Milwaukee commercial real estate veteran and longtime radio host Steve Palec has published a book, set to release Dec. 2.
“In Awe: Beatles, Baseball & Bourbon” is a collection of stories from Palec’s life, including vignettes about attending a playoff game with former Milwaukee Brewers owner and Major League Baseball commissioner emeritus Bud Selig, hanging out with former Green Bay Packer LeRoy Butler, attending a presidential inauguration, shaking the hand of a member of The Beatles and walking into the side of a building, among other unusual experiences and encounters.
Palec, whose 35-year-long career has made him one of the most prominent commercial real estate brokers in Milwaukee, recently left his position at Colliers International|Wisconsin to become chief marketing officer of Milwaukee-based Irgens Partners LLC.
He has been involved in several major office transactions throughout southeastern Wisconsin, representing GE Healthcare in leasing 500,000 square feet in Wauwatosa, assisting ManpowerGroup in its corporate headquarters project in downtown Milwaukee and facilitating Baker Tilly’s move downtown. Most recently, he worked with with Irgens on the downtown BMO Tower, which is scheduled to be completed in spring 2020.
Palec will be a panelist at the annual BizTimes Milwaukee Commercial Real Estate and Development Conference on Friday at the Italian Community Center.
Separate from his real estate work, Palec has also hosted Rock N’ Roll Roots on Sunday mornings on WKLH-FM 96.5 for more than 30 years.
In describing his book, Palec said the common theme that weaves together his stories is his sense of “awe” at life’s circumstances.
“I am in awe of the people I encounter and the things going on around me,” Palec said. “I seek out big things and I appreciate the little things. And I like to think that maybe I’ve tapped into the ‘power of awe.’ It’s just a fun way to go through life.”
The book, co-written Reji Laberie, features a forward by Butler. It will be available Dec. 2 on Amazon.
