How a fateful college in course in Economics changed the career course of Founder and CEO Jay Fox.

Jay grew up in the family business of mortgage banking, and even as a teenager he dreamt of building a national brand mortgage lending company.

While at George Mason University, like most students, he explored other subjects and majors including pre-med and psychology, eventually deciding upon a degree in Economics.

Economist James M. Buchanan, the winner of the 1986 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics, and his team of professors were gaining traction when Jay took a class on Public Choice theory during his Junior year. He was immediately fascinated by how the analysis of human verbal and behavioral patterns combined with financial analysis could be used to predict political races. He had no interest in politics. It was the study of what motivated people to act, positively or negatively, that captured he found so appealing. A seed was planted.

But upon graduation, Jay rolled back to the family business. Fox Mortgage Associates was thriving! Entrepreneurship, mortgage banking and playing sports were the full scope of his worldly focus. However, after a few years, it was evident that the mortgage banking business was not a true passion. His mind kept thinking back to his college years and the study of motivating people.

In 1993, Jay was unexpectedly introduced to an intriguing young woman, who happened to be wearing a white light-weight jacket with a Masters logo on it. Being a golf fanatic, he was instantly curious as to how she came to be wearing such a prized possession.

“Did you attend the tournament?”, he asked.

She said, “Yes, we just got back last week.”

Shocked and with a hint of disbelief, he asked, “How in the world did you get tickets to The Masters?”

“I’m in the ticket and hospitality business,” she replied.