Greg Nassir ’92, MBA ’00, didn’t know what he wanted to do growing up. As his friends left for college knowing their calling, he prayed for guidance, but it just didn’t come. So he enrolled in general education courses at Glendale Community College and worked as a law clerk to explore that field, went home each night, got on his knees, and prayed some more. “I had no direction, and I was frustrated,” Nassir said. “One night, I got on my knees again, and through tears, I prayed, ‘God, I will follow Your lead, and I know this does not happen often, but I need You to give me clear direction.’” The next day, Nassir received a huge package from Azusa Pacific University in his mailbox containing everything he needed to know about the school, including a catalog, color viewbook, and a VHS admissions video (which he still has). Nassir had put out his fleece, and God responded. Nassir read it all, watched the video, and knew. He applied to APU that day, a decision that would shape the rest of his life.
Embracing Opportunities to Become Someone New
Growing up, Nassir described himself as shy. When he became a Christian at 15, through the ministry of Young Life, the person God had created him to be started to emerge. Then, when Nassir began at APU, he seized the opportunity where no one knew him to become someone new. “On my first day on campus, I took my basketball and dribbled over to the gym, knowing I would run into people along the way. I decided to introduce myself to every person I met, and kept looping around, never making it inside the gym. It was incredible how quickly I got to know people,” he said.
Over the next four years, Nassir repeatedly leaned in, wanting to include others along the way, meeting dozens of people who would become lifelong friends—many of whom stood at his wedding, celebrated the birth of his kids, and traveled the world on missions and vacations with him. These APU friends are like family to him and still get together often.
Nassir joined APU’s Student Government Association (SGA) as a senator and served as a resident advisor (RA) in Smith Hall and Pacific Glenn. He fondly recalls SGA’s annual “Floatabout” river-rafting, Mexicali Outreach, and RezLife’s “Walkabout” backpacking trips. “Those were amazing trips, where we realized how much we could accomplish by leaning on God and each other,” he said. Nassir cherished the opportunities to learn servant leadership and guide students through college life.
Nassir majored in communication management and minored in biblical studies. “I chose communication because I knew I would learn how to interact with others, listen, process my thoughts, and share them in meaningful ways. I knew those skills would be valuable in any career, and they have been,” he said. His biblical studies courses and prayer life were fundamental to preparing him to lead the life he wanted. “When I prayed, I heard God say, ‘Don’t worry about what you should do. Focus on who I’m calling you to be.’” So he kept that focus as he worked hard at developing the gifts God gave him, completing his degree and graduating in 1992.
First Jobs and Furthering Education
After graduation, still unsure which career path to follow, Nassir met with a friend in the film industry who offered him a position as a film production assistant. After a year and a half, he realized that it wasn’t a long-term fit. Fortunately, he received a call from Deana Porterfield, then APU’s director of Admissions, and gladly accepted the opportunity to return to APU to serve as an admissions counselor. “It was phenomenal! I absolutely loved working with that team at APU and interacting with prospective students,” he said.
While working at APU, Nassir earned a Master of Business Administration. While he valued the rigorous course load, learning everything from finance to marketing, he continued to hone the people skills entrepreneurs need. He learned to listen first, then help guide clients to impactful solutions. “You need to fine-tune and hone every tool you prepared on your work belt, but you also have to be ready to pick up a new one because of what you hear from across the table. You have to be ready to pivot,” he said. “So many people on my side of the table are so stuck to a script that they don’t actually listen to their clients’ needs. I’m so thankful that I learned to listen and pivot.” After finishing his MBA, Nassir, having loved his time in higher education, felt God calling him to the marketplace.
From Service Provider to Trusted Partner
Nassir left APU and worked a series of sales jobs in pharmaceuticals and advertising. As he searched for the right long-term fit, he pivoted to a field that ran in his family: real estate. Nassir’s mother, Minnie Lush, was a highly sought-after broker, author, and instructor to well over 200,000 students. Inspired by her motto, “Get on your knees every morning, listen for God’s leading, then get up off your knees and hustle,” Nassir was hired by a leading Downtown LA firm to lease Class A office space in high-rise trophy assets. When the financial crisis hit in 2008, like millions across the country, Nassir realized this was another pivot point. He moved to CBRE, the world's largest provider of commercial real estate services, which is ranked No. 118 on the Fortune 500. CBRE provided the fit he craved, and he’s thrived there since starting in 2009, serving his clients as First Vice President. “When you start at CBRE, you’re given the title of ‘Associate,’” he said. “Every title after that, you have to earn.”
At CBRE, Nassir has earned the valued trust of hundreds of clients both locally and
nationally, including other Fortune 500 companies, independent businesses, churches,
and educational institutions (including his beloved alma mater, APU). “What a privilege
to use my skills for a place I so love and believe in,” Nassir said. “The APU Mission
is imperative, and any way that I can assist brings me great satisfaction.” Nassir
helps clients strategically consider options for their commercial real estate goals,
which can include leveraging or monetizing properties, leasing, buying, and selling
properties, including apartment complexes, office and industrial buildings, medical
and educational properties, self-storage, land development, joint ventures, and more.
At the outset, Nassir begins with an assessment, asking questions like: What’s the goal (or do we need to work that out together)? What is or isn’t working? How are things changing? What problems need to be solved or avoided? What are growth or contraction projections? How is your real estate helping or hindering? How does it impact other critical components of your business and investments? “Significant analysis needs to occur well before any transaction,” Nassir said. “My job is to help people operate in the most efficient ways, to maximize value and find opportunities that further their mission. We come up with plan A and B, then C and D, as well as an exit. My favorite moment is when our relationship changes from service provider to valued, trusted partner, and I get to help them realize, and sometimes even shape, their vision.”
Rooted in Faith and Family
Although Nassir loves his work, the most important parts of his life are his faith and his family. “My business card says CBRE, but at the end of the day, I know who I’m accountable to,” he said. “My biggest blessing in life is being a husband to my wife, Erin, and a father to my boys, Reed (18) and Blake (15).” Nassir tried to have his faith guide every step, and he’s grateful for the fellowship of an amazing church, Christian Assembly Eagle Rock, where he has been involved for 30 years, and where he met his wife. “We had the Psalm 37:4 reference engraved on our wedding rings. This verse has guided our approach to life, marriage, and parenting. God promises that if we pursue and delight in Him first, then everything else falls into place, including peace in hard times and joy in difficulty,” Nassir said.
As Nassir prepared for Reed to go to college this year, he reflected on a lesson from his own college days from former APU President Richard Felix. “Dr. Felix talked about the three phases of life: learning, earning, and returning,” he said. Nassir gleaned as much as possible from APU mentors, including Felix and professors Bruce Baloian, Ray McCormick, and many others, during his learning phase. Over the past two decades, Nassir has built a successful career at CBRE during his earning phase. “I’m not fully into my returning phase yet, but I’ve already tried to start—giving back through time, prayer, resources, and guidance as those doors are opened. There will be a shift later in life when I apply more of my time and energy to that,” he said. “I feel like I’m still going to be in the marketplace for a good amount of time, but when God calls me, I’ll be ready to pivot and fully return.”