We had the good fortune of connecting with Edward Fernandez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Edward, how do you think about risk?
I look at risk very differently than most people. I see “risk” as an opportunity you either possess or lack the capacity for.

Everything we do involves some level of risk. Everyday you get up and drive to work, you risk getting into an accident and not returning home. However, your hunger to be able to sustain and support your life and family outweighs the risk of an accident, so you take that risk 5 to 6 times per week. Risk in business is no different. Daily, I make decisions that could put me at the point of no return, but my hunger for life and success outweighs the possibility of failure for me.

Taking very calculated risk at various defining moments of my life has made all the difference.

And When failure truly isn’t an option, risk taking becomes a passenger you strap in with you on the road to destiny.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Currently, I serve and am active as the C.E.O. of 1st Place Hotels & Properties, in addition to a slew of other businesses that I own. I truly am happy to have founded 1st Place and to have led the company since its inception.

To date, and in less than five years, we’ve been able to acquire right under 600 units that we own and manage. Those units range from apartments to hotels and houses, and currently, majority of our inventory is being leveraged to help combat the affordable housing crisis.

While I am most proud of the current work we’re doing, it is not without its challenges. Attempting to house and provide interim housing for individuals who would otherwise add to the homeless population comes with a set of unique obstacles. Typically those individuals who need us most are tied to some type of government assistance that often sets up a huge amount of red tape. And when people are just trying to find somewhere to live or avoid losing their vouchers, the last thing they want to hear is of another roadblock. They just want to be housed and we want to be on the other end of doing that in a massive way. What we currently are doing is not for the faint at heart nor is it for every investor.

However, growing up and being sustained by the same system that is often tied to individuals who need us most, I cannot help but answer the call.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A few of my favorite spots are Apache, Poor Calvin’s and The Painted Pin. These are some of my favorites because I feel they capture the essence of the city still.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people I attribute my success to. I wish I could directly name just one but it’s truly been many. One of the things I am often found saying is “anytime one of us is going to do something, it usually requires the support of all of us. I definitely have benefited from a very august group of individuals, whose faith in me served as the propellers that moved me forward at various stages of my life.

Website: www.1stplacemgmt.com

Instagram: YepThatsE

Facebook: Edward Fernandez

Youtube: https://youtu.be/uKcdviXzWCU

Image Credits
NewLensOnLife

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