Walt Brown Jr. is the founder and CEO of Scottsdale-based Diversified Partners, which offers a complete range of commercial and residential real estate services for tenants, property owners, investors and developers. Brown is also dedicated to a number of Valley nonprofits, including Foundation for Blind Children, City of Hope and TGen. Learn about Walt Brown Jr….
Hometown: I live in Scottsdale, but I am originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
First job: My very first job when I was boy was working as an upholstery shop assistant and clean-up man.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in AZ: Family, golfing, racing cars, sun and fun.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: My family, my sons, Wally and Cooper, and loving every second of the time on this earth, spent with the ones I love.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: Learning to trust and empower others…and relax and let the company grow.
Someone who inspires you and why: My wife, Ruth, as she is amazing and makes me a better person.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Find what you love, block everything else out, have amazing focus and make it happen. Work harder than you want to, have more discipline than anyone around you and care about what you do and all of those around you.
Favorite quote: “I love that,” because I truly do. I love seeing people around me become great and watching them grow.
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I love Disney movies, love stories and I only watch happy movies. No sadness of any kind; I’m all about the happy train.
What makes someone fabulous: Someone who loves life and enjoys every second of life itself.