A Man of
commissioned officer in the United States Air Force. He was just 24 years old, and was also ac-
Destiny
cepted to the University of Utah Medical School at that time. Instead of medicine, however, he opted for a
Paul out in the field saying hello to staff at the San Francisco Office
business career. Early on, he founded and ran
and Quality
a successful chain link fence company and also became a full-time licensed life insurance agent. At the young age of 28 years old, he became the District Manager of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company … here in the
Paul Hulme, Founder, President and CEO of Alain Pinel Realtors
Bay Area … in San Jose. And at age of 31, Paul
SVL: You had quite an interesting childhood … who and what
was also ordained the Bishop of his Church.
inspired you? Did you have heroes and positive role models … who and what inspired you, what aspirations did you have
In time, Paul has founded, owned and operated some fourteen In 1990, in what was (and is) the quaint city of Saratoga, Paul
Paul’s real humble beginning certainly seems more Holly-
Hulme co-founded Alain Pinel Realtors together with Helen
woodish than it does Saratogian. He was born and raised on a
Pastorino and Alain Pinel. It was a humble beginning. The three
farm in Southern Utah. It was his parents and six siblings, eight
of them settled on the name “Alain Pinel Realtors” only because
in all, living in a two bedroom house that previously had been
so many previous company name attempts were all denied by
an Indian school. They lived three miles out of town. They were
the Secretary of State, as they all seemed to be too close to
without water and electricity. All drinking water, as well as wa-
other firm names.
ter for all purposes, was transported from town in five gallon milk cans. All eight in the family took their turn sharing the
Little did Paul know at that time, it would be less than two
same water for their weekly bath.
months after their first office opened its doors in August, 1990, that Alain Pinel himself decided to leave the company and re-
Paul was eight years old when he began his business career. He
turn to his native France. Shortly thereaf-
delivered newspapers for both the morn-
ter, in 1995, Helen Pastorino also left the
ing and the evening papers for eight years.
company, leaving Paul as the sole owner
In addition, he had his farm duties to per-
of Alain Pinel Realtors. What then? That, as it turned out, was just the be-
Paul Hulme stands with Rainy Hake, Executive Vice President & COO of Alain Pinel Realtors
form. Yes, he attended school. He also participated in sports. In high school, he was a boxer and a wrestler, going undefeated
ginning. What has happened since then,
in high school boxing and experiencing
since they opened for business just 25
just one defeat in wrestling – which was
years ago, is nothing less than magical;
his final match his final year in the finals
nothing less than historical. Alain Pinel
of the all-state wrestling championships
Realtors has become the fifth largest res-
in Ogden, Utah.
idential real estate company in the US. It has also become the largest privately
He then went on to college where he was
owned residential real estate firm in all
pre-med at the University of Utah. Upon
California based on closed sales volume.
graduating, he served two and a half years
Truly quite remarkable from such a hum-
on a mission for his church in Germany
ble beginning, as you will see.
and then completed his tour of duty as a
growing up?
successful businesses … including Alain Pinel Realtors. His career has been and is as
PH: During my child-
bright as his smile. Ex-
hood, my brothers and
traordinary and very
sister were always my
special. I hope you will
inspiration. I had five
enjoy this wonderful
older siblings and they
conversation with Paul
were all professionals. I
as much as I have
was always striving to be like them, knowing
SVL:
When
you
I needed to do my best
were growing up in Southern Utah, what thoughts,
vision
or
dreams did you have
to match their success.
Paul with the Mayor of Alameda, Marie Gilmore, at the ribbon cutting for APR’s office in Alameda
… of your present and
SVL: Do you believe that sports (in your case, boxing and wrestling) inspired you in
your future? Did you have any idea of what was to come, what
life and business? Are there correlations that you might see,
was to be?
in sports as in life and work, in individuals and in teams, that possibly help to inspire others?
PH: I had two brothers who were doctors, and when I was
PH: There most definitely is a correlation. I didn’t get into wres-
young my thought was always that I would become a doctor
tling until I was a senior in high school, after the coach had
and maybe even partner with them. When I was in college I
spent two years trying to get me on the team. The coach was
had a chain link fence business that was quite successful, and
smaller than me - when I went out for the first day of practice
my father wanted to join me in that business, but I told him
and we wrestled, I thought I could handle him easily because
for me it was just a means to an end. I was set on becoming a
I was bigger. Within a few seconds, he had me in a position
doctor. As time went on though, the interest I had in business
where I couldn’t move. I was baffled – how could he do that?
and the success I had found there, working with people and
So then he coached me into the same position, and I thought
enjoying my relationships with my employees, caused my am-
“I’ve got him” and he said, “Are you ready?” and again, after just
bitions to shift.
a few seconds he was out of it. At that point, I realized there