Bio
Jamie Weinbaum is President & CEO of Horning, overseeing operations, development, and strategic planning. Previously Executive VP at MidCity (4M sf pipeline), COO at Ditto Residential, development executive at JBG Smith, Director of DC Office of Zoning, and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. Former ULI Washington chair. JD from GW Law, BA from Wake Forest.
Key Discussion Points
Career Pivot from Law [00:00-13:17]
- Childhood passion for built environment - sketching houses, playing with Legos
- 2006 revelation with wife: "what you do 9am-7pm doesn't really do it for me"
- Marrying passions with profession leads to happier life and more successful career
- Started Atlanta home renovations as side hustle while practicing law
Real Estate Entry via AJ Jackson [13:17-25:42]
- AJ Jackson instrumental in first development job at EYA in 2007
- Developer as "conductor of the orchestra" - coordinating subject matter experts
- Ownership side vs. consultant preference: "you're part of the story for years"
- 2008 downturn layoff after 9 months confirmed industry passion
DC Government Leadership [25:42-37:33]
- Became Director of Office of Zoning under Mayor Fenty administration
- Crash course in leadership: humility, listening, bringing people along
- Technology focus: converting paper zoning maps to online GIS resources
- "Level the playing field" philosophy for residents
JBG Development Experience [37:33-51:30]
- 2011-2014: Twin Brook metro projects, Fort Totten Square (Walmart mixed-use)
- Risk mitigation and preserving optionality as core JBG principles
- Investment committee meetings: "nobody held back" - heated debates
- Real estate development requires communication, analytics, design
Family Business Philosophy [51:30-1:05:15]
- Hired business coach specializing in family companies at MidCity
- Role as fiduciary working on behalf of family to accomplish their aims
- Alignment between personal values and family mission critically important
- Multi-generational companies face unique succession challenges
Horning Strategy & Amazon Partnership [1:05:15-1:20:45]
- "Mission-driven for profit" organization focused on affordable housing
Chapters
- (00:00:00) - iJCRE Community Transition to Station DC
- (00:05:04) - Meet Jamie Weinbaum, President and CEO of Horning Brothers
- (00:08:41) - ULI Washington's 'Local Voices' podcast
- (00:10:06) - Horning Brothers President and CEO Explains
- (00:12:14) - Jamie Oliver on Starting Out
- (00:13:11) - George Washington Law Student on His Path
- (00:17:51) - The Day the Plane Hit the Pentagon
- (00:20:12) - Law School Graduates Turn to Real Estate
- (00:21:42) - Turning Down the Career Path
- (00:25:59) - Real Estate Development and the Need for Ownership
- (00:28:16) - Real Estate Development Leaders: The Multidisciplinary Approach
- (00:34:01) - How I Pivot: From Law to Real Estate
- (00:35:36) - In the Elevator With Bob Young
- (00:36:38) - Former DC zoning commissioner on the public sector
- (00:42:27) - Post-White House, what lessons did you learn?
- (00:47:57) - In the Elevator With Tony Hirsch
- (00:48:47) - JBG on North Bethesda and the Walmart project
- (00:52:53) - JBG Cos.'s Ben Jacobs on His Experience
- (00:56:16) - JBG Capital's Executive Committee
- (01:00:51) - Real Estate's Low-Risk
- (01:01:47) - Exploring the Multifamily Market at JBG
- (01:05:58) - In the Elevator: Mid City Real Estate
- (01:12:10) - Philip Feist on the DC real estate process
- (01:18:44) - Building a New Multi-Family Building in DC
- (01:24:41) - Have You Met the Horning Family?
- (01:26:58) - Hiring a Coaching Coach
- (01:28:32) - Under the Horning Brothers: Bringing the Future to Horning
- (01:31:31) - Horning Real Estate Group's diversified development portfolio
- (01:36:23) - Top DC Office Developers on the Conversion
- (01:39:29) - Horning Brothers CEO Explains His Vision
- (01:42:17) - Affordable Housing for Amazon's Hyattsville Property
- (01:43:42) - Amazon's Mezzanine Funding
- (01:45:51) - JBG alum on Amazon's deal
- (01:46:58) - Exclusive: We're Considering a Multifamily Deal
- (01:48:36) - Leo Capital on Amazon's Housing Equity Fund
- (01:50:39) - Would You Submit RFPs for Public-Private Projects?
- (01:54:03) - D.C. Mayor on the Need for Development
- (02:00:41) - Northern Virginia perspectives on growth in Montgomery County
- (02:02:51) - Horning Companies' Commitment to Communities
- (02:05:53) - President Trump suggests militarizing DC police force
- (02:09:35) - Jamie Oliver on Living a Life in Balance
