2025 Superstars in Business Winner: JLAM | 10-49 Employees

Building a Higher Standard

JLAM's commitment to housing, community, and Delaware’s future

BY REGINA DONATO | PHOTOS BY NICK WALLACE PHOTOGRAPHY

Delaware's coastal communities are known for their charm and vitality, and for more than a decade, JLAM has played a central role in shaping them. Since 2011, JLAM has set a higher standard in real estate investment and development, delivering projects that marry economic impact with enduring value for families, businesses, and investors alike.

JLAM began when co-founders Nick Hammonds and Doug Motley saw the opportunity to combine their financial expertise (originating from their early careers at MBNA) with a deep passion for communityfocused development. Partnering with the Lingo family, among the most respected names in Delaware real estate, JLAM was built on a vision of integrity, discipline, and long-term community impact. “We launched JLAM with a simple goal: to create places where people want to be, while delivering lasting value for both communities and investors,” Hammonds recalls.

Choosing Rehoboth Beach as headquarters was intentional. At the time, few sophisticated investment firms operated in Sussex County, but they both believed the area’s scarcity of players could be turned into an advantage.

Over the last 14 years, JLAM has grown as a real estate investment and development firm, with projects across Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the Southeast, a region they’ve invested in for years and most recently opened an office in Charlotte, N.C. The firm’s portfolio spans coastal residential communities, multifamily developments, and commercial centers.

The impact is both economic and social — creating housing in growing areas, spurring job creation, and building infrastructure that supports long-term community health. “We believe real estate should do more than deliver returns — it should strengthen communities, create jobs, and drive meaningful change,” says Motley.

And that higher standard applies to every stakeholder. JLAM measures its success across three pillars: its people, its residents, and its investors. For JLAM team members, the company has built a workplace designed to attract and retain top talent, offering a culture of professional growth, purpose, and long-term incentives. “Talent attraction and retention are about purpose. Just as we build places where people want to live, we’ve built a workplace where high-performing professionals can grow,” explains Hammonds. This approach has paid off: in 2024, JLAM expanded its team by 57% while achieving zero employee attrition, an uncommon feat in today’s competitive talent market.

For residents and tenants, the company delivers thoughtfully designed projects. From wooded trails and resort-style pools to custom architectural guidelines, JLAM communities prioritize character and livability. Strong satisfaction and occupancy rates prove the strategy is working, with the firm’s multifamily properties maintaining strong occupancy rates well above 90%, matched by equally high resident satisfaction scores.

That same attention extends to addressing some of Delaware’s most pressing housing needs. In Dover, JLAM’s Windward Ridge development will bring 300 new apartments to a city projected to need more than 1,000 additional rental homes by 2030. In Lewes, Lightkeeper’s Village will introduce 102 year-round rental cottages in a market where long-term rental options are scarce.

For investors, the philosophy is the same: build lasting partnerships grounded in care and trust. Motley puts it simply: “We know investor trust is earned.” By emphasizing transparency, communication, and personal relationships, JLAM ensures its partners feel connected not just to the projects, but to the positive impact those properties have on communities.

JLAM is also deeply engaged in the communities where it builds, contributing both time and financial support. Its team leads neighborhood cleanups, sponsors local events, and backs organizations like the Children’s Beach House and Cape Henlopen Soccer boosters. The company is also the longstanding presenting sponsor of The Irish Eyes Open golf tournament, which has raised over $2 million for the Rehoboth Beach Boys & Girls Club. “We don’t simply build in areas with rising demand, we want to actively shape the future of the communities we believe in,” says Hammonds. This commitment also extends to leadership service, with both Motley and Hammonds actively serving on multiple boards and committees in the community.

With a foundation of integrity, discipline, and trust, JLAM has proven that business success and community impact can go hand in hand. That principle guides every project, bringing housing to communities that need it and creating neighborhoods where people want to live, work, and play. As Motley reflects, “When our projects succeed, it’s not just JLAM that wins — it’s the families that find homes, the local businesses that thrive, and the communities that grow stronger — all bringing positive impact to the state we proudly call home.”