Paul Wyman is a well-known figure in Kokomo. As president of The Wyman Group, a real estate agency, and a past Howard County commissioner, he is actively involved in giving back and developing the community. He is also a veteran who feels a great sense of pride having served our country.
While in the Air Force, he was stationed in Iceland for a year. He also served in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield, the first phase of the Gulf War. During that conflict, the role of the United States was to build up troops and defend Saudi Arabia after Iraq invaded Kuwait.
“Iceland is such a unique country,” he says. “Half of the year, the sun is out for only a few hours. During the other half, the sun shines every hour. The weather is different; it never gets very warm. The people there were great to work with. They understood the strategic importance of having a U.S. military presence there. Serving and representing the United States in Saudi Arabia was one of the most powerful and proudest moments of my life. It was an intense time in that country after Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq, invaded Kuwait. There were lots of unknowns.”
Wyman is originally from the Pennsylvania/New Jersey area. His last assignment in the military was at Grissom Air Reserve Base. When his time was done, he decided to make Kokomo his home.
“I found a lot to like about Midwest living,” he says. “The pace is a bit slower; the people are very nice, the schools are good and there is low crime. It’s a great place to live and raise a family.”
He shares that soon after he moved to Kokomo, he served in the financial services industry and made some real estate investments. Friends in the real estate business encouraged him, and 23 years ago he and his wife, Shelly, began The Wyman Group. It has grown to be one of the top real estate companies in central Indiana.
“I have enjoyed it immensely,” he says. “I get to work with the greatest agents, and I couldn’t be prouder of the staff and the way they help people achieve the dream of homeownership. Over the years technology has changed the industry, but we deliver a tremendous client experience. We stay up on the latest trends and meet the needs of today’s clients.”
“People rely on us as realtors to help them navigate and achieve the American dream,” he adds. “We help them set up a plan and put it in place to keep that dream alive. The Wyman Group is very involved in the community, especially regarding economic development and supporting nonprofits. We have a corporate culture here where we believe we have a responsibility to make our community a better place.”
Currently Wyman serves on boards of nonprofits, and did so even when he was involved in local government. He retired as a Howard County commissioner roughly two years ago. In total, he spent 16 years in elected county government: four years on the Howard County Council and 12 years as a commissioner.
“It was an incredible honor and opportunity to serve in a leadership role,” he says. “I’m proud of the accomplishments that will have a lasting impact on our community by improving the quality of life. Some of the achievements stemmed from working together with other leaders, such as building the new Kokomo YMCA, extension of the trail systems, approval for the hotel and conference center, and the development of the work release program. It’s a legacy I like to look back on and be proud of.”
After leaving public office, Wyman picked up an auctioneer’s license. Now he finds himself in demand for conducting real estate and charity auctions. Earlier this fall he conducted seven auctions within a two-week period. He reveals that most auctioneers bring their own special flair to an event, and he tries to bring some entertainment and humor when he does the big calling. He has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for organizations and gets quite a few phone calls due to his skill.
Wyman is also involved in martial arts. He enjoys the discipline behind it, and is motivated by the concept of being able to protect himself, his family and friends.
Wyman’s parents still live in Pennsylvania and will soon be celebrating their 97th birthdays. Recently they reached the milestone of their 75th wedding anniversary. Wyman, Shelly and their college-aged children visit often.
When asked what he does in his free time now that his commissioner duties are over, he laughs. “There’s no such thing as more free time,” he says. “All my time is dedicated to family, business and nonprofits. All three together give me a full life. I would do it all again. I am fortunate and blessed.”
The Wyman Group is located at 1533 West Lincoln Road in Kokomo. Call them at 765-854-1234. Also visit thewymangroup.com.
