During his marketing years with IBM, Wright won numerous National and Regional marketing awards including 6 consecutive 100% clubs, Regional Sales Leader, and IBM’s Salesman of the Year in Alaska.
The Thurston Company has now owned over 200 properties/units including apartment buildings, a hotel, a shopping mall, commercial land, and part of an exclusive, private island in Panama. (www.RedFrogBeach. com) The Thurston’s real estate properties have been in the United States, Canada, and Central America.
A popular and entertaining speaker, Wright has given over 3,500 presentations nationally and internationally, sharing the principles and techniques that help make businesses and individuals more successful. He has taught sales and management concepts to Fortune 500 companies, trained and inspired network marketers, and shared real estate, investment, computer strategies and professional speaking skills with entrepreneurs worldwide. He is a former member of the National Speakers Association.
He has been the president of three different companies. The revenues of one of these companies exceeded six million dollars within the first two years. He belongs to and supports the principles of the Better Business Bureau.
Wright and his wife Janett are also Executive Directors with Melaleuca, an Inc. 500 company for five consecutive years. They have won the prestigious “President’s Club” for two different years.
As a hobby, they have amassed an 7,000 piece Classical Music Collection, the Thurston Collection, which is currently on loan to one of the nation’s largest universities. It is part of the university’s Dance & Music Special Collections.
In addition to church and family commitments, the Thurston’s have also been actively involved in community organizations, such as United Way, Junior Achievement, school boards, and Rotary International, to name a few.
Wright and Janett have been married for over 43 years. They are the proud parents of five children and, currently, twelve grandchildren.