Interview with the Illustrious Barry Matheny
I met Barry Matheny years ago at an Altair advisory meeting in Dallas. Somehow our paths had never crossed since we were members of different broker networks. But once I met him, he was an instant friend. Barry has this way of making you feel like you are the only person in the room when he speaks to you. He really cares about people and it shows by the number of adoring fans he has. Since he is newly retired from John L. Scott Real Estate in Seattle, WA, I thought it was a perfect time to catch up with him and get some pearls of wisdom. Even though we have lost him from the industry, he will remain a friend and example to many. I know you will join me in wishing him the best. Our industry won’t be the same without him…he is one of a kind.
Q. Tell me a little about how you ended up in Relocation and why you stayed in the business.
A. I ended up in relocation before I started with John L. Scott. I worked with GTE/Verizon for 25 years and during that time I moved 10 times. An RMC managed each one of those moves. That included an international assignment in Austria. Once I left there I sold real estate for 3 years and then was asked to come into the corporate world with JLS to start our eBusiness team and then shortly after that I became the relocation director where I spent the next 17 years in relocation. I stayed in the business because I felt I could make an impact and because of my background in relocation. The industry itself is another reason I stayed. I believed that my personal experiences could be of great help to those we served.
Q. What did you like the most about working in the Relocation industry?
A. There are many reasons, but the most important one for me personally was helping those relocate successfully. The industry itself and the many hardworking professionals that are a part of it from the RMCs, real estate professionals, etc. The goal was to help those relocating and working with the RDC & WERC, along with so many caring professionals who wanted to be a part of that success.
Q. What is the craziest thing that ever happened with a Relocation referral?
A. There were many but for me, I can remember where the partnership was the key to our success in helping satisfy the client's needs. I will share the story with you, it involved the Corporate client relocating, the RMC, the Realtor, and a temporary housing company. I received a call at 3 PM on a Friday afternoon from an RMC that was in desperate need of some immediate help. They had a VIP client that was set up to move into temporary housing on that day with his family. Once they got to the facility, they found that their temporary housing was not available. For some reason, the temporary housing company they were working with had not made the arrangements. They had no place to go.
We were asked to swing into action and that is what happened. The client had a special needs child and the unit they were to stay in had to be handicapped-ready and close to a school that their child was to attend on Monday. It was also in the same area where our relocation Realtor was making an offer to buy a home.
The first thing I did was to call a friend of mine who was the CEO of a temporary housing company. He immediately went into action with his team. Within a couple of hours, they had found a place that met the criteria they needed. Not only did they find a place, but they made sure the home was perfect for the family and met the needs of their child. They also had a crew come in and move furniture around along with filling the refrigerator full of food to get them through the weekend. They also provided a bouquet of flowers with a note welcoming them home. Our John L. Scott Relocation Realtor stayed connected with the family throughout the day and was there when they moved in that afternoon.
What I was most proud of was the partnership and how we all worked together to make sure they had a place to stay that met their needs for the next month. It was close to where they would eventually buy a home and the school that their child was attending.
Q. What do you feel was the most challenging thing about being in Relocation?
A. I believe that all aspects of the supply chain are always looking for ways to be more efficient for those we serve. That includes the clients relocating and how that plays out as well for the RMCs that depend on our industry to make sure all the pieces fall into place and communication is clearly defined for a successful transition. The more information you have upfront helps make it work throughout the process. I have always believed that by working together and finding solutions when something may not go exactly the way we want it to at times.
Q. What was one of the most challenging periods of your career?
A. I am glad that I had some experience with relocating before becoming a part of the relocation side of the business. There are a lot of balls to balance to make sure everyone is moving in the same direction and that we remained the advocate for those relocating. Having the right team in place played a huge role in helping that transition move smoothly along. I do think that if we are all working together that it is easy to make that happen.
Q. What will you miss most about our industry?
A. The people in it that over the years I have gotten to know. How they pulled together to make what we do better. They are pulling together and supporting not only those relocating but all the many causes that touch so many lives through the charitable work done locally and nationally. The WERC Foundation and regional councils are doing some great things to make an impact.
Q. What changes would you like to see in our industry?
A. Continued focus on the partnership that supports all those we serve. We know that communication can break down at times, but how we respond to that can have a huge impact on a successful transition. I have always believed that we all want the same things for those we serve.
Q. What is a favorite quote of yours?
A. “People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”
Q. With the challenging market we are currently faced with, what do you advise Relocation Directors to do to stay relevant and profitable?
A. The three C’s:
Connectivity: Stay engaged with your source of business. Provide relevant information on your market and how that might impact those relocating.
Certainty: Make sure your sources of business are confident that you are going to always provide excellence in service. If something goes wrong, step up and be accountable and make it right.
Clarity: By providing without any hesitation what you do and how you do it. At the end of the day, it is all about the partnership and how by working together we will create a positive outcome for all those involved in the process. Be clear from the start.
Q. What advice would you give people who are just entering our industry?
A. Find a good example of what excellence looks like — not just in the talking, but in the showing, and get involved in the industry. Make an impact your priority.
Q. I don’t want to make it sound like you are dying or anything, but….. how do you want to be remembered by your peers?
A. I want people to remember me as someone that they could count on and who had a passion for helping support our industry and those we serve. I truly believe that as an industry we have a huge impact on those we serve and how we go about doing it will be remembered. I hope I was able to show that along my journey. Having said all that, I could not have done any of that without the great people around me at John L. Scott. Our team of Realtors, our leadership, and our relocation staff who showed up every day to make a difference.
