Ryan Trost
Senior vice president, finance, Phoenix Investors LLC
401 E. Kilbourn Ave., Suite 201, Milwaukee
www.phoenixinv.com
Industry: Commercial real estate
Employees: 105
Family: Wife, Ashleigh
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
“Relocating and expanding our headquarters to allow for the growth we’ve forecasted for 2016.”
What’s new at your company?
“An in-house wellness suite complete with gym, yoga studio and massage rooms. Nearly everyone in our corporate headquarters uses our wellness facilities and it’s incredible how much it has impacted the energy in the office.”
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
“We are always hiring smart, talented people in every area of our company. With nearly 10 million square feet under ownership and aggressive plans to scale that number, our Phoenix family will continue to grow.”
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?
“Unforeseen changes in the global economy and the industrial sectors in particular, as those directly impact our business model.”
What’s the hottest trend in your industry?
“Big, beautiful new construction. Certainly it’s necessary for custom uses, but our experience has taught us that older infrastructure with modern mechanical updates is a perfect, low-cost solution for many of today’s industrial users.”
Do you have a business mantra?
“I really like our corporate mantra, which is ‘Opportunity. Execution. Value Creation.’ Personally, it would have to be, ‘Ruthlessly compete with your own best self.’”
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
“Being a car enthusiast, I admire Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, for continuing to challenge automotive industry norms in nearly every way.”
What was the best advice you ever received?
“A mentor of mine once told me, ‘Don’t be afraid to admit that you don’t know something.’ Here I had thought it was more important to never appear weak, when really I was handicapping my own professional growth.”
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you in your career?
“The comradery in our office is amazing. I can’t think of a story appropriate for print, but between gag gifts and fake ‘bad news’ stories, I think I’ve tested the patience of just about everyone here at least once.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“I’ve been blessed to work for a few companies like Phoenix that back philanthropic organizations that are very close to my heart, including my role on the board of Rebuilding Together Greater Milwaukee. My wife and I are also animal lovers and support the Humane Society in various ways, including our adoption of three loving dogs over the past few years.”
