by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
Most leaders of organizations plan monthly, even quarterly meetings. But, for the new NEFAR vice president for the Beaches Council, which meets weekly at the Baptist Beaches Hospital, a new challenge lies ahead.
Ken Wood is ready to meet that challenge.
As the manager of the Watson Realty South Jacksonville Beach office, he is already accustomed to planning weekly meetings with his office and monthly meetings with his company.
“For each meeting, I have to find a sponsor and a speaker, plan and facilitate the meetings, answer any questions and handle any situations that come up,” said Wood. “The meetings allow for a consistent, constant source of information. If they have questions or need information about real estate we help them.”
Wood attended the Watson Realty Leadership Meeting last year and NEFAR’S past president Charlene Perez Ferren recommended him to Selby Kaiser, the new NEFAR president, saying that he would make a good Beaches leader.
So, when he was offered the position he took it.
“When I’m offered a challenge, I take it,” said Wood.
Wood thinks information is the key to making a real estate career work.
He is planning to bring in developers and real estate experts to each weekly meeting to inform the 25-40 REALTORS and affiliates who attend of upcoming developments in the area and solutions to problems such as mold and termites.
“I’m going to call on most of the developers who have things on the drawing boards and have them come speak so we have an idea of what is new and what is coming,” said Wood. “It’s nice to be aware of all the new stuff going on.”
He said the past vice president, Jim Ross, sat down with him and gave him information on what he had done in the previous year and gave Wood pointers and guidance as what to do in the upcoming year.
Wood has been the manager of the Watson office since April of last year, and a REALTOR for two and a half years prior to that.
“What I really enjoy about it is helping people become a success,” he said. “I love bringing new people in, making sure they understand what the business is all about, seeing them come into the business and then seeing them become a success. That is the greatest thrill.”
He joined the Navy right out of high school because he wanted to see the world. He started out as a photo interpreter and moved up the ranks where he became an intelligence officer. When he retired from the Navy, he went to work for Lockheed Martin, a defense contractor.
He retired from there and decided to move to Florida to relax, but that only lasted a year and a half.
“I felt I needed to do something productive, so I thought I’d get into real estate part time,” said Wood. “As I soon got in this business, I realized that part-time was not going to make it. It grabs you by the tail, swings you around and gets in your blood.”
Wood was born in Osh Kosh, Neb. He currently resides in Ponte Vedra Beach with his wife of 42 years, Cora. They have five children and seven grandchildren.
When he is not working, he enjoys collecting wine for his wine cellar and art glass for his home. He also enjoys traveling and spending time with his children and grandchildren.