Much has been written these past few months about changes at the Henry S. Miller Co. My partners at Novus Realty Advisors and I left the firm last fall to go out on our own, after decades at Miller. I wanted to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the company we left behind and to share memories that I will forever cherish.
Working with Henry S. Miller Jr. and Vance C. Miller during the golden years of the Henry S. Miller Co. was the opportunity of a lifetime. Both men had different qualities that worked together to build the company into the best in the business. What I learned from those two, as a manager, board member, and associate, has been invaluable to me—and to all of us fortunate enough to have been associated with them.
After Grubb & Ellis bought Henry S. Miller Co. in the 1970s, many of us left and started our own firms; the list of entrepreneurs spawned by HSM Co is a “who’s who” in Texas real estate. My 40-year friendship with Vance Miller began in 1974, when I first joined the company. Our relationship survived through good times and bad, and included a mandatory business/personal meeting (which we rarely cancelled) every Tuesday evening at his Prestonwood Country Club. Scotch was the common denominator. Our relationship was built on trust, loyalty, honor, our military service, and a perfect fit of somewhat different personalities.
Vance was an incredible leader who followed the Golden Rule of Management: Surround yourself with the right people and let them do their jobs! One of his favorite proverbs was, “Give the Birds Room to Fly!” This is especially important with independent contractors.
We both did our best to treat everyone with dignity and respect and to let everyone know that “we worked for them!” When we decided to rebuild Henry S. Miller Co. in April 1994, we brought together Vance’s firm and combined it with Robert Grunnah’s, and my company. Shortly thereafter, we were joined by Greg Trout, who came to us from Miller/Grubb & Ellis. What we all brought to the table was a common love and respect for brokers, who are the ultimate entrepreneurs, and to our employees, for whom we worked hard to keep motivated and content. Together we rebuilt the company to try to mirror what we had during its golden age.
Today, as alumni of that great company and its fabled history, Robert, Greg, and I are moving on, using our experience with the Miller name as our foundation to succeed in a new venture.
I’ve learned that opportunities like learning from the best in commercial real estate don’t come along often. It’s important to seize the chance when it is presented, and remember to be grateful and thankful for it.
I will forever cherish—and be grateful for—the opportunity to be part of real estate greatness, and to have known and been friends of Henry Jr. and Vance and their stable of successful entrepreneurs and alumni!
Sam Kartalis is a principal at Novus Realty Advisors LLC. Contact him at [email protected].
