Alumni Spotlight - Jeffrey Gilpin

Jeffrey Gilpin shares his story:

Having graduated from Snohomish High School  the Summer of 1965, I enrolled in Everett Community College beginning in the fall of that year, working toward a degree in architecture or engineering.
 
EvCC was a great local resource, very convenient and affordable, especially since I was paying for the books and tuition myself with summer work savings and money I earned playing in a rock 'n' roll dance band.

During the spring quarter of my second year (1967), the dance band I played in was becoming more popular and taking more of my interest and time. As a result, I neglected my studies and had incomplete classes the quarter ending in June of 1967.

Almost immediately, I was drafted in the United States Army (August 9th, 1967)! I was on active duty until the summer of 1969. That summer, I re-enrolled at EvCC, but found it hard to focus in a classroom setting after my military experience.
 
While I was in the Army. my mother, Freda Gilpin, founded Gilpin Realty in Snohomish (1968). With my mother's encouragement, I became licensed to sell real estate and began my career working for Gilpin Realty (1970). During the early '70s, the real estate market was in a terrible depression; the billboard in Seattle read: "The last guy out of Seattle, turn off the lights."
 
I continued to play music and, since real estate was still slow, the timing was perfect to take advantage of EvCC's resources, convenience and great instructors. Also, I could now use my veterans' education benefits.

Again, I re-enrolled at EvCC, not necessarily for a degree, but just to learn. I studied real estate and business and took classes I enjoyed and that benefited my career and love of music. Eventually, I earned a state managing brokers license, a state certificate in real estate, and, by March 1976, an EvCC certificate in real estate. I suppose if I took a few more classes, I'd have an associate degree!
 
I became the designated broker of Gilpin Realty in 1994 upon my fathers death and, just recently, my son, Gabe Gilpin (the third generation Gilpin), became the designated broker. After 46 successful years, I am now semi-retired.

Without a doubt, my education at EvCC set me on the path of continual learning and was the foundation and vital component of my success, as well as the success of Gilpin Realty.