Professional Profile: J. DeFores Venter - 1980

Name: J. DeFores Venter - 1980

Title: Realtor

Company: H. Pearce Co.

Location: Connecticut

Birthplace: Pago Pago, Samoa

DeForest Venter, 62, Realtor for the H. Pearce Co., is one of only two individuals in the state of Connecticut to hold both the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) and SIR (Society of Industrial Realtors) designations. He has been the top producer for the Pearce Co. in the last decade and is a lawyer with membership in both the Connecticut and Federal Bars. He specializes in investment properties, commercial/industrial real estate and land development. For 22 years Venter was secretary, sales manager, general manager and president of DeForst & Hotchkiss Co., which was founded in 1847 by his great-grandfather who was also founder and president of the Tradesmen’s National Bank and president of the New Haven Gas Co. Venter’s company had 50 employees and yearly sales of approximately $2,500,000. Venter organized the components division, the custom home and construction department and the kitchen and remodeling department. He organized and financed many land developments for the company contractors and developed a quick estimating system for component construction. He also laid-out, designed and supervised the construction of several large, brand new retail and distribution yards. For seven of those years from 1961-1968 he was on the National Lumber Dealers Research Council as executive director, and for two years, as president. In 1966 he was made a National Research Fellow. He helped organize and work on numerous projects such as an electronic data processing project, a stair fabrication study, a mobile home study, a sectionalized house study, and the Weyerhaeuser Registered Home Program. He was also a part owner of the Connecticut Reserve Supply Co., the Gold Star Homes of New England and the National Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Assoc. Venter and Pearce did a lot of business together in those days. They had a partnership in several model homes with Venter doing the developing and Pearce doing the selling. “Together we built the first house in Connecticut with a bomb shelter,” he says. “When I sold out my lumber business Herb (Pearce) was the first one to whom I turned for a job.” The son of a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Venter was born in Pago Pago, Samoa where his father was stationed. Twelve months later his family moved to New Haven. At the age of ten he went to rectory school in Pomfred followed by four years at the Kent School. He attended Yale University from 1831-1935, graduated with a degree in Applied Economic Science and as a member of the Naval ROTC unit, received a cup his senior year for leadership and the best drilled platoon with the Naval Science Unit. Between 1936 and 1940 he worked in the Personal Trust Department for the Guaranty Trust Company of New York and attended the Fordham Law School nights. That was followed by five years on active duty with the U.S. Navy serving on a heavy cruiser and an aircraft carrier as 1^st Lieutenant and a damage control officer. As a DCO he was responsible for the organization, coordination and training of each department in each ship (approximately 1,500 men) in the control of damage and the fighting of fires. His efforts resulted in the saving of two ships in the Battle of Lady Gulf in the Philippines and the Battle of Savo Island off Guadalcanal. He received two Silver Star Medals and thirteen Battle Stars for his efforts. After the war he went on inactive service as a commander (until his retirement as a Captain in 1959) and went to work in the family business. Venter likes to golf, travel, sail and garden in his spare time with his wife Patty who is the residential manager at the H. Pearce Co. They have four children Debby (27), Jeffry (24) and twins Edward and Jonathan who are 22. Venter is very involved locally. “I follow Herb Pearce’s philosophy,” he says. “that when living in the New Haven area, you have to put a certain amount back in civic affairs, and that’s what I try to do.” He is presently chairman of the prospecting committee, member of the industrial development committee and former director (1954-1960) of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce. He is a member and former president of the New Haven Rotary Club and is a director of the Boy Scouts and Boys Club. He is also a member of the Trinity Church in Branford and received the distinguished salesmen’s award from sales and marketing executives of Greater New Haven in 1974.