Willie Schmeltz

I was born in Chula Vista, California, and I am the youngest of three boys. Being raised by a Navy Officer and his wife taught me respect, morals, and values from an early age. After traveling to Europe and England, where my father was stationed, we returned to the United States. Settling in Orange County, my California upbringing started. Yes, I grew up surfing, motorcycle racing, playing sports and music, and so on, but my education was always at the forefront. My parents were a stickler about that, and I'm grateful to this day. Once I graduated from University High School in Irvine, California, I immediately went into the workforce. Dad would say you're either in college, the military, or working. I chose work. In my late teens, after working odd jobs, I was able to land a position at Raytheon Data Systems in the shipping department. Working my way up the ladder, and soon I would be the Logistics Manager for the West Coast. A transfer in 1982 with Raytheon brought me to Ventura County, and I've never left. At age twenty-four, I was forced to make a career change do to Raytheon selling out to an Oklahoma-based company, Telex. My new wife and I didn't want to leave California, so I was forced to reinvent myself. I knew I wanted to be in a people-facing position, and I chose the automobile business. I never really thought of myself as a salesperson, but it turned out to be the best move I ever made. I just love meeting people and getting to know them. Building relationships and trust came naturally. To this day, nothing has changed. After a thirty-two-year career in the automobile business, of which thirty were in management, I decided it was time to exit. The long hours and late nights just got to be too much, and I longed for more time with my family. Fast forward to today. I chose to come into the Real Estate business in 2015 because of people. I really thrive in being of service, no matter what, and I felt it would be a great fit. Becoming a Realtor has become my passion. I look forward to being of service at any level and to anyone. Throughout the years, I have found that my true joy is just that. "Making a difference one person at a time". Please let me know if I can assist you in any way. I'm always willing to!