Wetzel Marks 30 Years in the Upstate
The Wetzel team (left to right): Jacki Fissette (Realtor and Broker-In-Charge); Lish Simpson (Language Manager); Valerie Wetzel (President); Paul Wetzel (Director of Business Development); Sonja Neufeld (Realtor and Relocation Specialist); Aeimee Stinson (Language Support Specialist).
Wetzel Services is celebrating our 30th anniversary this year. Since its founding on September 10, 1996, the company has relocated more than 1,500 long-term associates and their families, partnered with global Tier-1 manufacturers, and grown its teaching roster to more than 35 professionals — the largest in company history.
Founder Paul Wetzel, M.Ed., launched the business from his home after recognizing a gap in support for international employees and their families arriving in the Upstate. His early volunteer work with the Greenville Literacy Association led to a contract providing English instruction for spouses of international manufacturing employees. By 1998, the company had secured its first major automotive language training contract, and by 2001 had expanded into international relocation services at the request of corporate clients whose families needed more comprehensive support. Wetzel Realty followed in 2004.
"I remember getting a call from an international spouse whose garage door had malfunctioned. I happened to be nearby, so I went over, fixed it, and showed her what to do if it happened again," said Paul Wetzel, co-owner and founder. "That's what this company has always been -- showing up for families in a new country and helping them feel at home."
Today, Wetzel Services works with a major German automotive manufacturer in the Greenville-Spartanburg area, several of its international suppliers, and companies in Augusta, GA, delivering on-site instruction in English, German, and Spanish. The company's signature program, Türöffner (German for "door opener"), is a 10-part German language curriculum spanning two and a half years, designed to prepare participants for the internationally recognized Goethe B1 certification. An estimated 125 teachers have worked with Wetzel over three decades, and the company holds a Better Business Bureau A+ rating.
In 2002, Valerie Wetzel joined the company, bringing more than 14 years of experience in industrial management and human resources. As President, she now oversees daily operations while Paul focuses on long-term growth strategy and the firm's expanding real estate practice. The company opened operations in Augusta, Georgia, in 2024 — its first expansion beyond the Upstate.
"We've built something our family and our team are proud of — a company where our employees enjoy their work, and clients trust us to take care of the things that matter most during a major life transition," said Valerie Wetzel, President. "We're looking forward to growing our language training business into new industries beyond automotive. That's the next chapter."
Wetzel Services will host a 30th anniversary gathering in September for clients, former employees, and teachers. The team will also complete 30 hours of community service throughout 2026.
