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Nelson's favorite getaway is at 8,000 feet |
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By Rosemary McCoy
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Tuesday, 14 August 2007 |
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The Question and Answer feature helps readers learn more about prominent people in the business community. This issue’s Q&A profiles Doug Nelson, broker/owner of HJN Team Real Estate.
 Doug Nelson of HJN Team Real Estate says his interest in his second caareer came from moving around a lot during his military years. (Inertia/for the SFBJ)
Name: Doug Nelson
Title: Broker/owner, HJN Team Real Estate
Hometown: Canton
Age: 53
Background:
Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in German from North Dakota State University, a master’s
degree in education from Phillips University in Oklahoma and a master’s
degree from the National Defense University;
commissioned in the Air Force as a pilot; for 22 years flew T-37, T-38 and F-15 aircraft; highlights of career included
commanding the 435th Fighter Squadron and serving on the Joint Staff as a strategic war planner; after retiring in 1998,
returned to South Dakota to raise his family and became a partner in what is now HJN Team Real Estate; serves as past president of the South Dakota Association of Realtors; vice
president of Carroll Institute board of directors; active with the Washington High School band and chorus booster clubs
Family: Wife, Kathy; son, Peter; daughter, Rachel
Q: Tell me about your interests and hobbies.
A: “I am very interested in politics and foreign policy. My hobbies include flying, golf and reading.”
Q: How did you become interested in your field?
A: “I have always had a passion for homes and real estate. Since we moved quite a bit in the military, you get an understanding for the trials of moving and the process of buying and selling homes. I felt I could understand what buyers and sellers go through, and I could help them through the process.”
Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?
A: “The satisfaction of helping buyers and sellers through the buying or selling process and making their dreams come true.”
Q: What’s the slowest moving segment of the housing market?
A: “I would say houses priced between $300,000 and $500,000.”
Q: Which segment is selling the quickest?
A: “Entry-level homes always move quickly, but any home that is priced accurately according to current market value will sell quickly.”
Q: How do you keep your sales team motivated?
A: “I think constant contact and being available to answer questions helps keep Realtors motivated. The most important thing to do is care about each one of them as an individual, not just how they are doing at work. When your people are happy at home, they are happy and motivated at work.”
Q: Have you found or built your dream home? What are your favorite features in it?
A: “Rather than a dream home, we have a great home and, best of all, a great neighborhood.”
Q: How do you find time to balance your work and your family?
A: “That can be difficult, but I find that everyone is pretty understanding when you have a family activity. In everyone’s life, family should always come first.”
Q: What’s your favorite getaway?
A: “Flying around the area on a clear day is most relaxing to me.”
Q: What kind of music is in your car or what do you listen to on the radio?
A: “James Taylor, Carly Simon and Heart.”
Q: If you could have dinner with two or three people, alive or dead, who would you choose and why?
A: “Tzun Tzu, a great Chinese warrior; Gen. George Patton; and Colin Powell. All three were/are great leaders and each has/had a strategic mind. These characteristics help someone achieve their goals in business and in life.”
Q: Do you have a charity or organization that’s especially close to heart?
A: “The Carroll Institute is a fantastic organization that is doing great things in drug and alcohol prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Their current prevention efforts in area schools are extremely important to the overall drug and alcohol problem in our society. The Washington High School Music Department is very close to my heart. Over the last six years, I have had a chance to work with outstanding kids, volunteer parents and amazing directors. It is truly an unforgettable experience. Too often, the arts are forgotten in our schools, so we need to be there to support and encourage these kids.”
Q: What are the best and worst things about living in Sioux Falls?
A: “After living around the world, I think Sioux Falls is a wonderful place to live. We have state-of-the-art medical facilities and a solid economy that makes the area a great place to live and raise families.” |