Corrie Watson is the great-granddaughter of the late Fort Worth car dealer Frank Kent. Along with twin brother Will Churchill, she is taking Cowtown by storm and spearheading dozens of mixed-use developments on the Near Southside and West Side. The duo has diversified beyond automobiles with Kent & Co. wine bar and Fort Brewery on trendy Magnolia Avenue. They also oversee Cadillac Wines wholesale and seasoning company Grease Monkey Rubs, and have led a $3 million redo of Dream Park Fort Worth, a playground for children of all physical abilities.
What’s the most important business lesson you’ve learned?
“My mom taught me to never curb qualify anyone. This means that you should never judge someone by what they are wearing or what car they drive up in, but rather treat everyone with the same amount of respect.”
What’s been your biggest success over the last 12 months?
“The biggest success that I have had over the last 12 months will be the completion of Dream Park in Fort Worth. This has been a 5-plus year labor of love with my sister in law, Rachael Churchill, and Sandy Mesch. Dream Park is a universally inclusive playground that we built in the heart of Trinity Park in Fort Worth. We raised $3.2 million dollars through sponsorships, grants, and fundraising efforts to bring this much-needed park to Fort Worth.”
What’s a fun fact people would be surprised to learn about you?
“That I have no idea how to drive a standard transmission vehicle. I mean, I can get you to the hospital if needed, but then I will call a tow truck because there will be nothing left of your transmission. Everyone laughs at this, as our family has been in the car business since 1935. People think they can teach me, until they try and realize that they cannot.”
What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
“My first job was at the Tarantula Train Station in the Stockyards in Fort Worth. I was a cashier in the Mercantile Shop. This job was my first experience in customer service and learning how to juggle a variety of different needs and requests that could come at you from all angles at a rapid pace. So, I quickly learned to prioritize and be able to read situations.”
If there was a movie produced about your life, who would you pick to play you?
“I do not know, but I hope she would have a witty and quick sense of humor. That is one trait that I so wish I had, but my twin brother, Will Churchill, got all of the quick wit and humor.”
How do you motivate others?
“I just try to be the best, truest version of myself. If I mess up, I admit it and try to learn from the mistake so it doesn’t happen again. If there’s one thing people can learn from me, it is that it is OK to make mistakes and to move on. Sometimes the best lessons come from our mistakes.”
What is your hobby or passion?
“My passion is travel, whether it is road tripping around Texas or planning some international adventure. I think that traveling gives me different perspectives and a better understanding of the world around me. One item on my bucket list is to go to Antarctica.”
