Jason Shinn knows how to maximize his time. By the time he was in his mid-twenties, he had already traveled the world and dove headfirst into an industry he knew nothing about, something that would shape him as a professional and tee him up for success in real estate.  

Jason grew up in Sedona, Arizona, the son of a custom and spec home builder. From a young age, Jason would help his father in his work. After graduating from high school, he attended college in Flagstaff majoring in construction management for two years, thinking he might want to eventually take over the family business. However, Jason had a yearning to broaden his horizons and see more of the world. 

Always having had an eye for design, Jason was curious about the fashion industry. Without knowing anyone, he drove to L.A. and enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). He would go on to earn two fashion degrees in supply chain, entrepreneurship as well as a bachelor’s in business management, after which he signed on with Apparel Textile Sourcing, an international trade show producer, working on the supply-chain side of the fashion industry for the next six years. 

“It was exciting exploring a new industry,” he recalls. “My title was Conference Director and was in charge of all marketing and managed our strategic partners for the trade show. We produced the trade shows mainly in Toronto, Miami, Berlin, and L.A. But we went all over — Milan, London, Manila, Shenzhen (Mainland China), the Philippines, Hong Kong and Paris.” 

Jason honed his skills in marketing, project management, client relations and sales, but found himself wanting a change.

“My job wasn’t as dynamic day-to-day, as I’d hoped for, and I wanted something that would still give me a creative outlet. My interest in homes, building and real estate had piqued again…”