It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story? How did you get to where you are today?
Well, five years ago, I was sleeping on a couch and waking up every day looking for work. At the time, I couldn’t find employment due to unforeseen circumstances. I woke every day with a car payment I couldn’t afford, cancellation letters, repossession letters. Then I ended up losing my place of residence and spent a short time crashing at college dorms with friends, sleeping in my car, and I eventually had a friend take me in and offer me a place to sleep. Back in 2017, Sagamore Pendry Baltimore opened, and I was a bit lost in the world and had no faith that this company would hire me, and they hired me as a Doorman to help open their brand new hotel. I met Bill Clinton, Michele Obama, and many other influential people during my time there. Still, I ended up being offered a job as a personal assistant to the former First CEO of the U.S International Development Corporation, Adam S. Boehler, nominated by President Donald Trump. From there, things took off, and I aggressively attacked the private industry and went from Administrative Coordinator to Executive Assistant to Office Manager to Business Support Manager to DEI Business Partner in just 3 1/2 years. During those years, I learned a lot about scaling through acquisition, scaling through funding (Series A and Series B), and, most importantly, how to run a business.
I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?
Growing up, I dealt with being the odd kid in the group; bullying and harassment taught me so much about the world we live in but showcased a theme of having safe communities that people can afford. In 2016 when I was trying to make ends meet delivering pizzas for Dominos, I was robbed at gunpoint minimum wage, barely any tips, car wear, and tear, and then I’m sitting there with a barrel to my head over $20 in change and a pizza. In 2020, my mother passed away due to her second fight with cancer; she told me it was just a growth that needed to be removed, hidden from my family and me that it was cancer, she had the surgery, and then she passed away when she returned home from the hospital. My mother spent 7300 days saving up to buy her home, 10,950 days to pay off the house, and 365 days enjoying her paid-off home as much as it hurts to make that my story of “why” I couldn’t wrap my hands around that. I started Fillyaw, a realty company created to take a people-first approach to develop new construction homes that won’t take 18,000 days to own.
Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in, and why should someone work with you over the competition?
Fillyaw was founded with the idea that new construction homeownership should be affordable for everyone. That isn’t rocket science, but we’ve moved further and further from new construction home affordability year over year. The ability of average income earners to purchase New Construction homes in today’s economy is nearly impossible because the price is dictated mainly by land, cost of lumber, and pursuit of huge profits. In other words, most developers do not care that you are a single parent, young professional, recent college graduate, or any different situation that lands you into an “average income” bracket. They want money, so you either struggle to pay or you venture into a used home market dictated by dishonest home flippers. We use alternative housing materials to develop all of your essential living needs so that you can have a home that is reasonably priced, modern, and built with purpose.
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?
When I think about success, I think about the people who have put me in a position to be successful. I think back to Franklin James, who was probably the best hospitality professional in Baltimore who taught me the art of hospitality and professionalism. Unfortunately, he passed away last year from a heart attack. I think of Adam S. Boehler, who randomly offered me a job and allowed me to understand what it takes to dominate the industry as an influential and dominant leader. Lastly, I think about my current CEO, Kristen Valdes, Founder & CEO of b.well, who gave me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a rapidly growing team so early in my career.
If you want to be successful in life, you have to be willing and open to being influenced by other already successful people.
Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?
Success is Will Smith’s Pursuit of Happiness; you take life with all of the blood, sweat, and tears, and you go out there and fight life. Life gives you cancer, and you beat cancer. Life breaks your leg, and you run a marathon. Life takes your teeth, and you find a way to chew a nice juicy steak. Success is about never; in slang terms, “folding,” You have to take life and never stop.
What’s next for you?
I plan to continue leading Fillyaw through its next stage of growth. Fillyaw has already purchased 12 acres outside of Baltimore city, in the Bel Air area. On that land, my company will build a development with 16 single-family homes, a residential pool, fitness center, dog park, and residential loaner vehicles. We are closing off final bids from architecture firms and plan to have more details by Mid 2022.
Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more.
Via instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_fillyaw/
Via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesfillyaw/
Website: www.fillyaw.group
Email: jfillyaw@thefillyawgroup.com
Phone: 4103001324