Driven to Succeed: Kraig Heeter Advances Career in Industrial Real Estate
Written by Doug Goodnough
Since he was 12 years old, Kraig Heeter, ’01, dreamed of being a professional golfer.
In fact, he attended Hillsdale College in part because he was able to be a member of the Chargers golf team. After a successful collegiate golf career, he became a professional after graduating from Hillsdale College and played in California’s Pepsi Tour. He also attended the qualifying school for the Canadian professional golf tour and spent some time pursuing his dream in Florida.
However, married and thinking about a family, Heeter realized that maybe his dream of playing professional golf wasn’t meant to be.
“I was down in Orlando and realized that this wasn’t what I was supposed to do,” he said.
Originally from the Seattle, Washington, area, he and his wife, Rebecca (Huttula), ’01, returned to their native Washington. His father owned a wealth management company and had connections to someone in industrial real estate.
“He said, ‘I can’t hire you, but you should go work for this company called C.B. Richard Ellis,’” Heeter said. “And I called the managing broker of the office every business day for four months until he hired me.”
Using the same determination and work ethic he learned from the game of golf, Heeter worked his way up the corporate ladder. He is now the executive vice president and shareholder at Kidder Mathews, the largest independent commercial real estate firm on the West Coast.
“I’m a sales guy,” he said. “I have clients and they take me around the West, and I handle their industrial real estate. I’m an independent contractor and I work on 100 percent commission. You have to be self-motivated. You have to be disciplined. And more than anything, you need perseverance.”
At Hillsdale, Heeter said he learned these qualities both on and off the golf course. On the course, Heeter won an NAIA regional golf championship as a sophomore, battling near-freezing temperatures and strong competition to take medalist honors.
Academically, he admitted to struggling his first couple of years at Hillsdale. However, he persevered, graduating with his economics degree.
He and Rebecca wed after their junior year and had the distinction of being the only married couple on campus at the time. They have three sons who are all standout high school athletes, and, the couple enjoys supporting their children’s athletic endeavors. Kraig said his love of hunting now surpasses his love of golf.
Introduced to hunting at Hillsdale by classmate and longtime friend Mike Monnich, ’01, Heeter said they remain close. He said he also keeps in contact with retired history professor Dr. John Willson, who he considers a mentor.
He said he follows the progress of the Chargers golf program, which is much more established than when he played.
“I was interested in Hillsdale, and the opportunity to play golf sealed the deal,” said Heeter, who first heard about Hillsdale through his family’s church. “It was an outstanding experience.”
Doug Goodnough, ’90, is Hillsdale’s director of Alumni Marketing. He enjoys connecting with fellow alumni in new and wonderful ways.
Published in February 2024