Welcome Wade Wilson Jr. (born 1951) is an American real estate developer and civic leader based in Houston, Texas (USA). He serves as president and CEO of Welcome Group, LLC, a commercial real estate development firm. Wilson also holds leadership and advisory roles in various public and nonprofit organizations, including higher education, economic development, and historic preservation initiatives.
Wilson was born in 1951 in Texas. He graduated from Kinkaid High School in 1969 and attended University of Denver in 1970.
Real estate development
Wilson began his career with Welcome Group, LLC, a family-owned firm based in Houston. He currently serves as President and CEO, overseeing the development of single-tenant office, industrial, lab, warehouse, and manufacturing properties. Under his leadership, the firm has assembled and developed over 9 million square feet of real estate in Texas and the Southeastern United States.
He is also joint venture partner in Kingham ÷ Dalton ÷ Wilson Ltd. (branded as KDW), the design/build affiliate of Welcome Group.
Board memberships and civic leadership
÷ àààRiver Oaks Financial Group, Inc. â serves as an officer & director.
÷ àààAlamo Trust (San Antonio) â appointed chairman.
÷ àààRemember the Alamo Foundation (San Antonio) â board director.
÷ àààTexas Higher Education Coordinating Board â appointed by Governor Greg Abbott; current term ends August 31, 2029.
÷ àààTexas Higher Education Foundation, Greater Houston Partnership, Texas Business Hall of Fame, The Trellis Company, Trellis Foundation, and Friends of the Texas Historical Commission â holds board positions.
÷ àààSouthwest Houston Redevelopment Authority, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 20 (TIRZ #20) â chairman of the board appointments by the mayor of Houston.
Previously, Wilson served as vice chair of the University of Houston System Board of Regents, a gubernatorial appointment. His civic leadership history includes roles such as: chair of the Houston Region Business Coalition, vice chair of the Houston Food Bank, chair of the End Hunger Network, director of the Houston chapter of the American Lung Association, director of the Houstonian Club, and president of the Kinkaid School Alumni Association.
In 2018, Wilson was named one of the âÂÂMost Admired CEOsâ by the Houston Business Journal . His additional awards include 2015 AJC Houston âÂÂHuman Relations AwardâÂÂ, 2013 Neighborhood Centers, Inc. Alice Graham Baker Crusader Award and 2013 Chinese Community Center Community Impact Award.
Wilson is a native Texan, married, and the father of five adult children .