Takeaways – Life. Lessons. Learned.

Dan Palmeri

Dan Palmeri, SIOR, is one of the most recognized office tenant rep brokers in Las Vegas. He is currently Executive Vice President at CBRE and his path to success didn’t start pitching big assignments in corporate boardrooms. It began as a kid working in his family’s Italian restaurant, where hard work, grit, and resilience were served alongside pasta and wine. From peeling potatoes as a kid to negotiating multimillion-dollar corporate leases, Dan has carried those early lessons into a career defined by hustle, reinvention, and doing business on his own terms.

Work Ethic and Intention

Dan grew up in Calabasas, California, the son of a Sicilian immigrant. His father built restaurants from scratch, and Dan and his brothers learned responsibility early, chopping food, running payroll, and even handling bank deposits before they could legally vote.

His father’s unexpected passing six years ago became the deepest turning point of his life. His dad’s last words—“I don’t want to die. I’m not ready”—pushed Dan to embrace life fully, cut out obligations that didn’t serve him, and focus on creating experiences with the people he loves.

The Grind Unseen

Dan’s leap from the restaurant floor into commercial real estate was fueled by curiosity. After hearing regulars at his family’s restaurant talk about big deals while drinking Caymus, he earned his license and dove into residential real estate quickly realizing it wasn’t for him. He cycled through custom homebuilding and apartment brokerage before landing at Colliers, where mentors gave him the tools to learn the business.

Dan spent six years grinding at two full-time jobs. Early morning at Colliers followed by late nights at the restaurant. His big break finally came in 2012 with SolarCity. That deal allowed him to retire from restaurant work and 10x’d his income overnight.

Forged in Friction

Dan’s journey hasn’t been without friction—whether it was early deals falling apart in escrow, partnerships that no longer aligned, or navigating tense industry conflicts.

One of the stories Dan and Hayim unpacked was about a deal that could have easily fractured their relationship. It was a frustrating experience, but instead of letting it turn into bitterness, the two reframed it as a lesson in fiduciary and client control.

A decade later, they’re still collaborating—proof that long-term relationships matter more than any one deal in the CRE business.

Takeaways From This Episode

• Every setback is training
• Mentorships matter
• Don’t wait for perfect conditions

Watch the entire Podcast episode for the full discussion with Dan Palmeri as we delve deeply into his experiences and perspectives. Thank you for listening! Please subscribe to “Takeaways,” rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts.

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