Today we’d like to introduce you to Tricetan Wesley.
Hi Tricetan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I originally joined the Army for college benefits, signing up at the age of 17 — I thought it would be a short stop on the way to my next chapter. But then 9/11 happened while I was in basic training, and everything shifted. Overnight, the mission changed for the nation and for me personally. At 19 years old, I found myself deploying in January 2002, still brand-new to the military, and that experience shaped me in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
Not long after, I transitioned back to civilian life, but not by choice. I was released from the Army and spent a few years selling everything from insurance to Kirby vacuums door-to-door. It wasn’t glamorous, but it taught me grit, persistence, and how to connect with people from all walks of life. In 2004, I got a second chance when I joined the Texas Army National Guard, which eventually led me back onto active duty. I deployed again, this time to Iraq, and then re-entered the Army full-time in 2007.
This time, I made the most of the opportunity. I became an Air Traffic Controller, rose through the ranks quickly, and took on leadership assignments all over the world. Resilience, attention to detail, and a pursuit of excellence fueled me — and within five years I’d gone from the junior ranks to the senior enlisted level. Along the way, I also invested in leadership development training with the John Maxwell Team, and learning how to mentor and guide others.
What the Army and air traffic control gave me was more than technical skills. They taught me how to communicate with clarity, lead with confidence, and guide people safely through uncertain situations. Those same lessons are what I carry into my work today as a mortgage loan officer. My mission now is different, but the heart of it is the same: helping people reach their destination with confidence and peace of mind.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. In fact, some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned came from the moments that felt like complete detours. Early in my Army career, I was discharged and found myself on the outside looking in (I was a knucklehead and deserved it), trying to figure out what was next. I went from the structure and purpose of the military to selling insurance and vacuums door-to-door. Not to mention, the nation was at war! A war I had already been a part of at now 20 years old! Plus, as a young husband, I was becoming a young father with a lack of understanding of the world, let alone fatherhood. Those years were tough — financially, mentally, and (especially) emotionally — but they forced me to develop resilience and a work ethic that has carried me ever since.
Even when I made it back into the military and eventually into air traffic control, the road wasn’t easy. Deployments, long hours, and the pressure of operating in combat zones tested me constantly. But those challenges also shaped me — they sharpened my attention to detail, taught me how to stay calm under pressure, and reminded me that growth usually happens in the middle of discomfort.
Later, stepping into civilian life again brought another wave of challenges. Transitioning careers is never simple. I had to reinvent myself, build new skills, and prove myself all over again. At times, it felt like starting from scratch — but each setback gave me another layer of grit and another reminder that failure is often the setup for the next opportunity.
Looking back, the road wasn’t smooth, but I wouldn’t change it. The struggles gave me perspective, humility, and the ability to connect with people on a deeper level — especially clients who are navigating their own challenges on the path to homeownership.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’m a Mortgage Broker here in Texas, and what that really means is I have access to many different lenders and loan programs — not just one set of options. I specialize in working with veterans and VA lending, which is close to my heart as a veteran myself. But I also offer FHA, Conventional, USDA, Non-QM, and a wide variety of programs for first-time buyers, investors, and families who don’t fit the “traditional” box.
What sets me apart is the way I bring my military and aviation background into lending. As an Air Traffic Controller, I learned to communicate with clarity, earn trust under pressure, and guide people safely to their destination. That’s exactly what I do now — only instead of aircraft, I’m guiding families through the homeownership journey.
Brand-wise, I’m proud that people see me as both a broker and a coach. I want clients to walk away not just with a loan but with a deeper understanding of the process, the confidence to move forward, and the sense that someone truly had their back the whole way.
If there’s one thing I’d want readers to know, it’s this: whether you’re a veteran navigating VA benefits, a first-time buyer unsure of where to start, or an investor building a portfolio, my role as a broker is to give you options, clarity, and peace of mind. Every loan isn’t just numbers on paper — it’s someone’s dream, and I treat it that way.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
If I had to choose one quality that’s been most important to my success, it would be resilience. My own path has been full of setbacks and restarts, and learning how to adapt, push forward, and grow from challenges has shaped who I am today. In fact, while I was in the Army, I had the privilege of training Soldiers in resilience — showing them how to reframe adversity, stay mission-focused, and find strength in difficult circumstances. That experience didn’t just help them; it deepened my own ability to lead and overcome.
The other key trait I’d highlight is communication. My years as an Air Traffic Controller taught me that clear, calm communication can literally mean the difference between chaos and safety. Now, in mortgage lending, I use that same skill to guide clients through a process that often feels overwhelming.
At the core of both resilience and communication is service — and that’s the thread that runs through everything I do. Whether it was training Soldiers in uniform or guiding families today, my mission has always been to serve and to leave people more confident and prepared than when I met them.
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