Clarence Webb, Director of Operations at Prime Real Estate, knows that everyone needs a role model. Be it personally or professionally, having someone to learn from is an indispensable part of life. As both a parent and director, Webb strives to be the best leader he can.
Born and raised in Gary, the Region native Webb graduated from Gary Roosevelt before moving on to study electrical engineering at Purdue University Calumet, (now Purdue University Northwest). After finishing his education, he started doing corporate work at Walgreens and then, when the wireless industry started to take off, T-Mobile. He led the establishment of any store opening across a number of states like Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It paid well, but he came to realize that it was just not the career for him.
“That was the corporate life - living in hotels and driving rental cars,” recalled Webb. “I think my longest stretch on the road and in hotels was 14 months at a time, and that’s just no way to raise a family and be in a relationship.”
Webb started looking for a new job that would be flexible with hours and provide good pay to raise a family with and stumbled upon real estate. In 2006, he started at McColly Real Estate where he gained 8 years of experience from.
For the last 3 years, he has played a key role at Prime Real Estate. He started as an agent at Prime and worked his way up to his current position as Director of Operations.
“I absolutely did climb the ladder. I started as an agent selling my niche, which was investment properties,” said Webb. “When I started, Prime was still a new company getting off the ground, so I was able to bring some of my expertise from other companies and talents with leadership to help us get to where we are now.”
For Webb, what sets Prime Real Estate apart from other agencies is how much the success and joy working on the team can transform people.
“Most people get excited about home sales, and I do love real estate, but I personally am passionate about the transformation of people,” Webb explained. “People talk about the excitement for handing people their first house key, and I used to have that, but now I have it when someone comes in who never thought they could make any money in this business, and their eyes light up when they get commission checks and see that they can make a living.”
As Director of Operations, much of Webb's time working is spent organizing staff, managing coaches, training, and ensuring that his team across the Region gets the best work experience possible. Part of that is not just helping them make more money and be successful, but also allowing them to grow as people.
“What I do at work is not just a job,” said Webb. “When these people come to us, they really do want us to help them, not just make money, but become better people.”
Webb commutes to Crown Point from Chesterton daily, and part of his ritual is listening to motivational and spiritual audio books in that time. Spirituality is a big part of Webb's life and shapes his approach to everything.
“My spirituality helps me to understand that what I’m doing is bigger than I am,” he said. “That’s what helps me get out there and do my day to day stuff, even though it gets crazy. I know I’m helping people.”
In his free time, nothing is more important to Webb than his family, which includes his wife and three kids aged 18, 3, and 2 years old.
“They are keeping me young. I don’t get too much sleep, and they keep me running around. I’m just trying to be a good dad and a good husband," said Webb. "I know that sounds a little cliché, but when you’re in your 40s and have kids that young, you don’t really have a choice since they dictate everything you do.”
The Gary native and Chesteron resident is very well-traveled, but thinks that there are few places that are more of a perfect cross-section of America than Northwest Indiana.
“We’re in a part of the country where you not only get all the seasons, but the lakes are right there, we’re next to Chicago, and if you drive 30 minutes in any direction, you run into a corn field,” Webb said. “I don’t think there’s a more beautiful place than there is here. If you really want to get a snapshot of who we are as America, you’ve got to come to Northwest Indiana - it’s the best of every world.”