Meet Our Team


Officers

W.A. "Chip" Watts IV, CCIM, CPM » (since 1998)
Picture of Chip
Our President and Executive Certified Property Manager of Watts Realty and active in various civic and industry organizations, Chip graduated from Auburn University in 1996.

Chip was awarded the national professional designation of Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) in 2002 and received his Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation with the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) in 2004.

Chip continues to expand his education in commercial investment sales and management and helped Watts achieve the prestigious Accredited Management Organization (AMO) designation from IREM in 2007. He was awarded CPM of the Year in 2010 & 2013. Chip served as President of the Birmingham Association of REALTORS in 2014 and has served in various roles at IREM, including service as the international organizations 2021 President. He is currently serving as the Immediate Past President of IREM while expanding his role with the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) as a member of its Executive Committee through 2024.

Chip provides energetic approaches to services in sales, leasing, and business development. Licensed in real estate.
David Watts, CPM » (since 2007)
Picture of David Watts
Our Vice President, Qualifying Broker, and Certified Property Manager of Watts Realty, David graduated from Auburn University in Business Administration: Family Business Management Concentration. David received his CPM designation with IREM in 2011

He has handled over $235,000,000 in gross sales, lease, & development volume as well as greater than $200,000,000 in gross renewal lease volume of end of 2023.

David's passion is finding the right resolution to a complex real property issue, stabilizing the most complicated portfolios or assets through strong execution of a very focused management plan. A born property manager that loves the challenge & a tough project. Licensed in real estate.
W.A. "Bill" Watts III, CCIM, CPM Emeritus, CRB, GRI » (since 1970)
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Chairman of the Board of Watts Realty and leader in various civic, religious and industry organizations; a Certified Property Manager (CPM), Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and Certified Real Estate Broker (CRB).

He served as the 1988 President for the Birmingham Association of Realtors and the 2006 President of the Alabama Association of REALTORS. Bill was appointed in 2007 by Governor Bob Riley to the Alabama Real Estate Commission for United States Congressional District 6 for Alabama which includes parts of Birmingham. He is the first commissioner in Alabama to be appointed by 3 different governors before retiring from the Commission in 2021. Licensed in real estate and insurance.

Agents

Emile Hughes » (since 2019)
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Emile is a Birmingham native and enthusiast. With a diverse background in healthcare, retail, and business operations, Emile takes pride and passion in finding ways to add value for his clients.

Prior to joining the Watts Realty team, Emile spent 4 years spearheading the development and operations of urgent care clinics across the state of Alabama.

Emile has completed many amazing real estate & passions projects in recent years. His most recent endeavor created Alabama's first-ever downhill mountain biking park on 200 acres located at Birmingham's Red Mountain Park aptly named RideBHM.

Emile holds a BA from the University of Virginia, where he graduated with distinction. Licensed in Real Estate.
Krone Weidler » (since 2020)
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Weidler has over 40+ years experience in commercial sales and investments, specializing in Assisted Living Facilities.

In the early 1990's she bought her first ALF. Since that time she has developed, owned, and operated several communities. Since 2004, she has been responsible for the disposition of over 1000 ALF beds with aggregate value of over $500,000,000, as well as work with and represent buyers with and aggregate asset value of over $1Billion. Weidler currently serves on the Florida Senior Living Association Board of Directors.

Licensed to practice commercial real estate in Florida, North Carolina and Alabama

Office Personnel

Leigh Ann McMahan » (since 2002)
Picture of Leigh Ann McMahan
As our Office Manager and Bookkeeper Leigh Ann has over 20 years of experience in administrative & real estate management.

Leigh Ann is our key person responsible for managing all client funds and escrows, monthly and annual reports as well as virtually every administrative function in our office for our clients and agents.

Along with spending free time outdoors and with her family, Leigh Ann also gives her time to the Laura Crandall Brown Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research.

Leigh Ann is Licensed in Real Estate.
Michael Watts » (since 2006)
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As our Marketing Director, Michael furthers our company's commitment to continue to excel in the technology arena by exploring opportunities for Watts Realty to provide more efficient marketing communications and data management tools to our clients, contractors and customers alike.

Michael graduated from the University of Alabama Birmingham with a degree in Communication Studies.
Jennifer Hill » (since 2023)
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Jennifer is one of our Residential Property Managers. She performs the necessary management tasks to facilitate the residential assets of our Clients. She also oversees communications with our Independent Contractors handling various issues for our residential Landlords. Jennifer has over 17 years of experience with commercial, multifamily & hotel management.
Jamie Smirnow » (since 2024)
Jamie is our Residential Lease Administrator. She processes applications, collects rents, maintains files, invoices utilities and handles all aspects of leasing. If there is a question to be answered in regards to a Tenant's needs, or clarification of leases terms, she will be able to help.

She greets customers in our office every day with a friendly smile, handling tenant/prospective tenant requests.
Mark Putnam » (since 2021)
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Mark is our Maintenance Supervisor. As our Maintenance Supervisor Mark records maintenance requests from tenants, coordinates with contractors for repairs, and handles all maintenance invoice. Mark has over 4 decades of experience in the customer service industry.
Anna Rebecca Watts » (since 2020)
Picture of Anna Rebecca Watts
Anna Rebecca is an Administrative Assistant supporting all staff, maintaining office records, and most specifically managing all the various utility needs for our clients' properties.

She performs Ratio Utility Billing Systems for our multi-family clients, and successfully navigates the overabundance of utility providers in our local markets.

Anna Rebecca is not only a graduate of Auburn University, but is also the most avid Auburn sports fan. She loves to spend her free time at the lake with family, and also supports the Women's Hope Medical Clinic in Auburn.
Rachael Jefferson » (since 2022)
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Rachael is an Administrative Assistant supporting all staff, maintaining office records, and most specifically processing invoice input & accounts payables.
Peyton Griffin » (since 2023)
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Peyton is the main welcoming voice you'll hear when you call into our office. She provides response to leasing leads, works with prospective tenants as they go through the viewing & showing process, and helps the Residential Lease Administrator complete all the multiple tasks associated with property management.
Michael Harman » (since 2021)
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As one of our in-house Maintenance Technicians, Michael has over a decade of maintenance experience as a private contractor.
Jordan Kessler » (since 2021)
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Another of our in-house Maintenance Technicians, Jordan has several years’ experience in HVAC and electrical repairs.