William Petz of Las Vegas on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with William Petz and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning William, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
To me, to relate this question to a car: intelligence is the engine and energy is the fuel, but integrity is the steering wheel. Intelligence is simply the capacity to solve—whether that’s a technical puzzle or navigating the nuances of human emotion when dealing with a wide range of personalities. Energy is the drive that prevents stagnation; it’s the ‘get up and go’ required to succeed, especially when you have to wake up 5 days a week to do the same thing. But integrity? That is rare in people. It’s the courage to be honest when it’s uncomfortable or self-incriminating. I want to be friends, co-workers, and my employee who raises their hand and says, ‘I F’d up.’ You can sharpen a mind and motivate a person, but integrity is a core quality that a person must choose themselves; it’s the only thing I can’t teach them.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Most people see ADHD and dyslexia as disabilities; I see them as the foundation of my success. Growing up, I had to work twice as hard just to keep the letters on the page straight. By high school, I was the kid with the hyper-detailed planner and every minute of the day accounted for—not because I was a perfectionist, but because I had to be. I was overcompensating for a short-term memory that felt like a sieve. But thirty years later, that ‘overcompensation’ has become my greatest edge as a CEO. My ability to organize complex systems and manage a dozen moving parts at once without stressing isn’t a gift; it’s a muscle I’ve been training since childhood.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Who saw me clearly before I could see myself? As always, Mom was a step ahead. Her tagline for my life was deceptively simple: ‘Do what makes you happy.’ Whether I was debating a career as a cop or an architect, or deciding where to move, she never offered a ‘yes,’ a ‘no,’ or even a subtle nudge toward her own preferences. At the time, I was looking for a map; in reality, she was giving me the compass. She saw a version of me that I hadn’t met yet—someone disciplined enough to save, wise enough to trade toxic circles for true friends, and driven enough to build a life from scratch. She didn’t guide my hands because she knew they were already steady. She didn’t just love me; she trusted me.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could reach back and speak to my younger self, I’d offer five words: Trust your instincts, take the risk. I grew up at the intersection of two very different philosophies. My mother gave me the freedom to find my own happiness, while my father urged the security of a steady trade or a badge. Caught between those worlds, I spent years in the high-rise towers of corporate finance while an entrepreneurial spirit was quietly rattling the cage. I don’t regret the path that made me who I am today, but I often wonder about the ‘what if.’ If I had traded the safety of a corporate paycheck for the thrill of my own venture just a few years sooner, where would I have been today?

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My philosophy on happiness is simple: material items and money have no value in isolation. These items provide zero ROI unless they are shared with family and friends. Life is too short for a solo journey. I believe that happiness is a collaborative effort—you need others to laugh with, to grow with, and to keep you grounded. My drive for success is fueled by the desire to support the health and happiness of my inner circle. To me, the greatest luxury isn’t what I own, but the ability to look around a room and see the people I love enjoying life alongside me,

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing? 
In leadership, there is a somber reality I have to face: sometimes, the one must be sacrificed so the rest can thrive. As the CEO of Quiet Events, I view myself as a steward of my employees’ livelihoods and their families’ futures. Because I believe in finding the good in everyone, I often give people more chances than most would deem practical. I lead with the benefit of the doubt. But when it becomes clear that a ‘bad apple’ is beginning to poison the collective spirit, I have to act. I sleep well at night not because letting people go is easy, but because I know I gave them every opportunity to succeed—and because my ultimate loyalty lies with the 99% who are doing the right thing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://quietevents.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/quietevents
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wpetz/