Bill Hoffman takes business, humor seriously
Bill Hoffman is president and a founder of Trigild in Carmel Valley. For more than 30 years, he has directed Trigild’s growth from a small regional management company to a nationally known specialist in maximizing recovery on nonperforming loans.
Hoffman has handled 250 receivership appointments for more than 1,000 assets. He holds a law degree from Western State College of Law and was admitted to the California Bar in 1977.
He is a licensed real estate broker, certified hotel administrator, and former president of the California Lodging Industry and San Diego Receiver’s Forum.
As Trigild president, Hoffman has worked to make receivership a better-understood legal remedy for creditors of defaulted commercial loans.
Hoffman has authored hundreds of articles for various finance, real estate hospitality and general publications, and is a frequent speaker at conferences and conventions. His distinctive blend of expertise in management, receivership law and real estate qualifies him as an expert witness - and has led state and federal courts to appoint him as receiver, trustee or custodian for troubled real estate assets across North America.
What brought you to Carmel Valley?
The old original Carmel Valley Road 18 years ago, heading east from Del Mar. We originally moved here because we wanted more of a family neighborhood environment for our kids.
What makes Carmel Valley special to you?
Even though it has doubled in size every year since we moved here, it does have many advantages. It’s centrally located, close to the beach and has great schools, which both my grown children attended. It’s also been a great headquarters for our business.
If you could snap your fingers and have it done, what might you add, subtract or improve in Carmel Valley?
Add 12 more Starbucks; subtract State Route 56. Seriously, we are still in Carmel Valley and expect to remain indefinitely.
Who or what inspires you?
I am fortunate in being able to work with many people who inspire me, both clients and employees. My wife Judy has supported many of my foolish acts for 38 years now, which is not only inspiring but amazing. Trigild would not have prospered the way it has if she hadn’t joined me there many years ago. I also feel inspired by our two children, now gainfully employed and self-supporting adults, with no felony convictions.
If you hosted a dinner party for eight, whom (living or deceased) would you invite?
Monty Python’s Flying Circus, the Marx Brothers, my uncle who taught me to swear when I was a kid, and Albert Einstein (he’s a riot at parties).
What are you currently reading?
“War and Peace,” “The Iliad,” all of Shakespeare’s works, Plato and “Goodnight Moon.” Seriously, I am also trying to plow through Friedman’s “Monetary History of the United States” and a nonfiction one - “And Then It Came To An End.” I also have to read a ridiculous number of trade magazines in law and real estate.
What is your most prized possession?
My family. In terms of business, I have a handmade “Manager of the Year” award that was presented to me by the employees of a hotel I managed while I was in law school.
What do you do for fun?
Teach the neighborhood kids to use a water balloon sling, walk on stilts, roast marshmallows over a fire in the driveway and develop a deeper understanding of Weird Al Yankovic. I also enjoy traveling, fishing, amateur radio - and running though airports.
Describe your greatest accomplishment.
Seeing my two children become gainfully employed (Jennifer, 28, is in the movie production business and Eric, 25, is a movie audio engineer).
What is your motto or philosophy of life?
Maintain a great sense of humor and do something that continues to be interesting.