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. real estate Powered by 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