Aron Lofton, Founder & CEO of Property Halo Development, Speaks Exclusively to The Silicon Review: ‘We will Continue to Develop Raw Land’

“We are looking at a billion-dollar master development in Lake Charles, Louisiana.”

Aron Lofton built his multi-million-dollar construction and development career on his belief in what he calls “the hustle and the grind”. After playing D-II college football, he transferred to Oklahoma State University and earned his bachelor’s degree in Biomechanics. Mr. Lofton subsequently became a professional mixed martial artist fighting for some of the largest and most prestigious promotions in North America. He enjoyed a six-year MMA career and was recognized as one of the top light heavyweight fighters in the world.

As the founder of Property Halo Development, Mr. Lofton has assembled a team of well-respected industry professionals to develop commercial real estate in the major Texas markets. To date, he has been directly involved with millions of dollars of new construction and repositioning of commercial, multifamily, and medical facilities.

Property Halo Development is a real estate development firm offering turnkey design and construction services for commercial and residential properties in Texas. It is headquartered in Frisco with a regional office in San Antonio.

To highlight and further understand what Property Halo Development stands for and seeks to explore in this segment, I sat down with Aron Lofton, who also serves as the company’s Chief Executive Officer.

Below is an excerpt.

Q. As a successful leader, how do you encourage productive thinking within your organization?

I like to give people an opportunity to run their businesses in their style. I give them the freedom and flexibility to take care of their responsibilities. We ensure that everybody in the company knows that they’ve got an amazing support staff behind them, a very dedicated team of people that believe in the company and its vision.

Q. How do you describe your leadership style?

My leadership style is to be a cheerleader when needed (laughs), besides maintaining a positive mood for my employees. Importantly, I want to ensure that even if we make mistakes, there’s an opportunity to learn from them. At the same time, I want to ensure that we don’t repeat those mistakes. Clearly, to err is human, but we should remain vigilant of our actions. With that said, I wear different hats; I can step in and fix just about any problem that arises. To maintain a smooth transition of ideas, I try to instill the same methodology into our project managers and construction managers.

“We’re just very selective on what we commit to, but currently, we’re looking at six different development deals that we are going to be involved in some capacity, and those deals range from anywhere from $10 million up to $1 billion.”

Q. If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting as an entrepreneur, what would it be?

Don’t stop as so many people hit roadblocks in the path to success. It’s definitely not a straight line. The hurdles such as raising capital, hiring the right talent, maintaining teams efficiently, etc. would demand an abrupt closure, however, keep going anyway. The people that are successful push through every barrier and continue to go and chase their goals.

Q. What are your next steps to ensure that you continue to grow and develop as a leader?

Well, we have multiple investment groups that are coming to us and wanting to invest in our projects across Louisiana and the state of Texas. We’re just very selective on what we commit to, but currently, we’re looking at six different development deals that we are going to be involved in some capacity, and those deals range from anywhere from $10 million up to $1 billion.

Q. Who are the other leaders you look up to and what can one learn from them?

Good question. I remember having long conversations with my father and know him that he wanted to break away from the safe route of a day-to-day job and he wished that he had stepped out into entrepreneurship. I know that he had regrets later on in his life about not taking more chances and playing it safe for the paycheck. That message sticks with me today, even four years after his passing. About who I try to model myself today, I listen to a lot of motivational podcasts based on Joe Rogan’s teachings.

It is okay to get uncomfortable and that growth happens through that uncomfortable timing is what I have learnt from Mr. Rogan. In other words, going out of your comfort zone guarantees success. I am sure people have and will talk about this concept, but it’s a fact that getting comfortable being uncomfortable is a new success mantra. And that’s something I think that Joe Rogan preaches and teaches.

Q. Is there’s anything else you want to add that we might have missed?

Yes. I have been in construction for over 12 years as a general contractor, and four years ago, I started the development company, Property Halo Development. We now have a little over $120M of development going on across the state. We are looking at a billion-dollar master development in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The type of projects we take on, the experience we have, and the people we bring on speak volumes about how Property Halo is evolving. Put simply, we will continue to develop raw land.

Importantly, our best approach to developing raw land is to mitigate as many risks on the front end as possible with the proper due diligence. Needless to say, this is our strength and our future.

Q. What is Property Halo Development’s point of differentiation?

Property Halo will continue to grow because of the demand and winning reputation that we have built over the years. We will continue to seek out the right relationships and develop new assets to support the rapid growth of Texas. Importantly, we look at each opportunity and if we commit, we will make it happen.

Moreover, our employees are our asset and their role in our company’s success is incredible. Simply put, we care, we listen, and we support each other. We all know the roles we must play but are always open to feedback from the field to improve our day-to-day operations. Everyone feels valued and has the freedom to run their projects the way they feel comfortable. This is what sets us apart from many of our competitors.

“With the experience of being an ex-professional Mixed Martial Artist with 14 professional fights, Aron has confidence and experience to stay calm in most scenarios. This is one of the main characteristics that Aron attributes his success, he brings a calm and calculated approach to the challenges of day to day business.”

“At Property Halo Development, we’ve built a talented, experienced, and passionate team of commercial real estate professionals. We are committed to making every Property Halo Development project a destination of choice for consumers.”

“I enjoy reaching for things that might seem beyond my grasp. I appreciate hard work and have confidence in my ability to persevere. I’ve also surrounded myself with highly talented and successful people who share my work ethic and believe in my vision and leadership.”