Think-Realty-Magazine-July-August-2016

Recognizing support of the real estate investing industry through adherence to high standards, collaboration and long-range vision.

Continuing to Serve

Real estate business is helping Marine veteran fulfill a personal mission to help other returning soldiers.

BY CAROLE J. ELLIS PHOTOS BY MARK MATSON

W hen Andy Williams returned from four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, he faced a tough transition. “I was in an anti-terrorism team,” he recalls. When he returned to civilian life, he managed and expanded the real estate portfolio he had begun to build from overseas while he was in service. It helped keep him from “going crazy,” he said. Ultimately, that portfolio led to a lot more than that. Williams’ continued desire to serve his country and assist his fellow veterans upon their return to

his personal mission to reach, train and employ as many veterans as possible in his business. In fact, whether a vet is best suited to contract work, rehabbing, landlording or working in plumb- ing or electricity, Williams and his company strive not only to provide a venue in which that veteran can work and thrive, but also to provide the training for veterans and their own businesses to expand and grow in the real estate community. “I learned very fast that there is a reason (real estate and construction trades) are called ‘skilled trades,’” he laughs, adding, “Just because a Marine can shoot a rifle doesn’t mean he can lay electricity. Just because he can run a patrol doesn’t Williams to the realization that, in his words, “Real estate is probably the great- est industry where the largest impact for the veteran community can be made because there are so many touchpoints on the transaction.” With this in mind, Williams continued to work with existing veteran-owned businesses and to employ fellow veterans. He also started eyeing his own network of veterans for individuals who were struggling. “I had a veteran that was working on one of my companies that we had to let go, but it wasn’t mean he is the best plumber.” However, that knowledge led

the States has led to the creation of a real estate investing business that is simulta- neously selfless yet highly profitable. In recognition, Think Realty maga- zine salutes him as Humanitarian of the Year for 2016. He is one of 19 winners of the Think Realty Awards of Distinction that will be presented Aug. 11 at the Think Realty Global Conference in San Francisco. Williams describes his motivation for his

company, Recon Realty, this way: “I’ve always felt that it was important that if I were to invest, I’d invest into an asset that solves a problem or meets a need for an underserved community.” Recon Realty is a self-described “elite veter- an-founded, veteran-led real estate brokerage firm,” but the reality behind the business is much more far-reaching than that. Williams has made it

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