The Jimmy Rex Show #190 - Thomas Wright - Businessman & Former Chair Of The Utah GOP Shares His Journey As He Runs For Utah State Governor In 2020
Mar 2, 2020
44:22
Guest Bio:
Since 2008, Thomas Wright has been the president and principal broker of Summit Sotheby’s International Realty. Since stepping in as the managing partner, the company has become the top brokerage in the Park City resort community and a leading brokerage in Utah. Summit Sotheby’s International Realty’s gross yearly sales volume has grown from a healthy $135 million in 2008 to $2 billion in 2018.
To achieve this market position, Thomas has brought his relentless work ethic, creative thinking and vision, and an invaluable understanding of the real estate brokerage industry. While he demands a lot from his agents and employees, Thomas is very quick to credit the success of Summit Sotheby’s International Realty to his incredibly talented team of approximately 200 sales associates in 13 offices statewide, incomparable administrative staff of about 50 talented individuals, and the support of the remarkable Sotheby’s International Realty brand.
Thomas also believes that a less obvious aspect of the company’s success comes from their unique take on the definition of luxury. To quote Thomas, “It’s not about a price point, it is about providing every client with an exceptional customer service experience”. The impressive success story of Summit Sotheby’s International Realty has caught the attention of the Sotheby’s International Realty network. As a result, Thomas has become a nationally-recognized speaker and advisor. His frequent topics include improving individual agent and brokerage profitability, sales associate recruiting, new development marketing, and brokerage management. These significant achievements and leadership responsibilities have not hindered Thomas from being of service to his clients. He continues to be a top-performing sales agent specializing in Salt Lake County.
Born and raised in Utah, Thomas attended Quince Orchard High School in the greater Washington, D.C. area. After graduating, he spent two years in Eastern Europe. When he returned to the States, Thomas’s overseas experience inspired him to learn more about Ukraine and Russia and its culture. He graduated from the University of Utah on a full-ride golf scholarship with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Russian and Marketing. Through his experiences and education, Thomas has grown to appreciate cultural and perspective differences, confirming that good ideas and people come from all walks of life. This is a philosophy he extends to the communities and organizations he now serves, including each of the agents that represent Summit Sotheby’s International Realty.
A civically-minded person, Thomas is proud to have served in a number of different capacities with several key organizations in his community -- United Way of Utah and Dixie State University Board of Trustees. He currently sits on the Board of Trustees of the Utah Symphony/Utah Opera and was appointed in 2017 to the Utah State Board of Regents by Governor Gary Herbert. Thomas is the co-chairman of the Utah Debate Commission and has twice been elected to serve as volunteer chairman of the Utah Republican Party and the Salt Lake County Republican Party. He is currently a member of the Republican National Committee (RNC) where he was elected vice chair by his western region peers.
With all of his responsibilities, Thomas considers the most important to be his family. He currently resides in Salt Lake City with his wife and their four children. His greatest joys are being the resident breakfast chef and attending the many dance recitals and sporting events his kids are a part of, never missing a Friday night football game where his daughters are cheering and dancing. Thomas also enjoys golfing, fishing, traveling the world with his family, and the more recent adventure of being the assistant golf coach at his son’s high school.
Since 2008, Thomas Wright has been the president and principal broker of Summit Sotheby’s International Realty. Since stepping in as the managing partner, the company has become the top brokerage in the Park City resort community and a leading brokerage in Utah. Summit Sotheby’s International Realty’s gross yearly sales volume has grown from a healthy $135 million in 2008 to $2 billion in 2018.
To achieve this market position, Thomas has brought his relentless work ethic, creative thinking and vision, and an invaluable understanding of the real estate brokerage industry. While he demands a lot from his agents and employees, Thomas is very quick to credit the success of Summit Sotheby’s International Realty to his incredibly talented team of approximately 200 sales associates in 13 offices statewide, incomparable administrative staff of about 50 talented individuals, and the support of the remarkable Sotheby’s International Realty brand.
Thomas also believes that a less obvious aspect of the company’s success comes from their unique take on the definition of luxury. To quote Thomas, “It’s not about a price point, it is about providing every client with an exceptional customer service experience”. The impressive success story of Summit Sotheby’s International Realty has caught the attention of the Sotheby’s International Realty network. As a result, Thomas has become a nationally-recognized speaker and advisor. His frequent topics include improving individual agent and brokerage profitability, sales associate recruiting, new development marketing, and brokerage management. These significant achievements and leadership responsibilities have not hindered Thomas from being of service to his clients. He continues to be a top-performing sales agent specializing in Salt Lake County.
Born and raised in Utah, Thomas attended Quince Orchard High School in the greater Washington, D.C. area. After graduating, he spent two years in Eastern Europe. When he returned to the States, Thomas’s overseas experience inspired him to learn more about Ukraine and Russia and its culture. He graduated from the University of Utah on a full-ride golf scholarship with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Russian and Marketing. Through his experiences and education, Thomas has grown to appreciate cultural and perspective differences, confirming that good ideas and people come from all walks of life. This is a philosophy he extends to the communities and organizations he now serves, including each of the agents that represent Summit Sotheby’s International Realty.
A civically-minded person, Thomas is proud to have served in a number of different capacities with several key organizations in his community -- United Way of Utah and Dixie State University Board of Trustees. He currently sits on the Board of Trustees of the Utah Symphony/Utah Opera and was appointed in 2017 to the Utah State Board of Regents by Governor Gary Herbert. Thomas is the co-chairman of the Utah Debate Commission and has twice been elected to serve as volunteer chairman of the Utah Republican Party and the Salt Lake County Republican Party. He is currently a member of the Republican National Committee (RNC) where he was elected vice chair by his western region peers.
With all of his responsibilities, Thomas considers the most important to be his family. He currently resides in Salt Lake City with his wife and their four children. His greatest joys are being the resident breakfast chef and attending the many dance recitals and sporting events his kids are a part of, never missing a Friday night football game where his daughters are cheering and dancing. Thomas also enjoys golfing, fishing, traveling the world with his family, and the more recent adventure of being the assistant golf coach at his son’s high school.