BILL CHEE

What this episode covers

Bill Chee outrightly admitted that naiveté and inexperience helped him and two other colleagues start their real estate business. Topped with risk-taking and inquisitiveness, Bill has brewed all the right characteristics that make an entrepreneur—and a successful businessman he truly has become. Bill acquired his real estate licensure at the age of 20. He worked his way through college selling properties but constantly failed, eventually trying his hand on banking. However, his stint with First Hawaiian Bank was ephemeral, he consequently tracked back and pursued his real estate endeavor. At the age of 22, Bill started what was to become Prudential Locations, LLC; one of Hawaii’s oldest and the largest locally owned real estate brokerage firm. Maybe it was serendipity that brought Bill Chee on top, but it could also be that he was determined to make it big in the property business. Bill shares with GGR how real estate happens to be one of those industries where the last man standing wins—and how fear and lack of options kept him on this realm. But whichever way one puts it; it still is drive and competence that delivered him success. Find out more in this interview how Bill assisted in the revolution of the real estate industry through information technology. Moreover, learn how customer desire shapes the approach provided by businesses in terms of service and why companies should hear the voice of their clients. This interview offers a lot of insights and practicable knowledge on how and why companies should incorporate a service-oriented philosophy. Listen now and discover. BIO: Bill is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Locations LLC and RESCO Inc. since 1969. Prudential Locations is one of Hawaii’s oldest and the largest locally owned Real Estate Brokerage Firm in Hawaii. RESCO Inc. is Prudential’s parent company and is in a mortgage joint venture with Wells Fargo Mortgage, which is Hawaii’s largest retail mortgage lender. Prudential Locations has 5 offices on Oahu and Maui and 305 sales agents, staff and Managers. The company has sold more than 50,000 properties and more than 100 development projects. In 1976, at the age of 30, Bill served simultaneously as the President of the Hawaii Association of Realtors and the Honolulu Board of Realtors. In 1993 he served as the President of the National Association of Realtors and is still the only ethnic minority to have filled that position. The National Association of Realtors has 1.1 million members, an annual budget of more than $60,000,000, and is headquartered in Chicago and Washington D.C. where it employs more than 200 people to implement its political action related programs. Bill also served as the President of the Realtors Information Network which resulted in the largest public real estate Internet site in the world, Realtor.com. Prudential Locations has been a leader in real estate research for more than 25 years. It maintains the premier real estate data base for Hawaii. One of its primary goals is to empower real estate buyers and sellers, so they can make informed real estate decisions. Education: University High School 1962 University of Hawaii (BBA) 1966 Employment: 1966-67, First Hawaiian Bank – Management Trainee 1967-69, Thomas W. Giles Realty Inc. – Real Estate Sales 1969-Present, Prudential Locations LLC & RESCO Inc.– CEO Professional: 1976 President, Hawaii Association of Realtors 1976 President, Honolulu Board of Realtors 1993 President, National Association of Realtors 1976 Realtor of the Year, Hawaii Association of Realtors 1991 Realtor of the Year, Honolulu Board of Realtors Designations: GRI – Graduate Realtors Institute CRS – Certified Residential Specialist CIPS – Certified International Property Specialist