focus on becoming big,” Friia says, “we focus on the
business we do here.”
This is most evident when entering the new Lambros building. It’s
surprising that 140 agents and staff members work for Lambros. The
atmosphere inside the new building is that of a small Montana
business. The people are friendly and have similar personalities and
character. This is no accident, says Friia, who specifically looks
for similar principles and morals when hiring new employees, a
formula that has worked well throughout the years.
“I know I couldn’t be here without the people who surround me,”
Friia says. “When you surround yourself with the best you become the
best.”
However, Friia insists that true success isn’t possible if you are
not willing to make decisions–and likewise–mistakes. You can’t just
stand back and see what’s going to happen, Friia says.
For example, in the early ‘90s the Internet was just starting up and
was primarily used for government and education. At the same time,
Friia saw an opportunity to use the Internet for business reasons.
By 1994, Lambros had a full-blown Website for prospective buyers and
renters.
“I see something and try to follow up with a vision,” Friia says.
Now, Friia says, 80 percent of all transactions at Lambros have
something to do with the Internet.
Making decisions is simply what Friia does, and making more good
decisions than not is how Friia arrived at the place he is today.
For Friia, it’s a matter of his personality. He has a plan every day
and is very organized. He is well-spoken and humble, yet most
importantly one picks up Friia’s feeling of optimism when speaking
to him. He’s one of those guys who just makes everything seem much
easier than it probably is.
“I guess I look at most things as an opportunity, not an obstacle,”
Friia says. And with that attitude Friia isn’t likely to lose speed
anytime soon. “I don’t think my personality would allow me to slow
down.”
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