NAI’s Marcus Mahlen wants to change city’s landscape

He’s a broker associate who wants to help build Sioux Falls. Meet Marcus Mahlen, our latest up-and-comer.

Name: Marcus Mahlen

Job: Broker associate at NAI Sioux Falls

Age: 24

Hometown: Webster in northeast South Dakota. Go Bearcats!

What brought you to Sioux Falls? 

The opportunity for career advancement and success is what brought me to Sioux Falls. I’m from a small town in northeast South Dakota, and I’m very proud of it, but like I’ve told many others, I finally found out what I want to do when I grow up and that happens to be in Sioux Falls. There’s something special having opportunity to grow your career and personal life, and Sioux Falls offers that. I have an older sister that’s been involved in the professional industry in Sioux Falls for many years now, and it’s been a pleasure watching her move up in her field with the support of the community.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?  

The people. Many of my old friends and colleagues currently live in the area, and I’ve made so many other long-term connections by simply being out in the community. The people are really the driving force behind me being in Sioux Falls. Also my new career in commercial real estate at NAI Sioux Falls is something I’m very passionate about, and I look forward to forming many new lifelong professional relationships through my diligent work in the regional market. One of my mentors once said, “My fingerprints are involved in a lot of the deals that have helped build this city,” and I can’t wait to have a similar saying one day.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

The favorite part about my job is that the whole basis behind it is being active and knowing what’s going on in the market. In more simple terms, it’s being in the know. Communicating with the movers and shakers and simply finding a perfect fit for two parties is very rewarding for both myself, the parties involved and the entire community. My job is to interact with and work for people that are involved in some sort of transition in their life, and being of service during that time is very exciting. How many people can go to work in the morning with the possibility of making a deal that could change the physical landscape of their city?

How did you get connected to your industry?

For many years now, I’ve always been interested in economic development and the process behind it. Shortly after I received my degree from the University of South Dakota, I decided I wanted to go into the private sector and begin a career in sales, always with the approach of being able to find the best solution possible for my client. Real estate and economic development were always in the back of my mind as possible careers, and I thought someday I’d end up in the residential real estate sector but never fully pursued it. In my former position, I was working with business owners and upper-level executives, so once I started heavily researching the commercial real estate market, I knew it was a perfect fit.

Describe working at NAI in three words.

Poised for success.

What’s one business you’d like to see in Sioux Falls that isn’t here now?

 I’m sure it’d be simple to go with the traditional places such as Chipotle or Chick-Fil-A that I always hear about, but honestly, I’d prefer to see Sioux Falls become a hub for some sort of distribution center for a company like Amazon. We aren’t the regional hub of Omaha or Minneapolis, but we do have a terrific central location in the northern Midwest on two interstate systems.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

 In five years, I see myself being able to drive around Sioux Falls and pointing out some of the projects I’ve worked on that have come to fruition. I plan on becoming very involved with my peers that would be considered young and new in the local commercial real estate market and taking our community to the next level of growth. I’m a huge advocate for my alma mater, the University of South Dakota, so in five years I hope to be even more active with my fellow Coyotes.

Want to stay in the know?

Get our free business news delivered to your inbox.



NAI’s Marcus Mahlen wants to change city’s landscape

He’s a broker associate who wants to help build Sioux Falls. Meet Marcus Mahlen, our latest up-and-comer.

News Tip

Have a business news item to share with us?

Scroll to top