Evolution, Education & Growth
Balancing Work & Play
Revving It Up
Commitment to Team and Community
Having the largest, independent real estate brokerage in Southern Colorado, one might think that this group would forfeit its integrity or commitment to its team, or to their clients. But nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, it is the breadth of this team and the diversity of those that make the team that make The Wells Group a success; selling more properties and representing more buyers in the Durango area than any other real estate brokerage. The Wells Group is a fixture of the Durango community, and owners John Wells and Jim Wotkyns are both deeply proud of this fact.
“We are very fortunate to have our brokers committed to the community,” John said. “We have 50 brokers who have the ability to help and participate in a lot of different arenas within nonprofit organizations and other local events. We are happy for that.” Jim agreed, adding that “giving back is really important because this community has been really good to us.” Their relationship with Durango, and their friendship with one another, started well before they ever opened their real estate business. They first met when John was in college at Fort Lewis. “It started a long time ago,” Jim said, diving into the story and explaining how they first met. “I was 14 or 15 and my brother and John were freshman year college roommates.”
Their connection, however, reaches much further into the past. The two men eventually discovered that their fathers had been fraternity brothers at the University of New Mexico. It was as if the friendship was meant to be. John went on to graduate from Fort Lewis with a business degree but became interested in real estate and decided to get his license. When it came time for Jim to attend college, he came to Fort Lewis for one year but eventually graduated from CSU in Fort Collins with degrees in technical writing and animal science.
Their paths crossed again when Jim and his wife moved down to Durango in 1981; John sold them their first house. Jim was working in the oil and gas industry at the time, but John convinced him to get into the real estate business. It was only natural then that in 1985 the two men, along with Trent Wagenseller, decided to branch out with their own real estate company. The only problem? What to name it? “We were sitting around the table, probably drinking beer, wondering, ‘what should we name this thing?’,” Jim said. “I think we just got tired and finally Trent said, well let’s let it be John’s fault.”
Maybe it was meant as a joke, but regardless, the three men opened “Wells Group Realty” at 901 Main Avenue in the 1,600-square-foot front office space. They operated and grew within that building over the next 34 years. Trent eventually moved on; while John and Jim have had other partners, today they are the two who have remained to see just how far it has come and how much it has grown. This year marks a new chapter for the team. In December of 2018 they moved into their new office at 1130 Main Avenue, a few blocks north and across the street from their original location. “We really grew out of that building,” John explained, as we sat in a small, bright conference room on the second floor of their new space. “That’s why we are here today. We had very tolerant employees and brokers for the last handful of years because we were packed in very tight.”
The new building is 14,000 square feet and very comfortably accommodates the company’s 50 brokers. “A great problem we have today is we have to be here in this room because everything else is full,” John said proudly. “We just didn’t have room in our other space for our clients or, more importantly, for our brokers to create a quality environment. This building gives everyone the ability to have professional office space.” The Wells Group’s growth over the years has not necessarily occurred conventionally, with outreach and recruitment. The men operate from a slightly different approach.
“We don’t look to fill seats,” Jim explained. “We are happy for people to work for us who really want to do it and do it right. If the right person shows up, whether a beginner or someone who has been in the business a long time, then we are pleased to have a conversation with them. But the way we try to do it is not with quantity. It’s with quality. At least for 34 years it’s worked out okay.” Jim and John really care about the employ-ees that they have, and they value the diversity that is embodied within the team.
As our conversation continued, Jaime showed me a map of the greater resort area to reveal the future development plans and opportunities that are becoming available. The combined knowledge of the agents in the brokerage is an excellent asset to anyone interested in the present or future of Purgatory’s growth and development. “We are realtors, but really we are this one-stop-shop,” Jaime explained. “We can help if you want to buy or sell or build or upgrade or downsize. DMR is the only on-site real estate office at the resort.” And the future is looking bright with James Coleman’s plans for growth and expansion. Phil commented on the ways he has seen and felt the resort change over the years. “James Coleman’s approach seems to be: if I build it, they will come. The vibe is more positive than it has been in my history in the last 20 years. People, visitors and locals alike, are just ecstatic with all he is doing.”
As our conversation continued, Jaime showed me a map of the greater resort area to reveal the future development plans and opportunities that are becoming available. The combined knowledge of the agents in the brokerage is an excellent asset to anyone interested in the present or future of Purgatory’s growth and development. “We are realtors, but really we are this one-stop-shop,” Jaime explained. “We can help if you want to buy or sell or build or upgrade or downsize. DMR is the only on-site real estate office at the resort.” And the future is looking bright with James Coleman’s plans for growth and expansion. Phil commented on the ways he has seen and felt the resort change over the years. “James Coleman’s approach seems to be: if I build it, they will come. The vibe is more positive than it has been in my history in the last 20 years. People, visitors and locals alike, are just ecstatic with all he is doing.”
Jim pointed out that, “We are all different and that has been probably the major strength of our company. We don’t hire one kind of broker. We don’t dictate how we each run our individual practices and it has been really special, the way it has come together.” He explained that their team represents a diverse spectrum of political and social passions and beliefs. “We can cover the whole marketplace the way the marketplace wants to be covered, and not just the way that John and I think the market ought to be covered. I think that has been a big part of our success.” Also contributing to the group’s success is their commitment to continuing to educate their team members. As part of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, The Wells Group has access to an excellent library of educational materials. J.R. Spies is the Sales Manager and has been with the group for about five years now. He organizes opportunities for the brokers to continue to build on their knowledge so they can best serve their client base. “We really take pride in saying that we are full-time real estate professionals,” J.R. explained, emphasizing that education is a large part of that full-time commitment. “That is our culture and education is huge for us. We do semi-monthly ‘lunch and learns’ where we bring someone from the outside in to instruct on an area that affects real estate.” Ultimately, The Wells Group is dedicated to offering the best client experience possible both inside the office and out in the community. Jim and John aren’t sure what the future holds for the company, but for now the focus is on the present and on continuing to settle into the new space and seeing what new opportunities arise.
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together isprogress; working together is success.” - Edward Everett Hale
Story written by: Sara Knight Photos Provided by: Wells Group
