Brian Watson

Watson graduated from Olathe High School on the Western Slope of Colorado.{{cite web |url= http://www.villagerpublishing.com/sweetheart-couple-year-brian-patricia-watson |title= Sweetheart Couple of the Year: Brian and Patricia Watson |publisher=The Villager |date=11 February 2015 }} He received a Bachelor of Science degree in real estate at the University of Colorado Boulder and then joined Cushman & Wakefield of Colorado, Inc (C&W), an international commercial real estate firm.{{cite web |url=http://xcelcompanies.com/leadership/ |title=Brian Watson, co-Founder |publisher=Xcel - Founding Leadership |date=26 September 2012 }} Watson is the founder of Opportunity Coalition, a nonprofit social welfare organization pursuant to IRC 501(c)(4).{{cite web|url=http://opportunitycoalition.com |title=Opportunity Coalition - About us |publisher=The Opportunity Coalition }} The organization promotes and facilitates a business friendly culture for free markets, entrepreneurship, and collaboration.{{cite web |url=https://www.villagerpublishing.com/50646/news/taking-care-of-colorado-business/ |title=Taking Care of Colorado Business - Local entrepreneur starts statewide networking organization |author=Peter Jones |publisher=The Villager |date=28 February 2013 |access-date=August 24, 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} For his contributions to community development, he has been interviewed by several local radio and television stations.{{cite web |url=http://www.northstarcommercialpartners.com/media/ |title=Media |publisher=Northstar Commercial Partners |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425111204/http://www.northstarcommercialpartners.com/media/ |archive-date=2016-04-25 |url-status=dead }} The Opportunity Coalition also created the Mountains of Opportunity TV show series hosted by Watson. The show highlights the real-life stories of Colorado's entrepreneurs, innovators and job creators.{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/om/podcast/opportunity-coalition-podcast/id924202375?mt=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419103103/https://itunes.apple.com/om/podcast/opportunity-coalition-podcast/id924202375?mt=2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 19, 2017 |title=The Opportunity Coalition Podcast |publisher=Apple iTunes }}{{cite web |url= http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/opportunity-coalition/e/doug-price-ceo-of-rocky-mountain-pbs-interviewed-by-brian-watson-36428476 |title=Doug Price, CEO of Rocky Mountain PBS interviewed by Brian... |publisher=Stitcher Radio }}{{cite web |url=http://www.villagerpublishing.com/84098/fleurish/crisis-solver-jamie-van-leeuwen-featured-at-opportunity-coalition/ |publisher=The Villager |title=Crisis solver Jamie Van Leeuwen featured at Opportunity Coalition |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419102344/http://www.villagerpublishing.com/84098/fleurish/crisis-solver-jamie-van-leeuwen-featured-at-opportunity-coalition/ |archive-date=2017-04-19 |url-status=dead }}

Watson ran for Colorado House of Representatives District 3 in the 2012 elections. He first ran unopposed in the Republican primary on June 26, 2012, but was defeated by incumbent Daniel Kagan, a Democrat, in the general election on November 6, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/2012/primary/StateRepresentative-District3.html|title=Office & District Report - State Representative - District 3|date=12 July 2012|publisher=Office of the Secretary of the State of Colorado}}{{cite web |url=http://data.denverpost.com/election/results/state-house/2012/ |title=State House 2012 Election Results - Denver Post |access-date=2016-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708040426/http://data.denverpost.com/election/results/state-senate/2012/ |archive-date=2014-07-08 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.villagerpublishing.com/41188/news/district-3-house-race-gets-fiery/ |title=District 3 House race gets fiery |publisher=The Villager |author=Peter Jones |date=3 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530102351/http://www.villagerpublishing.com/41188/news/district-3-house-race-gets-fiery/ |archive-date=30 May 2016 |url-status=dead }}

Watson is a board member of the "Leadership Program of the Rockies,"{{cite web|title=Leadership Program of the Rockies|url=https://www.leadershipprogram.org/|website=Leadership Program of the Rockies|access-date=5 March 2018}} an organization that "identifies and brings together emerging leaders from the legal, economic, business, political, nonprofit and civic professions to learn how visionary, principle-centered leadership can positively impact their community."{{cite news |title=Heidi Ganahl, Brian Watson join Leadership Program of the Rockies board |url=https://www.coloradostatesman.com/heidi-ganahl-brian-watson-join-leadership-program-rockies-board/ |newspaper=The Colorado Statesman |access-date=2017-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419102613/https://www.coloradostatesman.com/heidi-ganahl-brian-watson-join-leadership-program-rockies-board/ |archive-date=2017-04-19 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url= https://www.leadershipprogram.org/about/board-of-directors/brian-watson |title= Board of Directors |publisher= Leadership Program of the Rockies |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170419103432/https://www.leadershipprogram.org/about/board-of-directors/brian-watson |archive-date= 2017-04-19 |url-status= dead }}

On October 20, 2017, Watson announced his candidacy for Colorado State Treasurer.{{cite news|last1=Eason|first1=Brian|title=GOP businessman Brian Watson joins race for Colorado state treasurer|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/10/25/gop-businessman-brian-watson-joins-race-colorado-state-treasurer/|access-date=February 16, 2018|publisher=The Denver Post|date=October 25, 2017}} The Denver Post's Brian Eason noted Watson's announcement "shook up the field" in the GOP Treasurer primary, and that Watson "brings fundraising clout to the race, reporting $21,550 in major donations in the six days since he officially filed for office."{{cite news|last1=Eason|first1=Brian|title=GOP businessman Brian Watson joins race for Colorado state treasurer|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/10/25/gop-businessman-brian-watson-joins-race-colorado-state-treasurer/|access-date=February 16, 2018|publisher=The Denver Post|date=October 15, 2017}}

Watson told the Greenwood Villager his campaign for Treasurer would focus on his career in business and his skills, he argued, that are well suited for the office. "'When you have somebody who understands internal rates of return and complex financial matters and how to go in and restructure debt and can save millions and millions of dollars for the people of Colorado—this is what I do every single day," [Watson] said."{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Peter|title=Local businessman rides into treasurer's race|url=https://www.villagerpublishing.com/local-businessman-rides-into-treasurers-race/|access-date=5 March 2018|publisher=The Greenwood Villager|date=1 November 2017}} In the same interview Watson also described the Colorado public pension system [Colorado Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA)]Public employee pension plans in the United States{{Circular reference|date=April 2018}} as a "ticking time bomb." Watson said his ideas to address financial shortfalls in PERA{{cite news|last1=Eason|first1=Brian|title=Colorado's PERA calls $32 billion fix a "shared sacrifice," but current and future workers would shoulder $17.7 billion|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/11/24/colorado-pera-analysis-public-workers/|access-date=5 March 2018|publisher=The Denver Post|date=24 November 2017}} include "raising the retirement age for the state government’s younger employees and perhaps allowing workers more control over their retirement investments."

Watson reported raising $215,000 in his first fundraising quarter this year and announced he planned to petition his way onto the June primary ballot.{{cite news|last1=Luning|first1=Ernest|title=GOP state treasurer candidate Brian Watson hauls in more than $200,000 for quarter, plans to petition on ballot|url=https://coloradopolitics.com/gop-state-treasurer-candidate-brian-watson-hauls-200000-quarter-plans-petition-ballot/|access-date=17 February 2018|publisher=Colorado Politics|date=4 January 2018}} Watson's January fundraising total dwarfed the next closest Republican candidate and was more than the next 9 candidates' fundraising totals combined.{{cite news|last1=Frank|first1=John|title=In Colorado treasurer's race, Steve Lebsock's fundraising dries up in wake of sexual harassment scandal|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/01/17/steve-lebsocks-fundraising-dries-up-wake-sexual-harassment-scandal/|access-date=5 March 2018|publisher=The Denver Post|date=17 January 2018}}

On March 5, 2018, Watson became the first Colorado State Treasurer candidate to turn in his petition signatures to qualify for the June primary ballot.{{cite news|last1=Luning|first1=Ernest|title=Republican Brian Watson first to turn in nominating petitions for state treasurer's race|url=https://coloradopolitics.com/republican-brian-watson-first-turn-nominating-petitions-state-treasurers-race/|access-date=6 March 2018|date=6 March 2018}} Watson announced a submission of over 17,000 signatures to the Colorado Secretary of State's office.

Watson was a manager and director at Cushman & Wakefield.{{cite news|title=Moshe Silagi Sells 24-Property Portfolio For $224 Million |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/moshe-silagi-sells-24-property-portfolio-for-224-million-1444171542 |newspaper= The Wall Street Journal}} In 2000, he founded Northstar Commercial Partners, a commercial real estate investment company in Denver, Colorado.{{cite news|title=Investors Take Shine to Charters |url=http://www.brianwatson.us/wsj-education |date=14 October 2015 |newspaper= The Wall Street Journal}}{{cite news|title=From Third Tier Investment City to Top Tier|url=http://www.globest.com/news/12_1168/denver/economy/From-Third-Tier-Investment-City-to-Top-Tier-360467-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS|access-date=17 November 2015|agency=Globe St}}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news |title=Academy 360, Denver's Health and Wellness Charter School, finds new home in Northstar Commercial Partners Building |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/academy-360-denvers-health-and-wellness-charter-school-finds-new-home-in-northstar-commercial-partners-building-2015-03-03 |agency=Globe St}}

Northstar's business strategy focuses on “buying vacant or distressed assets and giving them new life” and oversees key development projects, such as senior living, healthcare, and large data center facilities for a Fortune 25 company.{{cite news|last1=Teodora|first1=Demian|title=Northstar Snags Iconic Denver Office Gem for $17M|url=https://www.commercialcafe.com/blog/2018/02/16/northstar-snags-iconic-denver-office-gem-17m/|access-date=5 March 2018|publisher=Commercial Cafe|date=16 February 2018}}

Watson said he is proud of Northstar's work buying distressed real estate, arguing doing so provides benefits to communities where Northstar has a presence. "We can take something with low utility, and turn it into a highly productive environment that has a social impact. High tides raise all boats – if we can do well by doing good and give returns back to our investors and prove an asset and help achieve dreams in the community – then that’s a life well lived," Watson said.{{cite news|title=Executive Spotlight: Interview with Northstar CEO, Brian Watson|url=http://www.northstarcommercialpartners.com/articles/2017/7/14/executive-spotlight-interview-with-northstar-ceo-brian-watson|access-date=5 March 2018|publisher=Northstar Commercial Partners}} Watson also stated Northstar's work building a hospital for the healthcare company Clinica will help "serve individuals who don’t have healthcare access."{{cite news|title=Executive Spotlight: Interview with Northstar CEO, Brian Watson|url=http://www.northstarcommercialpartners.com/articles/2017/7/14/executive-spotlight-interview-with-northstar-ceo-brian-watson|access-date=5 March 2018|publisher=Northstar Commercial Partners|date=14 July 2017}}

Mr. Watson also directs Northstar to fund community-focused initiatives. In 2017, they began raising money to help build a retail and commercial development in Aurora that could benefit veterans in close proximity to the forthcoming Aurora VA facility.{{cite news|last1=Reyes|first1=Bobby|title=Center of Aurora's cityverse gets on track|url=https://www.sentinelcolorado.com/news/center-cityverse-gets-track/|access-date=5 March 2018|publisher=The Aurora Sentinel|date=31 January 2018}} The project itself will ultimately cost $120 million, and seek to not only house veterans, but also encourage retail and economic growth around the development. Jason Marcotte, Northstar's development team lead on the Aurora project, said the planned development site stands out today because it is one of the few underdeveloped stretches in that part of Aurora. “Taking this mostly vacant and distressed spot in an otherwise thriving area of town and helping place it back into productivity will create new opportunity and much needed space to live and create,” Marcotte said.{{cite news|last1=Reyes|first1=Bobby|title=Center of Aurora's cityverse gets on track|url=https://www.sentinelcolorado.com/news/center-cityverse-gets-track/|access-date=5 March 2018|publisher=Aurora Sentinel|date=31 January 2018}}

In October 2014, Watson founded the "Education Opportunity Fund", a $100 million charter school facility fund{{cite web|url=http://www.educationopportunityfund.com/team/ |publisher=Education Opportunity Fund |title= Team }}{{cite web|url= http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/real_deals/2014/10/northstar-commercial-launches-100-million.html |title=Northstar Commercial launches $100 million education fund |publisher=Denver Business Journal |date=21 October 2014 }}{{cite news |title=Charter-School Movement Grows—for Real-Estate Investors |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/charter-school-movement-growsfor-real-estate-investors-1444750383?alg=y |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}

In spring 2017, Watson published {{cite book |url=https://www.the7rings.com/ | title=The 7 Rings }}, a book about "life balance".{{cite book |url=https://www.the7rings.com/ | title=The 7 Rings |last=Watson |first =Brian | date = January 2017 | publisher =Printopya |page=208 |isbn=978-1942306870 }} His most recent book was released in the fall of 2019, titled {{cite book |url=https://www.buildingbook.us/ | title=Building - Lessons Learned in Life and Real Estate }}

In February 2018 Watson announced Northstar Commercial Partners purchased the iconic "Offices at the Art" building in Denver for $17.1 million. "This will be one of the top acquisitions in the Denver market for newer office space and we're thrilled to be involved, especially with Denver as our hometown," [Watson] said in a statement.

In April 2020, the FBI raided Watson's house, serving him a search warrant, and confiscated his cell phone and computer. According to a company-wide e-mail The Denver Post received, Watson alleges the raid was in relation to "fraud and misappropriation of funds and was connected to the company’s work with Amazon data centers."{{Cite web|date=2020-04-07|title=FBI seizes computer, cell phone from home of Denver businessman|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2020/04/07/fbi-search-warrant-denver-businessman-brian-watson/|access-date=2020-07-22|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US}}

In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Virginia, Amazon accused Northstar Commercial Partners of "a significant fraud and kickback scheme" which likely prompted the April FBI raid of the home of CEO Brian Watson. The lawsuit accuses Northstar of racketeering and fraud, which Mr. Watson denies.{{Cite web|url=https://businessden.com/2020/07/27/amazon-accuses-denver-real-estate-firm-of-significant-fraud-and-kickback-scheme/|title = Amazon accuses Denver real estate firm of 'significant fraud and kickback scheme'|date = 27 July 2020}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.brianwatson.us/ Official website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20180905090331/https://brianwatson.vote/ Treasurer campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Brian}}

Category:Living people

Category:1971 births

Category:American business executives

Category:American businesspeople in real estate

Category:Colorado Republicans

Category:University of Colorado Boulder alumni

Category:People from Arapahoe County, Colorado

Category:21st-century Colorado politicians