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Miami ’ s residential sector is continually evolving , and at the heart of this evolution is Manny Angelo Varas , CEO of MV Group . This month ’ s main interview finds Manny sharing insight into his career journey ; from the impact of the 2008 recession to crafting multimillion-dollar residences , as well as the secret to MV Group ’ s success – meticulous attention to detail . We learn , from this conversation , that collaborating with A-listers like Lil Wayne and overcoming industry challenges are the norm at MV Group . As the company celebrates its 15th anniversary , he guides us through the intersection of innovation , craftsmanship , and the future of ultra-luxury living in Miami .
Manny , to kickstart the conversation , how did you come to establish MV Group ? Well , I started the company back in 2007 . I ’ ve always had this dream to develop and create amazing homes . I then earned my GC license at 25 years old , and rather than working for a company , I opened my own . I partnered with an architect named Charles Sieger , of Sieger Suárez Architects , and we helped establish quite a few special buildings in Miami . I was a good friend of his and he got me started on apartments and the interior fit outs . I was doing tile and flooring , and miscellaneous finishes .
Then there was the 2008 recession . It was a blow to many but , fortunately , it gave us a lift off because I fell into – and subsequently became very successful in – this little niche of interiors . Most of the buildings in Florida come ‘ designer ready ’, which means completely raw walls . Well , the bank used to allow those raw spaces to be closed on and then the owner to build it out . Because of the recession , the banks required those spaces to be finished before closing . So , we became the in-house company at most of the buildings and we got approved by Starwood , Starwood Residential , and Starwood Capital during that time to start working on the fit outs for the end users of each one of these buildings . That led us to begin working on the interior build outs and meeting a lot of designers . We had done a few units for record producers and music producers , and then I met Lil Wayne ’ s mom and we actually built his home . One thing I think we became renowned for is attention to detail , and that detail resonated in our homes . Now , we ’ re actively doing about $ 50 million to $ 60 million a year .
The company is celebrating 15 years in the industry this year . Congrats ! What does a milestone like this mean to you ? Honestly , it ’ s a reflection on what we ’ ve been able to achieve . It ’ s also a motivation for how we can continue to innovate , create better processes , and help establish amazing
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