Jay Lamy is one of AQUILA’s founding principals. To say he is a jack-of-all-trades or a Renaissance man would be an understatement. From the office to his home, his interest and expertise are vast and wide-ranging.
At AQUILA and across the industry, he is known for solving complex real estate problems. Jay is a leader on the tenant representation team, where he specializes in office transactions. He is also heavily involved in our commercial real estate investment services and development teams.
At home, he is simply known as “Dad.” He has three young children, Matthew, Camille, and Vivian with his wife of fourteen years, Kelley. Jay has a servant’s heart and is active both in the Austin philanthropic community as well as the Catholic Church, most specifically St. John Neumann, where he sings in the choir every Sunday.
An athlete through and through, Jay is a former member of the Rice Owl Football Team, where he played Free Safety and won numerous awards, most notably the Bloody Joe Davis which goes to “the player or players who most display the competitive spirit of the legendary Rice assistant coach, rising above pain and injury to be the best player possible.” Today he continues to live up to that title, as he keeps active through MMA and kickboxing.
I sat down for a Q&A with Jay to learn more about him. Read his answers below to get to know him a little better!
Let’s Start With the Basics:
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Austin mostly.
Q: Where did you go to college?
A: Rice University
Q: How long have you been in Austin?
A: From 1980-1991, then 1999 until today… so a long time. I lived in Houston, New York, and Boston briefly in between.
Q: What is it about Austin that has made you stay?
A: Austin has a warmer climate in the winter and an exceptional amount of parks, family activities, nightlife, good-looking people, and tacos. What more could you ask for?
Q: What is your favorite part about working for AQUILA?
A: That’s easy, the people.
Q: What makes AQUILA different?
A: Again – easy – the people.
The AQUILA employees celebrate Pete Lamy (center), Jay’s father, by dressing like him for his birthday.
Q: What would you say is your key differentiator? Why would I want to work with you?
A: Everyone at AQUILA is extremely good-looking – I am the best-looking.
Now For a Little Fun:
Q: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
A: I really enjoy spending time with my family, taking the kids out on the boat or to the trampoline park, getting sweaty in my MMA class and singing in the church choir.
Jay with his wife, Kelley, and three kids; Matthew (13), Camille (7) and Vivian (3).
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: I would really get a kick out of having an hour-long conversation where I respond only in movie quotes.
Q: If you won $50 million in the lottery, what would you do with it?
A: Easy. I’d give half to charity; specifically, I’d pay back any commission that I have made from working with nonprofits like Goodwill, NDVH, Any Baby Can, and many more. Then I’d buy a lake house and sports car for my wife. $10 million in Star Wars paraphernalia. As for the rest? Well, I would invest it in ATX Real Estate, of course.
Jay and Kelley Lamy at an event
Q: What is your go-to karaoke song?
A: It’s hard to pick just one. It is a toss-up between “You Can Do It” by Ice Cube and “Carried Away” by George Strait. I also love “Marvin Gaye” by Charlie Puth; the line “Let’s Marvin Gaye and get it on” motivates me to get out there and get to work every day.
Q: If you could live anywhere in the world and money didn’t matter, where would you live?
A: Monaco. It is a beautiful place.
Q: What’s something most people may not know about you?
A: I am a phenomenal dancer.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Austin?
A: Cover 3. I find myself there a lot. [Editor’s Note: He’s not kidding, you can catch him there for lunch at least 5 times a week!]
Q: What’s your favorite show to binge-watch?
A: It used to be Entourage, but these days, Peppa Pig seems to dominate the TV.
Fast Facts:
- Tacos or BBQ? BBQ
Jay admiring Austin’s best brisket at Franklin Barbecue
- Choir practice or boxing practice? Boxing
- Call or text? Text
- Moneyball or Good Will Hunting? Good Will Hunting
- Maudie’s or Matt’s El Rancho? Cover 3
- Rice Owls or Texas Longhorns? Rice Owls
Jay in 1996 playing for the Rice Owls football team.
- Early bird or night owl? Night owl
- Tesla sedan or SUV? Sedan
- Beach or mountain? Mountain
- Original Star Wars or new Star Wars? Original
Jay celebrating “May the Fourth” at the AQUILA offices
- Torchy’s or Tacodeli? Whoever hires us for their next real estate deal!
- South Congress or Domain? Domain (my wife and I like to go to iPic)
- Passenger or driver? Driver
- Queso or guacamole? Guacamole
- 6th Street or Rainey? Neither anymore
- Dine in or take out? Dine in
- Dogs or cats? Dogs
The Lamy Family has two dogs, Bella and Cookie.
- Tito’s or Deep Eddy? Deep Eddy
- Grilled or fried? Grilled
- Would you walk, run or bike the Hike and Bike Trail? Walk today
For more on Jay, check out his bio page on our website. Don’t forget to check back each month to see who we feature next!
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