25 expat voices: Kevin Pickolick

In their own words

By Inside México Original Print Publication: February, 2009

For the "25 Mexicans You Should Know" edition of Inside México (November 2007) our editorial team sat in a room for hours, proposing and debating names of candidates, eventually whittling the list to a mix of well and less-well-known figures, each illuminating some aspect of this country.

For "25 Expats," we decided to do something different. We put the word out. We invited you, our readers, to tell us who to highlight. E-mailed nominations poured in from around the country, and several of you even called.

This inaugural group of 2009 finalists is a diverse bunch in terms of where they are from, where they live and what they do. You've helped us round up the expat equivalent of the "butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker." In this case, however, it is the activist, the developer and the expat filmmaker...and the dog rescuer, the theater founder, the birder, and the book store owner. The list goes on.

The common thread running through each selection is the effort these people make to build community between expats and Mexicans. We think that by doing so, they are helping to expand the definition of Mexico. That is what immigrants do.

Expat: Kevin Pickolick

Business: La Paz Land

Website: lapazland.com

Kevin Pickolick

Originally from: Born and raised in Northern California.

Lives in: La Paz, Baja Sur.

Living in Mexico: Just over five years.

Why did you move to Mexico?

I was on a three-week vacation traveling via motorcycle through Mexico. The third day into the trip I was in La Paz. I was to leave the next morning, but ended up staying the entire three weeks here. I came back a month later for good.

Well, that is my stock business answer. The truth is closer to: "I met a girl..."

Tell us about La Paz Land. How does the company work?

My employees and I started the company as a Real Estate development business and we have our own residential developments in the area. We have since expanded to assist other investors and developers. We offer a full range of services to assure that all an investor's needs are met under one roof. From top to bottom, we can help our clients acquire large parcels of land, walk them through the permitting and environmental impact process, and manage the construction.

Why is the business important to you?

With La Paz Land, I have had the opportunity to be a part of a more global community. It's an exciting new company with outstanding growth potential. The best part is being able to work with the brightest and most diverse set of professionals I have ever encountered in my work. We have Mexican executives, an Italian legal team, an Israeli General Manger, and Mexican, Spanish, and Middle Eastern investors. I am thrilled to be part of a company that I can really be proud of; we offer outstanding career opportunities to our local employees, with high-paying and secure jobs. We also have the opportunity to set an example of sound environmental stewardship of the incredible natural resources in our trust.

Do you have any hobbies?

Off-road racing has been a large part of my life. Our race team tackled the Baja 500 last year. We are looking forward to 2009!

Do you have a specific Mexico "moment" that makes you think, "That's what I love about this place"?

I was lucky to be "adopted" by a local family. Over the years I have been involved in weddings, births, and even deaths in the family. It's been a humbling experience to view the world through a different set of eyes.

What are both the best and the hardest things about being an expat in Mexico?

The best thing about being an expat in Mexico is the "slow pace of life and the laid-back attitude."

As a business owner, the hardest part of Mexico is the "slow pace of life and the laid-back attitude."

But I would not trade these experiences for anything. Viva Mexico!

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