GET TO KNOW US

Hi, my name is Mark Masso. Please allow me to tell you a little about my family, my faith, and how those two intersect at MFLP Properties. This is our story and I look forward to hearing more about yours. 

The origin of MFLP Properties starts with the example and legacy of my grandparents. Carlos Masso, my paternal grandfather, was a merchant in Palestine, Middle East. From a young age in the early 1900’s, Carlos soon ventured out into business with his brothers in Venezuela, Mexico and Paris, France, shipping products internationally before airplanes even existed. By 1930 he began building multi-unit residences in the new, German colony of Jerusalem, the last of which he built in 1946. Sadly, the war of 1948 that led to the establishment of the state of Israel forced Carlos and his family to start over in a new country. His determination, incredible work ethic and model to generate income as a merchant from which to acquire rental property served his family well as all 10 of his children followed suit in the new country, including my dad - George Masso. 

Wilmot “Red” Crow, my maternal grandfather, built one of the largest privately-owned meat plants in Texas. Due to an accidental explosion in the plant, Red suffered 3rd degree burns from his waist up. His survival was recognized as a miracle. His daughter, Joy, learned the power of hard work and diligence that allowed her family to not only survive but thrive beyond this tragic accident. 

George and his wife, Joy (my parents) moved to McAllen, TX in 1970 where they continued their wholesale distribution and retail stores endeavors. George and Joy faced many hardships such as the Mexican Peso devaluations in 1975, 1982 and 1994 which decimated the border economy, especially downtown McAllen where their stores were. Through much determination and dedication, they closed numerous stores only to start again in 1976 with the more stable and less Mexico dependent Western Wear store, The Boot Jack.

As a family business, my siblings and I worked in the stores growing up. I remember when I was nine years old getting a quarter for each pair of jeans I helped a customer find in his size. Throughout my high school and college years, although I continued to work in the stores, I had no desire to have a career in retail. With a desire to help people, my newly wedded wife, Karen, and I moved far away to a small island named Bahrain (Arabian Peninsula) soon after completing graduate school. After a couple of years overseas, I realized the best way for me to help others was to return home and join the family business. 

George and Joy eventually sold and licensed the stores to my siblings from which I purchased from my brother. The Boot Jack stores of the Rio Grande Valley grew to become a nationally recognized, leading western store chain. The ongoing licensing fees were used to build the MFLP Properties portfolio that exists today. MFLP property management has relationships that include AT&T, Subway, Radio Shack, Verizon and over 20 additional recognized brands. 

My family has overcome many hardships to get to where we are today. I attribute the “secrets of success” to three ingredients:

• the model my grandparents left to generate cash as a merchant/business owner from which to buy assets (real estate), 

• my father’s work ethic, passion and determination and 

• my mother’s faith and her dedication and care for people all along the way. 

This company has truly been blessed with a strong foundation upon which to build.

When founded, MFLP stood for Masso Family Limited Partnership. For the current part of the portfolio that I now own, I like to think of the acronym as meaning “More Focus on the Lost and Poor”. It has been nearly three decades since I joined the family business. We now partner with and support strategic organizations and leaders making a difference in underserved areas of the world as a "business on a mission" to bring spiritual, social and economic transformation.