Scott Wetzel’s involvement with the real estate market reaches beyond leadership.  In addition to serving as chief development officer of Seattle-based Windermere Real Estate, CEO of Spokane-based Windermere Services Mountain West, Windermere Valley, Liberty Lake, & Sandpoint, Wetzel volunteers his time with multiple nonprofits, including the Ronald McDonald House, YMCA Youth Football, and Junior Achievement of Eastern Washington.

Wetzel says his most enriching involvement is with the Windermere Foundation. The nonprofit has donated over $50 million to low-income and homeless families since 1989, he says.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychology, minor in sociology, Whitworth University.

What advice would you have for others looking to follow a career path similar to yours? You have to be quick, but don’t be in a hurry. So many times, I see young businesspeople trying to rush the process of success. You are going to fail, but that’s ok. Just be patient in all things (crawl, walk, run), and never give up.

 

What's the best piece of advice you've received? The definition of a great business deal is when you both leave the table feeling good, not great.

If you had one wish for Spokane, what would it be? To have a clean, safe, and services-rich city – especially in our downtown core. Having grown up here, I fear we have lost many attributes that made Spokane great. 

Who has been a significant influence in your life and career? My mother, Sharon, a bank secretary, taught me the importance of work ethic. My high school baseball coach, John Thacker, taught me leadership skills. My college adviser, Dr. Bill Johnson, taught me patience. My first executive manager at Nordstrom, David Brooke, taught me the value of pursuing excellence, and my predecessor at Windermere Services, John Becker, taught me the value of listening. Above all, my wife, Tracie, taught me the value of giving love, support, and belief in a person, as she was and continues to be unwavering in support of me.