Aziah Backus
REAL ESTATE ADVISOR
Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke
abackus@boerke.com
(608) 515-3383
Aziah Backus is a Real Estate Advisor with Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke, specializing in retail leasing and sales throughout the Greater Madison and Dane County markets. Since joining Boerke, Aziah has worked with a diverse range of clients, from national veterinary and service brands to local entrepreneurs and boutique retailers, helping them identify, position, and execute successful real estate strategies. With a focus on landlord and seller representation, Aziah advises property owners on how to strengthen occupancy, enhance asset value, and attract high-quality tenants through thoughtful market positioning and data-driven leasing strategies. He brings a deep understanding of Wisconsin’s evolving retail landscape, combining market analytics, local insight, and a relationship-driven approach to achieve results for his clients.
Outside of his brokerage work, Aziah is an avid history enthusiast, golfer, and volunteer at Blackhawk Church in Middleton.
Q) What do you enjoy the most about commercial real estate?
A) What I enjoy most about commercial real estate is the ability to help shape the communities where we work. Every project, whether it’s bringing a new retailer to a corridor or helping a local business find its first brick-and-mortar location, plays a role in how people live, shop, and connect. Being part of that process and seeing how thoughtful retail and redevelopment decisions can revitalize an area and create lasting impact is incredibly rewarding.
Q) What is the best piece of advice you have received?
A) Be a resource. As I started in brokerage one of my mentors gave me the advice to pursue relationships and be a resource to people, whether they are clients, colleagues or contractors. Since then, my goal has been to provide value and be a resource to everyone I interact with.
Q) What is your favorite quote?
A) “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:25-27 & 34
Q) Where did you grow up?
A) I grew up in the Middleton/Waunakee suburbs of Madison, where I still live today. Having the opportunity to watch Madison grow as I grew up has given me a very unique perspective and appreciation for the market where I work today.
Q) What was cool when you were growing up but isn’t cool now?
A) Heelys (debatably)
Q) What’s your favorite place to travel to?
A) Ireland
Q) If you could have lunch with anyone in the world, who would it be?
A) Admiral Chester Nimitz – I studied history in college and I was fascinated by his leadership and tactical expertise in the Pacific in World War Two, and I would look forward to the opportunity to pick his brain and hear all of the stories he has.
Q) What made you choose Commercial Real Estate?
A) In one word. Family. I am (at least) the third generation of my family involved in the real estate business. Doug, my grandfather, was a successful developer in Wisconsin during his career and still owns assets all over the Midwest. Bret, my father, is the VP of Real Estate for Woodman’s Food Markets and I grew up watching him string bring deals together to serve the communities where he worked. Between the two of them they inspired me to strive to make that same impact in my communities in my career.