MCALLEN, TX, February 17, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Michael J. Blum has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Blum has established a distinguished career spanning more than five decades in real estate, economic development and public service. As a real estate broker and partner at NAI STX since 2018, he has played a pivotal role in guiding the company's transition from NAI Rio Grande Valley to its current identity. His responsibilities include finding and closing deals, assisting colleagues, managing commercial land, office buildings, industrial properties and open land, and identifying opportunities for property owners, tenants, buyers and sellers. Through his affiliation with NAI Global, Mr. Blum has extended his professional reach beyond McAllen, Texas, to a global network of offices.

From 2004 to 2018, Mr. Blum served as a partner at NAI Rio Grande Valley, where he continued to build on his expertise in strategic planning and economic development. Prior to this role, he was the president and associate at NAI Rioco Realty from 1997 to 2004. In these capacities, he contributed significantly to the growth of the region's commercial real estate market by leveraging technology and the internet to connect buyers and sellers nationally and internationally.

A transformative period in Mr. Blum's career began in the late 1980s, when he served as president of First City Development Services Group from 1989 to 1991. This opportunity arose after being recognized as Volunteer Industrial Developer of the Year (VIDY) by the Texas Industrial Development Council in 1988, a distinction that affirmed his expertise in economic development and led to his recruitment by First City Bank Corporation. As the president of First City Development Services Group, Mr. Blum worked closely with Hunt Oil Company on the master plan for Sharyland Plantation and served as a consultant for both First City Bank and Hunt Oil Company in Dallas.

During that process, Mr. Blum identified a site for a future international bridge, which would later become a critical gateway for cross-border commerce and regional mobility. This work ultimately led to being selected by the City of McAllen to pursue a Presidential Permit for a future international bridge at a location he identified in his work on the Sharyland Master Plan.

That work ultimately led to a face-to-face meeting in McAllen, at the invitation of then Congressman Ruben Hinojosa, with President Bill Clinton to advocate for the issuance of a Presidential Permit necessary to advance the bridge project and to gain his support for the regional effort to make the Rio Grande Valley a region with Interstate highway designations.

Eighteen months following that meeting, the Permit was presented to the mayors of the affected cities in the Roosevelt Room in the White House. Blum was in the room where that happened. The successful authorization and eventual construction of the bridge helped reshape regional logistics, strengthen international commerce, and accelerate economic growth throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

"My career has always been guided by the belief that commercial real estate is not simply about transactions, but about shaping communities and creating pathways for long-term economic growth," said Mr. Blum. Those principles closely align with the values that define NAI Global—disciplined advisory practice, market-driven insight, and a steadfast commitment to client success.

Mr. Blum's professional journey began with two years of service in the United States Army during the Vietnam War era. After earning his bachelor's degree, he attended Officer Candidate School; however, following President Richard Nixon's reduction in force, he completed his military service as a battalion operations sergeant at Fort Hood. His time in the Army provided essential leadership training that would shape his approach to public policy, planning, and community service throughout his career.

Mr. Blum holds a master's degree in urban planning from Texas A&M University, earned in 1971, and a bachelor's degree in political science from the same institution, completed in 1969. His academic path was directly influenced by his military experience. The discipline, leadership, and organizational skills he developed in the Army inspired him to pursue graduate studies in Urban and Regional Planning. He began his professional career with an internship at the City of Edinburg Model Cities Agency, which led to his appointment as Edinburg City Planner after only 60 days with Model Cities.

Several months later, he was recruited by the City of McAllen to become its first City Planner. During his tenure in McAllen, he crafted land-use and subdivision regulations, managed the initial Community Development Block Grant Program, and facilitated the creation of McAllen Housing Services, Inc., the predecessor to McAllen Affordable Homes. By 1978, Mr. Blum had become Assistant City Manager. Reflecting on his journey, Mr. Blum considers his 24 months in the Army as a game-changer that significantly influenced his career and life trajectory.

Recognized for his expertise in strategic planning, economic development and public policy formulation, Mr. Blum is a member of several industry organizations. These include the National Association of Realtors and Greater McAllen Association of Realtors. His commitment to civic engagement is reflected in leadership roles, including his former presidency of Temple Emanuel in McAllen, his past presidency and board membership of the International Museum of Art and Science, past presidency and board membership of Easter Seals RGV and his role as the Chairman of the Citizens' Community Advisory Committee for McAllen Independent School District from 2004 to 2009.

Beyond Blum's professional practice, his work has always been grounded in a deep commitment to civic, cultural, and humanitarian service. Community involvement has been a natural extension of his professional responsibilities, reflecting a belief that sustainable development must be paired with stewardship and investment in the people and institutions that define a region. Mr. Blum has demonstrated a strong commitment to civic involvement and creative expression. He has volunteered as Santa Claus for hundreds of children over many years and served as a music director and guitar player at his synagogue's Sunday school for four decades, teaching traditional Jewish music to young students.

Mr. Blum's achievements have been recognized through numerous professional and civic honors. These include CoStar Power Broker recognition in 2018, 2021 and the third quarter of 2024, Easter Seals of the Rio Grande Valley Humanitarian of the Year in 2013, the Mayor's Community Service Award in 2017 and Texas Volunteer Industrial Developer of the Year by the Texas Industrial Development Council in 1988.

Taken together, these experiences reflect the core values that define NAI Global-integrity, expertise, stewardship, and a commitment to creating lasting value within the communities it serves. His affiliation with NAI Global, spanning 25 to 30 years, has provided a global footprint, connecting McAllen to a network of offices and opportunities worldwide. NAI STX, serving South Texas since 2018, builds on a legacy that began as NAI Rio Grande Valley, which operated for more than 20 years under previous ownership.

Mr. Blum is an accomplished wood turner and vessel artist. His work is displayed at the International Museum of Art and Science, where he participates annually alongside painters, sculptors, and other wood turners. Among his unique creations is a wooden vessel inspired by an ostrich egg, which reflects over 15 years of dedication to his craft.

Now in his eighth decade, Mr. Blum remains active in the real estate business he loves, while continuing to value family, community, and service. He and his wife have been married for 43 years. They have three children and are proud grandparents of two grandchildren.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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