March Forth! MARCH FORTH everyone, in all that you do. To those I do not know, I send the same wish of encouragement and positiveness as to those I do know. Here’s to the many extraordinary relationships, outstanding opportunities, and wonderful accomplishments of the past. Here's to the total realization of our life's goals and a very fulfilling life. Most importantly, here’s to you, the reader of my proclamation, with both an invitation to those unknown and sincere thanks to those I know, for your interest, friendship, and support. Many of you are familiar with the professional activities and accomplishments of WEBSTER ENTERPRISES (WE). For those who are not fully aware of this history, as well as those wishing a peak back, here's a selected snapshot of many exciting highlights of the past and present. WE BEGAN. From its origins and establishment in 1972 on the historic Plaza in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico, WEBSTER ENTERPRISES continues to be the umbrella organization of personal and professional activities, investments, and philanthropy of Chris and Patti Webster. Originally focused on art brokerage and procurement services for collectors and museums, Christopher Webster Art Investments initially specialized in indigenous art of the Americas, vintage Western paintings and photography, and other related collectibles. The Websters subsequently pursued real estate education, licensing, and professional activities that next led to the establishment in 1976 of Christopher Webster Real Estate and a subsequent relationship in the early 1980's with Sotheby's International Realty (SIR) as its exclusive real estate company affiliate in New Mexico. WE EXPANDED. From our original Plaza office in Santa Fe, Chris Webster expanded and opened additional SIR affiliate real estate brokerage offices in the mid-1980's in Taos and Albuquerque, New Mexico and secured additional exclusive SIR affiliations in two other strategic geographic markets in the late 1980's in Mexico (Mexico Estates) with offices in Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, and Mexico City, and North Carolina (North Carolina Estates) with headquarters in the Research Triangle Park. The growth of our companies coupled with the opportunities to represent and get to know truly outstanding owners of the world's finest and most phenomenal properties in these geographic marketplaces and elsewhere, have been, and continue to be, our most rewarding professional experiences. WE CONSOLIDATED. After initial discussions in 1997 and subsequent agreement, we sold our real estate company, Christopher Webster Real Estate, and its Santa Fe operations, in 1998 to Sotheby’s Holdings as its first acquisition of an SIR affiliate company worldwide. In the ensuing year, we sold all of our other real estate offices as we transformed our professional service activities from a group of offices to one centralized base of operations servicing numerous market environments in different locations through professional collaborations with distinguished colleagues. Due to highly successful recruiting as well as mergers and acquisitions, the Santa Fe SIR office has continued to grow since the Websters' ownership into an increasingly larger and more powerful company and sales force of professional agents in numerous Santa Fe area offices. With a clearly defined vision and mantra: Sotheby’s International Realty - Artfully Combining Extraordinary Lives with Extraordinary Properties - SIR continues to command the largest Santa Fe market share by a substantial margin. The Websters always welcome the opportunity to be of service to you … and those you know … when you wish to buy or sell distinctive real property anywhere, by bringing to you the strength and resources of our companies and distinguished colleague relationships everywhere - dynamic market leaders all. WE GREW - C3 CAME ABOARD. Much to our delight, in 2005, our son, Christopher, expressed his wish to join Patti and me in our family business. Having achieved three undergraduate degrees in Creative Writing, Contemporary Music, and Sound Engineering and upon completion of an initial crash course in our real estate, art, and investment activities, Christopher added a New Mexico real estate broker’s license to his resume and continues to study and pursue education and experiences relative to our investments, activities, and responsibilities. Here’s to always sharing with you, son, the vision, which guides us down life’s path, as well as the passion, which makes the journey always exciting and resoundingly fulfilling and fun. WE VENTURE. Starting in the mid to late 1970's, numerous venture capital and private equity investment opportunities were brought to our attention which led to assiduous investigation and due diligence in certain cases. Historically, WEBSTER ENTERPRISES took both passive investment positions as well as active participation roles in numerous as well as diverse companies. As an original founder, director, and officer in 1982 of Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, the sale of this innovative company that produces Natural American Spirit cigarettes twenty years later to RJ Reynolds is one of the greatest business experiences and achievements of my career. The opportunity to become a founder, investor, and director of Genebiology, a Research Triangle Park, North Carolina based generic pharmaceutical development company, materialized due to the lifelong personal friendship with its creator, Dr. Walker Long. In conjunction with Dr. Albert Waxman, founder of Psilos, America’s leading health care venture company, and past founder and CEO of Diosonics, the inventor of real time ultrasound and MRI technology, we formed W2 Investments, a venture capital and investment company analyzing non-health care related investment opportunities. American Clay Enterprises and its American Clay product line, recognized as Product of the Year by several construction industry organizations for its green, natural, cost attractive, installation efficient clay wall plaster, was W2’s first investment. At the beginning of 2006, I accepted an advisory board position as an Acceleration Partner with Flywheel Ventures, a New Mexico and California technology venture fund company. In 2007, through Christopher's initiation, and as a result of his investment analysis and due diligence, WEBSTER ENTERPRISES invested in Xanadu, On Broadway, a refreshingly spirited musical nominated for 4 Tony awards and currently touring the US and beyond after a successful 15 month run on Broadway. WE SELL. According to MLS sold statistics from the Santa Fe Association of Realtors during the past several decades, the Websters continue to produce the most important, often record setting, home and commercial sales in the Santa Fe area market. For the period 1995 through 2006, the pace of residential sales and development in Santa Fe was especially robust. This twelve year period showed a quadrupling of sold residential dollar volume - from $350 million in 1995 to $1.4 billion in 2005 and 2006. Subsequently, the Santa Fe market has experienced a slight downturn in luxury property sales to properly "market adjust" as it has in past cycles, thereby maintaining the vitality and good health of this market. For those interested in a more detailed analysis of this dynamic market, please see the content of our semi-annual Christopher Webster Reports – Santa Fe Real Estate Sales Analysis, widely acknowledged as the premier real estate report on the Santa Fe market (portions are published online at Webster-Enterprises.com/CWREP). Elsewhere, we continue to participate in listing referrals and sales involving extraordinary properties in key urban and boutique markets in the U.S. and around the globe. Numerous examples can be seen online - VIEW THE EXTRAORDINARY - at ChrisWebster.com. WE SYNTHESIZE. In 2000 Robert Burnett and Matt Shanaberger founded a real estate advisory, marketing, and sales company, SYNTHESIS REALTY GROUP, providing expertise to developers of ultra-luxury resort and residential projects worldwide. Having known these highly accomplished and regarded industry leading professionals and observed the initial phase of activity of their new company, I proudly accepted in 2005 their invitation to become the third and equal equity partner in this unique, dynamic, and growing company. A partial list of present and past clients, projects, and professional colleagues speaks volumes about SYNTHESIS’ abilities and respect in the real estate industry: Kiawah Development Partners, AmanResorts, Jack Nicklaus Golf, Starwood’s St. Regis Hotels and Resorts, the Guggenheim, McCaw, and Forbes families, The Lyle Anderson Company, Flag Luxury Properties, Christophe Harbour (St. Kitts), James Island Club (British Columbia), Temenos (Anguilla), St. Andrews Bay Resort and Golf Club (Scotland), Tamarack (Idaho), Princeville (Hawaii), Blackberry Farms (Tennessee), The World of ResidenSea, Sotheby’s International Realty, Christie’s Great Estates, Hart-Howerton, Greenberg and Traurig. WE TRAVEL. Our interests and responsibilities continue to provide us the opportunity to visit many exciting places around the world which so far have included six of the world's seven continents. In the USA, the Websters are blessed to have homes in both Santa Fe, New Mexico and Kealakekua, Hawaii in addition to having had tremendously enriching experiences in most of our fabulous 50 and the extraordinary cities and towns, beaches, mountains, and National Parks they contain. The education, experiences, friendships realized, and the amazing memories produced will forever be treasured. WE COLLECT. Starting in 1970 with the acquisition of an Etruscan pitcher in Rome, the pursuit of historic and contemporary collectibles has led me down many diverse paths in this hemisphere and beyond - to galleries, homes, stores, auction houses, studios, estate sales, flea markets, and even cyber space. With an initial focus on American Indian artifacts, product diversity grew to include pre-Columbian art, vintage Western paintings and photographs, folk art, Spanish Colonial antiques, Knoll International furniture, Asian antiques, and more recently, contemporary paintings, photographs and sculpture. Under the auspices of WEBSTER COLLECTION (originally Christopher Webster Art Investments), the introduction, promotion, and sale of the art of yesteryear, as well as today, is accomplished through various methods of exposure combined with communication and collaboration with colleagues, collectors, and authorities in both private and institutional environments. "Definining Excellence in Art since 1972", WEBSTER COLLECTION constantly showcases an eclectic mix of art and artifacts from its "On Top of The Plaza" location while periodically featuring extraordinary shows of contemporary artists' works throughout the year. WE PHILOSOPHIZE. Life is no dress rehearsal; it's all we've got. And time is one commodity we cannot measure long enough to experience the millions, I mean trillions, of opportunities awaiting each of us in our lifetimes. One of the first of many important lessons I learned is that LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT. I have always wanted to do as many different things as possible with the time we are able to spend in this life. Given that there is no guarantee about tomorrow, it is, therefore, vitally important to make the most of everything we've got to work with and be forever thankful, humble, and sincere with respect to what we have. Even though at a young age, I still remember well first hearing the age old adage that you will never have to work a day in your life if you are passionate and have fun in all that you do. I have been blessed and tremendously enriched ever since to have led just such a life. Every day upon awaking, I hit the ground running, looking for today's opportunities, to once again experience the thrill of the search as well as the satisfaction of discovery and realization, whether through serendipity, adversity, challenge, or derived from just plain hard work. Always make the most of what you have to work with, and remember that no matter how great anything is, it can always be better. Too often I suspect, the wrong priority - to make money - drives many down the wrong path, and for the wrong reason. Money is a by-product of success, which is a result of passion, enthusiasm, and commitment , all derived by our letting our hearts decide the what, when, where, and how of our actions, rather than our brains. So that proper balance, transparent behavior, and precise vision be forever maintained, we must never lose sight of who we are and where we're going, even if we don't know how we're going to get there. True richness is contained in the heart, given freely, and without interruption. WE CARE. Lastly, and most importantly, with all humility, the Websters give sincere, heartfelt thanks to you - our family, friends, partners, professional colleagues, business associates, and acquaintances - for your support and energy, without which we could not begin to set out to attempt, let alone accomplish, all the things we do and love. We recognize that the only limitations in life are those that are self-imposed. As a result, we know that anything, moreover everything, done successfully requires a properly balanced integration of mind, heart and spirit. We invite you to visit us at our downtown Santa Fe second floor Plaza location or online at Webster-Enterprises.com 24/7/365, to drop us a line, or to call us - soon and often. We will always be glad to hear from you, to see you, and especially to know how we may help you FULFILL YOUR DREAM FOR TOMORROW - TODAY. On behalf of the Webster family and everyone associated with WEBSTER ENTERPRISES, I extend our best wishes and thanks, as we all look forward to hearing from you and seeing you soon. March Forth! Steadfastly! Forever! Sincerely,
Chris Webster |
Santa Fe / Mexico / Hawai'i / Europe
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