James P. McNamara, Commissioner

James P. McNamara serves as the Managing Principal of Exchange Equity, investors in office, retail, industrial, medical and specialty properties into partnership and tenant in common structures.

Prior to forming Exchange Equity, Mr. McNamara served as the president of McNamara Associates, Inc. a real estate consulting firm based in New Orleans with offices in Atlanta, GA, Birmingham, AL and Dallas, TX where he was responsible for the operation of the company but also some of the most innovative projects in the repositioning of distressed real estate in office, retail, medical, residential and land sectors valuing more than $40 Billion. Mr. McNamara wrote the Taxation Section of the Financial Institution Reform and Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) which was signed into law by President George HW Bush. Mr. McNamara has more than 30 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. He was instrumental in establishing long-range goals, strategies, plans and policies to ensure the company's success. During his tenure, has provided strong leadership which has taken the company from a small regional firm to a multi-disciplinary organization providing services to government and industry throughout the country. His vision for the company resulted in tremendous growth for the firm and substantial revenue increases for the past several years. Mr. McNamara has worked on property design, development, construction, leasing and managing properties, acting as Managing Partner in numerous equity partnerships.

Mr. McNamara is a vital member of his community and is active in numerous professional organizations throughout the country. He applies his leadership skills to guide the organizations he is involved with in positive and insightful ways. He is presently the Secretary of the New Orleans BioInnovation Center (NOBIC) Board, a Member of the Greater New Orleans Biosciences Economic Development District and is a Commissioner of the Downtown Development District of New Orleans, past Member of the Orleans Democratic Committee and past president of the Winner’s Circle, a therapeutic riding program for handicap children. He has also served his community in many ways including six years as a board member for Mineral Board of the State of Louisiana, a member of the International Association of Assessing Officers, the Institute of Property Taxation, the Urban Land Institute, IAAO Ad Hoc Commission of Property Assessment and Taxation, and the New Orleans Regional Medical Complex (NORMC).

Mr. McNamara has been frequently quoted in the news in publications like: New Orleans Times Picayune, CityBusiness New Orleans, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Miami Herald, National Real Estate Investor, Southeast Real Estate News, Real Estate Forum, Jacksonville Times and the Journal of Property Tax Management.

He has made several national media appearances on World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, Good Morning America and CNN.