Meet Jeff

For over 17 years Jeff Ward’s signature professionalism, experience and market understanding, coupled with dedication to his clients’ success, has made him one of the top-producing real estate agents in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Prior to becoming a limited partner at Jackson Hole Real Estate Associates, now Compass Jackson Hole, Ward and his wife Kelli, cofounded Teton Village Realty, which expanded to become one of the Mountain West’s fastest-growing independent real estate firms. The company grew to the third largest market share in Jackson Hole, before it was purchased by a leading national conglomerate.

Ward was named the Teton Board of Realtors®’ Realtor® of the Year in 2018. Since joining Compass, Jeff and Kelli have a combined $135 million sales volume in 2020 and 2021, ranking amongst the top brokers in Jackson Hole and the State of Wyoming.

A native of California, Ward relocated to Jackson Hole after graduating from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. The move came after many stays to the area, where his family’s roots run deep. In the 1940s, his grandparents managed the Rockefeller family’s Jenny Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park. 

Ward’s career began in the hospitality industry, where he ascended to senior management positions with one of Jackson Hole’s premier resorts. That experience naturally segued into real estate, where Ward continued to broaden his expertise and skills set.  

 “Real estate, to me, is entirely about relationships,” Ward explains. “Whether a client is looking for their first home or a heritage investment property, buying or selling—it begins with understanding their wants, needs and interests, and coupling that with the most comprehensive market data available to create the optimal outcome.” 

 Ward is well-versed in nearly every facet of real estate, including construction, property enhancement and commercial development. Ward, whose team pre-sold and sold through two of the largest condo-hotels developments at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and has helped numerous high net-worth and ultra-high net-worth clients, is intimately familiar with financial strategies and tax benefits.

 An avid chef, outdoorsman and certified sommelier, Ward is actively involved in his community. As chairman of the Jackson Hole Rotary Club’s Scholarship Committee, Ward oversees the fundraising and allocation of more than $1 million of local academic scholarships between 2009 and 2021. He currently serves as Vice President on the Rotary Foundation’s Board of Directors.

 Jeff and his wife, Kelli, live in Jackson Hole with their two children and two rescue dogs. As a family, they travel extensively, including Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, North Africa, Mexico and throughout Europe. Jeff and Kelli, a native of Georgia, met in Jackson Hole in 1999. Ward’s wife Kelli works side by side in both life and real estate.