Esther Kettering

Esther began her career in real estate as a technical draftsman, land surveyor, and title examiner in Illinois & Wisconsin after having earned a BA in art & philosophy from Viterbo University in LaCrosse, WI.  Better weather directed Esther to Fort Collins, Colorado where she continued working for a civil engineering firm primarily engaged in new development projects.  She moved to Golden, CO in 1980 and joined Adolph Coors Company, where she was engaged in all aspects of corporate real estate including acquisition/disposition, site selection and project management.  While working full time, Esther earned an MBA at CU Denver through the Executive Program.

In 1992, Golden Properties, Ltd. (“GPL”) was created by Coors and spun out as a separate real estate development & services entity.  Kettering became President in 1996.  Between 1992 & 2007, GPL developed & sold its holdings of over 12,000 acres delivering great profit for its shareholders.  Esther remained on the Board of GPL until 2007.

In 2000, Esther joined Fuller Company as a commercial broker, specializing in purchase, sale & leasing of industrial property along Colorado’s front range.  Fuller, an employee-owned company, eventually became Cushman Wakefield, an international public company with over 40,000 employees.  In 2022, Esther was pleased to join Thrive Commercial Group and recapture the creative energy of a smaller local group, and still be recognized as the west Denver / central Jefferson County undisputed specialist in industrial and unique commercial properties.

Kettering’s strong work ethic, broad experience, and community connections with both business leaders as well as City/County staff & officials, achieve great results for all her clients!

In her spare time, Esther enjoys gardening of all kinds, is an accomplished knitter, writer, and amateur cartoonist.  She strives to be well-informed of local, national & world news, particularly economics, environmental issues, and foreign affairs.  Esther pretends to be a good golfer and enjoys it immensely, despite what others may think!  She is an enthusiastic supporter of the visual arts, history and architecture.  Her husband of 30+ years is Robert C. Schmid, AIA Emeritus, who is a talented art & architecture photographer for other architects, contractors and developers.

Favorite Quote:

“Everybody has got to be somewhere!” Spike Milligan (1918-2022)