Who are The Watsons?

Meet the family

behind the name
By Stephanie Rossettos
The Watson Realty Corp. brand is synonymous with real estate
in Central and Northeast Florida; however many people are
unaware that not only is this a family-owned business, but the
largest independently owned real estate rm in Florida. Watson
Realty started in 1965 and was founded by William A. Watson Jr.
Meet the founder and family behind the brand:
William A. Watson, Jr. father, founder and chairman of the
board, Watson Realty Corp.
Q. How does it feel to be in business almost 50 years?
A. Its unbelievable it seems like just yesterday we started on
this journey and now we are approaching 50 years in 2015.
Q. What has been the most signicant change in the industry?
A. Technology has denitely been the most impacting change
to date. With the advent of things like social media, the
entire landscape of how we connect with our customers has
changed. However, while this is positive, I feel like my philosophy
of providing legendary quality service is timeless and doesnt
require the use of a computer to deliver.
Q. How do you feel about your family working for the company?
A. As a parent it is always rewarding to see your children
progress and advance. Carlotta, Bill III, and Greg have all
worked for other companies prior to coming to work for the
business; and so I value their insight and appreciate all the
experience they bring to the table.
Carlotta Landschoot, daughter, executive vice president, Watson
Realty Corp.
Q. What prior positions have you held outside the family
business?
A. After I graduated from college, I went to work for Price
Waterhouse in Orlando in their audit department. I worked there
for almost seven years and progressed through the ranks to
being promoted to a manager.
Q. How does working in the family business compare to
corporate America?
A. You have to work a lot harder as the rst impression everyone
has is you got the job because you were related, rather than
because you were the most qualied person for the position.
Q. How do you separate family from business?
A. We dont, family and business are always co-mingled.
Discussions at the dinner table will almost always eventually
have a business element to them. I think this is the case for most
family businesses.
Q. What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
A. My most rewarding accomplishment has been developing
and implementing a strategic plan for our organization to
perform at such an extraordinary level that weve been
recognized four times with the highest individual brokerage
award available, the Diamond Award. Each time our
performance has risen to levels never reached before, I feel like
a conductor making beautiful music with the best musicians in
the industry.
Greg Harris, son-in-law, president, Watson Title Services of North
Florida, Inc.
Q. What positions have you held with the company?
A. I rst joined the company as a sales associate in 2010 after
retiring from the U.S. Navy with 21 years of service. Ive been
president of Watson Title Services of N. FL now for two and a
half years.
Q. What standards do you hold yourself most accountable to in
your role?
A. Accessibility is what I pride myself the most on. I am never
without my cell phone; no matter where I am, my associates
know Im just a phone call away. In fact, accessibility is a
leadership standard throughout the company.
Q. What is it like working with your family?
A. Working with my in-laws has allowed me to even further
expand my family base. All the connections, staff and
people Ive met now feel like family. It has truly been a
great experience.
Q. How does your wife inuence your role in the company?
A. Melanie and I have been friends since we were 12 years
old, so really I married my best friend. Because she is an
attorney, Im privileged to have my own in-house counsel. Her
wisdom, intellect and keen insight have kept me on track on
numerous occasions.
Bill Watson, III, son, president, Watson Mortgage Corp.
Q. When and why did you decide to join the family business?
A. I started in 1997. I wasnt happy with the job offers I was
getting out of college, so Dad thought with my nance
background I would be a good t for the mortgage side of
the business.
Q. What has been your biggest challenge as president of
Watson Mortgage Corp.?
A. The market roll down is by far the biggest challenge Ive
faced since coming into the business. As a result, the market has
changed vastly.
Q. What has been most rewarding?
A. Staying in business and doing a better job than the
competition. Also, hiring new people presents opportunities for
me to appreciate the things we have that are sometimes taken
for granted. To hear new hires admire something we have,
reminds me to appreciate what we already have in place.
Q. What lessons learned from your father do you apply most to
your position?
A. The lessons are countless and priceless. Being consistent and
available is what I apply most. My Dad believes in the philosophy
of the customer always being right and it makes decision-
making much easier if youre leaning to the customers side.
Stephanie Rossettos is a Communications Specialist in the Watson Realty Corp. Corporate Marketing Department.
Connect with Watson Realty Corp. by phone at 1-800-257-5143 or online at
www.Facebook.com/WatsonRealtyCorp.
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Central Florida Preview June 13, 2014
Bill Watson III, son, president, Watson Mortgage Corp; WilliamA. Watson Jr., founder and chairman of the
board, Watson Realty Corp.; Carlotta Landschoot, daughter, executive vice president, Watson Realty
Corp; and Greg Harris, son-in-law, president, Watson Title Services of North Florida, Inc.
William A. Watson Jr., founder and chairman of the board, Watson Realty Corp