In 1996, two experienced real estate professionals, Bruce Walter Valentine and Michael Neil Hickey, came together to form a real estate firm that would cater to the local potential of the Tacoma area. They were both working at Trammell Crow Company and were impressed by the business model in place. They wanted to bring the same level of expertise and commitment to their local area, so they founded Neil Walter Company, a name derived from their middle names. Initially, Neil Walter Company started out as a small boutique real estate firm offering leasing, sales, property management, and development services to clients throughout the South Sound Region. Over time, the company has grown into a flourishing enterprise, with two offices in Tacoma and Seattle, respectively. Currently, the company manages approximately 3.5 million square feet of commercial real estate, mainly in the Tacoma area.