Our Story
About Us
About Us
Core Values Built on Decades of Friendship
40+ years of Trust, Hard Work, Resiliency, and Friendship
Jay Crotty and Ryan Clark, Co-Founders of SkyView Advisors, have a once-in-a-lifetime bond that serves as the foundation for one of the most dynamic commercial real estate businesses in the world. In a constantly evolving industry which has been lucrative, yet unforgiving, Ryan and Jay have developed a digital-first business model that is a step ahead of traditional firms in the industry.
At the core of their forward-thinking leadership approach is a fierce instinct to be different, to separate their own operation from a standardized brokerage model that has never changed. Their journeys and successes, along with their commitment to create a better business culture, are a direct result of a supportive friendship spanning across four decades.
The Beginning
The Early Years
Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Jay Crotty and Ryan Clark grew up in a tight-knit system full of supportive family and friends. The two Co-Founders have known each other since they were three months old. Throughout their childhood homes, there are nostalgic photos of them both, dating back to when they were infants.
Jay and Ryan developed a unique bond through simple childhood activities such as playing soccer, backyard football, and other timeless outdoor games that helped shape their interests and similarities. The foundation of their work ethic and values stem from a Midwest culture that embraces community. They grew up in a setting where socio-economic status was an afterthought.
“Growing up in the environment we did, nobody cared about how much money you made, what your background was, it didn’t matter. It’s fun to reflect on that, it was a simpler time. Even now, Ryan and I really try to gauge that mindset when things become busy in our day-to-day,” said Crotty.
The Early Years
The Early Years
Jay and Ryan went to separate schools growing up, but the bond between their families and local neighbors kept their relationship very strong throughout the years. Throughout grade school and high school, Ryan and Jay valued their friendship and never fell out of touch, despite being in different settings throughout their academic careers.
This mentality carries over to today, allowing them to operate one of the industry’s most successful remote businesses from anywhere in the country. Ryan is currently filling the role of Chief Revenue Officer, while Jay is operating as the CEO. They are over 1,000 miles apart from one another, while rapidly scaling the nation’s first, fully-digital commercial real estate giant.
“Our parents set the example for what true friendship is, our families are still very close today. It would’ve been very easy for Jay and me to drift apart if we didn’t have that influence, so we are very fortunate” Clark said.
Ryan and Jay were extremely active in their teenage years. They played together on soccer teams in their childhood years, and even played high school football against each other two years in a row. “I got him junior year, and he got me senior year. Our competitiveness was always something that kept us excited and motivated,” said Crotty. While their day-to-day may have taken place in different environments, Ryan and Jay continuously found ways to stay connected, whether it be through competitive activities and team sports, or simply unwinding with the close group of neighbors and family members that made a point to stay connected throughout the decades.
The trajectory of their futures continued to follow the path in which they grew up as kids; Ryan and Jay went to separate colleges and had individual experiences, but always found time to come back together, whether it was for a quick backyard summer gathering or a vacation across the country. Their ability to live totally separate lives and still maintain such a close level of friendship is extremely rare today. Jay and Ryan have channeled the unique strength of their relationship to build SkyView Advisors into the powerhouse it is today.
Post-College
Two Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Jay’s Journey
Jay and Ryan continued down separate professional paths immediately after college. Jay went right into brokerage after graduating, “my father and grandfather were both full-commission salespeople, and I knew it was a path I wanted to follow” explained Crotty, “he helped me purchase 2 or 3 business suits to get me started, and I was borrowing $1,500 a month to live off.” After starting as one of the first advisors in the Cleveland office of Marcus & Millichap, Jay began a new journey in 2003, moving from the Midwest to Florida to build on a promising sales career in the thriving growth market of Tampa.
Coming into a new market, he had to establish himself, and it came with challenges, but Jay was able to channel his hunger for success to break through in a new region. “Starting over in a new market was obviously challenging, I had to lock in and focus. Once my checking account started getting really low, I got nervous. That’s when I buckled down, made myself known within the region, and started to bring in serious business”, explained Crotty.
“As years went by, I became very successful, but I was getting tired of the traditional brokerage process and a flawed system, so my partner and I decided to go off on our own. However, our timing wasn’t so great because we left in 2007, right before the market crashed in 2008.”
Jay's Journey
Jay's Journey
He eventually split up with his partner at time due to the market crash and started working on his own, and this was an incredibly humbling time for Jay, as it certainly was for so many others in the industry.
Jay eventually stepped away from commercial real estate and shifted to a new business venture. He bought into an electronic component and aerospace hardware distribution business. This is where Jay’s skillset as a CEO and business owner began to develop, and he had no choice but to adapt very quickly.
“When I bought the company, I quickly got my real-life Harvard MBA. I became the controlling shareholder in the business, and I knew nothing about it or the market. I did my due diligence, but I was totally overwhelmed and had to learn fast.”
However, this was a critical time that forced Jay to look at the big picture, and he was able to shift his mindset to a process-oriented outlook. Instead of focusing on the fine details of the electronic component business, he realized that focusing on higher-level initiatives could drive the business forward, despite being completely new to the industry.
“I quickly reenergized my focus on learning to grow a company, and I stopped worrying as much about the business itself.” It was a total mindset shift, Jay began focusing on high-level operation fundamentals, while eradicating the traditional salesmen mindset completely.
It was a powerful breakthrough, and because of this, his business eventually ended up on the 2012 Fast 50 List as one of the top 3 fastest growing companies in the Tampa Bay Area. “It was at that time that I knew I wanted to grow a business I was passionate about, but I wasn’t passionate about that industry. I needed to get back into commercial real estate. I knew it was in my blood.” Jay ended up selling the business. It was the right time, and he knew that he had gained invaluable knowledge, and it was time to get back into the industry he was passionate about.
With a completely new outlook and a hunger for change, Jay didn’t just get back into commercial real estate, he created a total disruptor that is still taking the industry by storm today, and he certainly didn’t do it alone.
Post College
Two Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Ryan’s Journey
“Whose been on the phone with Tampa for an hour and fifteen minutes?! An hour and fifteen minutes?!?” said Ryan Clark’s boss on a casual weekday afternoon. Ryan had frequently been talking to Jay about business ideas they were truly passionate about, and it was essentially a foreshadowing of what was to come.
He was practicing law when Jay was selling his business and looking to jump back into commercial real estate, and it ended up being the perfect time for both Ryan and Jay to evaluate their futures after the recession. “Honestly, I’m not good at being told what to do. It’s the reason I’ve always been intrigued by entrepreneurship”, said Clark.
Ryan spent time in Washington state after college, working for a national park and enjoying backcountry activities, and truly engaging in some of his passions. There was certainly a point in his early twenties where he believed he would never leave.
“When I left the Pacific Northwest and came back home, I questioned whether or not that was really the correct decision” he explained. “Ultimately it was the right call, but at the moment I truly wasn’t sure.”
Ryan's Journey
Ryan's Journey
There was a period after this experience where Ryan reflected on what he wanted to pursue in his career. “Just as Jay wished he had gone back into real estate earlier, I subsequently wished I had a clearer vision on my future, and if I could go back, I probably would’ve been more honest with myself.” Facing a challenge that many individuals tackle in their twenties, Ryan felt pressure to get on a traditional path. He went to law school, did extremely well and joined a small law firm after passing the bar exam. Ultimately, Ryan had trouble finding purpose in his role as a lawyer. He was in a comfortable position, but financial upside was still limited in many ways. More importantly, the day-to-day of representing insurance companies in litigation simply did not align with Ryan’s core values.
His entrepreneurial spirit was evident at this same time, however. He invested in a restaurant in Ohio, under a prominent hospitality group. Shortly after he had put his life savings into this venture, the 2008 market crash hit, and the business subsequently went down with the economy.
“It blew up after the market crash, I put all my life savings into it, and then it was gone. But just as Jay’s real-life Harvard MBA came in the electronic components business, mine came in the restaurant business.”
After going through this experience, while simultaneously working at his law firm, Ryan continued to internally evaluate his future path.
Like Jay, Ryan found himself in a position to take a chance on a new business after the 2008 recession, “it was truly a time where no one had anything to lose, the economy had already crashed, and it was at that point I got involved in an educational software start-up business. It was a great experience, but it wasn’t a long-term venture. At the time, it was very difficult to become profitable in that arena.
But the lessons I learned from that entrepreneurial experience are invaluable to me.” As Ryan and Jay started to reconnect more often after the recession, the stars began to align as they knew there was potential to create something special.
Full Circle
A New Era of Business Partnership
Jay and Ryan were both at breaking points in their respective career paths. Jay was not passionate about the electronic components business, while Ryan simply wasn’t satisfied with the environment he was in as a practicing attorney.
During times of trials and tribulations, there is often a silver lining, or foreshadowing for better days to come. The following years after the 2008 recession allowed Ryan and Jay to reconnect much more often as the economy came to a screeching halt. They began spending a lot of time talking about business and entrepreneurship. It shaped the foundation of their vision, and it was a breakthrough period for the dynamic duo. While they discussed several avenues to begin a successful working relationship, this initial time allowed Jay and Ryan to form a true vision for a joint venture, which has led them to the success they enjoy today.
It was on a ski trip in Utah that Jay really started pushing the commercial real estate industry, it was his passion and Ryan could see how excited Jay was to get back into the sector.
“I would talk to Ryan about all these brokers at traditional firms that were starting to make large, six-figure incomes. Many of them were taking home $500,000-$700,000 per year. Ryan didn’t even believe me at first. However, at the end of the day, we knew that a well-structured business could succeed financially and provide clients with a new level of service and expertise.”
Full Circle
Full Circle
As Jay was in a nomadic stage and getting back into the industry, he brought Ryan into the fold, and he quickly began to pick up the core fundamentals of the business. “Honestly, I wasn’t surprised, but I was still in awe. He was learning the business rapidly; I knew we had to take this thing to the next level” stated Crotty. Once Ryan started mastering the business and exceeding expectations, Jay and Ryan knew it was time to scale the business. But it wasn’t just about scaling beyond themselves, it was about creating a business model and a better culture that is distinctly unique compared to the traditional brokerage process, a process which has never evolved.
“As a founder, the perspective that Ryan brought to the table was something that I lacked at times, and that was preparedness” explained Crotty. “Where Ryan came from, you always had to be prepared, otherwise you would get booted out of the courtroom. Preparedness is something that is lacking throughout commercial real estate, and Ryan made sure that would not be the case with SkyView Advisors.”
Additionally, Ryan and Jay spent countless hours examining the flaws in the system. Jay always shed light on the shortcomings of the traditional firms in the industry, and Ryan quickly aligned with him. They weren’t just going to scale their business; they were ready to run the other way entirely. They’ve committed to creating processes for every aspect of their business with surgical-like precision, and they’ve focused on prioritizing technology on a fully digital platform.
Aside from the processes and differentiators that would eventually become huge factors of the business, Ryan and Jay embarked on this journey to create change. Through a new business model, focused on efficiency and innovation, Ryan and Jay have subsequently created an environment that is more impactful for their employees and their clients, “the impact that we have on the world, albeit small, has helped us efficiently change the lives of commercial real estate owners across the country, and this is something we are really proud of”, explained Clark.
Today, SkyView Advisors is cultivating a business centered around technology and talent development. Jay and Ryan have based the company’s fundamentals on a proprietary system centered around technology utilized by some of the most successful Fortune 500 companies on the planet, while simultaneously breaking the traditional mold and developing an expert staff with the most diverse professional background in commercial real estate.
They have channeled their own core values instilled in them since birth to create an avenue for change. Their passion for innovation has not only changed the way business is executed, but it has also changed the lives of their employees and clients across the country.
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In connection with a potential business transaction concerning Our Story (the “Transaction”), JDS Real Estate Services, Inc (“Discloser”) may disclose to [COMPANY] (“Recipient”) certain confidential and proprietary information (“Confidential Information”). Confidential Information shall specifically include the fact that the Transaction is being considered. To protect the Confidential Information, the parties hereto mutually agree as follows:
1. Confidential Information may be marked, orally identified as confidential (and subsequently confirmed in writing) or exchanged under circumstances in which it is reasonable to presume it is confidential. Information shall not be deemed Confidential Information if it is: (a) already known to the receiving party, free of restriction when disclosed; (b) is or becomes publicly available through no wrongful act or breach of this Agreement; (c) rightfully received from a third party reasonably known to be without restriction; (d) independently developed without use of or reference to Confidential Information; (e) required to be disclosed by applicable law, regulation, or order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or (f) necessary in the defense of any claim or litigation arising hereunder.
2.Recipient agrees: (a) to regard and preserve as strictly confidential and proprietary, all Confidential Information obtained from Discloser in connection with the Transaction; (b) not, without the prior written consent of Discloser, to disclose the Confidential Information to any person, firm or enterprise, or use the Confidential Information in any manner unrelated to the Transaction; (c) to limit disclosure to their own employees or independent contractors on a “need to know” basis; and (d) upon request, to promptly return or destroy all Confidential Information under their control or in their possession provided, however, Recipient may retain one (1) copy of any Confidential Information, including summaries, compilations or analyses thereof to the extent: (i) required by applicable law or regulation; (ii) required by Recipient’s internal document retention and governance policies; or (iii) would be unreasonably burdensome to destroy (such as any part of the Confidential Information contained in an archived computer system backup). Any Confidential Information retained pursuant to subsections (i), (ii) or (iii) shall continue to be treated as Confidential Information subject to the restrictions set forth in this Agreement, notwithstanding any termination or expiration thereof. The parties hereof agree that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of this Agreement, and that Discloser shall be entitled to seek equitable relief as a remedy in addition to all other remedies available at law or in equity. Under no event shall Recipient be liable to Discloser for punitive or consequential damages or lost profits.
3. The Parties agree that references to Recipient shall be meant to apply to only those individuals who are engaged in the Transaction and no other employees, sales associates or officers of Recipient and/or its affiliates
4. This Agreement (a) contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, (b) may not be changed or modified orally but only by written instrument signed by the parties hereto; (c) is non-assignable and shall expire no sooner than one (1) year from the date of the last disclosure of Confidential Information hereunder; (d) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida; and (e) may not be strictly construed against either party, each party agreeing that it has participated fully and equally in the preparation of this Agreement.
5. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute a fully executed agreement, with the same effect and validity as a single, original agreement signed by all of the parties. Facsimile signatures shall have the same validity and effect as original signatures. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute a single, fully executed Agreement, as though all of the parties signed the same Agreement
The following information from your profile will be used in the agreement:
THIS NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), made as of this 11th day of December, 2024 (the “Effective Date”) [COMPANY], a [COMPANY TYPE], and its affiliates, (“Recipient”), with an address of [ADDRESS], for the benefit of Skyview Advisors LLC (“Discloser”), with an address of 100 N Ashley Dr, Suite 600 | Tampa, FL 33602 (collectively, Recipient and Discloser are the “Parties”).
WHEREAS, Recipient been advised that Discloser is acting as the exclusive agent to the owner of the property known as Our Story and located at (the “Property”);
WHEREAS, Discloser is willing to provide to Recipient the certain information pursuant to the terms set forth herein in order to facilitate a potential transaction between Recipient and the owner to the Property in connection with the Property (the “Transaction”);
WHEREAS, subject to full execution of this Agreement by all Parties, the Discloser intends to provide Recipient with certain proprietary and confidential information as determined by Discloser relating to the Transaction. All of the information listed above, and any other reports, materials or information obtained by Recipient and its affiliates and/or their respective employees, attorneys or accountants (collectively, “Representatives”), without regard to whether a court of law would deem such materials confidential or privileged, are collectively referred to as the “Confidential Information.”
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the undertakings, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, as a condition to the disclosure by Discloser to Recipient of any Confidential Information, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Confidentiality and Nondisclosure
(a) Recipient agrees that it will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Discloser, disclose or authorize or permit anyone under its direction to disclose to anyone any of such Confidential Information; provided, however, that Recipient may disclose the Confidential Information to those of its Representatives who are engaged to assist in the review of the Transaction if Recipient provides its Representatives with a copy of this Agreement and informs its Representatives of its obligations hereunder. Recipient agrees that neither it nor the Representatives will use any Confidential Information other than in connection with the evaluation of the Transaction.
(b) Recipient and its Representatives will not, without the prior written consent of Discloser, disclose to any person the fact that the Confidential Information exists or has been made available, that Recipient is considering the Transaction, or that discussions or negotiations are taking or have taken place concerning the Transaction, or any term, condition or other fact relating to the Transaction or such discussions or negotiations, including without limitation, the status thereof.
(c) Confidential Information shall not include information which has come within the public domain through no fault or action by Recipient or information which is obtained after the Effective Date by Recipient from any third party which is lawfully in possession of such information and not in violation of any contractual or legal obligation with respect to such information; provided that, with respect to any of the foregoing exceptions, Recipient will, within ten (10) business days of any request therefor by Discloser, provide Discloser with satisfactory written evidence that such Confidential Information is or was within the public domain, or obtained from a third party having lawful possession thereof, as the case may be, at the time such disclosure was made to Recipient.
(d) Recipient and its Representatives will not discuss any details of the Confidential Information with any third-party except as otherwise provided herein.
(e) Recipient agrees that neither the Discloser nor its agents shall have any liability to Recipient resulting from the use of the Confidential Information supplied hereunder, except that nothing herein shall waive any rights or obligations Recipient or Discloser or its agents may have with respect to the contents of the Confidential Information.
(f) Recipient acknowledges that it has been advised that the Property may be viewed by appointment only and Recipient specifically agrees that it shall not attempt to view, visit or otherwise gain access to the Property unless and until Discloser has scheduled an appointment for Recipient to do so.
2. Non-Circumvent
In consideration of Discloser’s disclosure of the Confidential Information, and without limiting anything else set forth herein, neither Recipient nor any of its Representatives shall at any time prior to the date immediately preceding the second (2nd) anniversary date of this Agreement, without the prior written consent of Discloser, which consent may be withheld by Discloser in its sole discretion, take any action, directly or indirectly, to undertake the Transaction including, without limitation, attempting in any manner, directly or indirectly, to contact a potential seller or any of its shareholders, officers, directors, or affiliates, introduced or revealed to Recipient by Discloser, to undertake or complete the Transaction.
3. Destruction/Return of Confidential Information
Recipient, upon the request of Discloser, will either (a) promptly destroy all copies of the written Confidential Information in Recipient’s and/or any Representative’s possession, including but not limited to written summaries of any oral analyses, compilations, studies, or other documents prepared by the Recipient or any Representative in connection with the Transaction or provided by Discloser, and confirm such destruction to Discloser in writing, or (b) promptly deliver to Discloser, at Recipient’s own expense, all copies of such written Confidential Information in Recipient’s and/or any Representative’s possession; provided that nothing herein shall require Recipient to produce particular documents or information that constitute attorney-client privilege or attorney work-product (however, Discloser expressly retains the right to challenge any designation of attorney-client privilege or attorney work-product). Any oral Confidential Information will continue to be subject to the terms of this Agreement.
4. Legal Disclosure
In the event that Recipient or its Representatives are requested pursuant to, or required by, applicable law, regulation or legal process to disclose any of the Confidential Information, Recipient will promptly notify Discloser, in writing, so that Discloser may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy or, in Discloser’s sole discretion, waive compliance with the terms of this Agreement. Recipient will cooperate in Discloser’s efforts to obtain a protective order or other reasonable assurance that confidential treatment will be given to the Confidential Information and the existence of the Transaction or discussions between the Parties relating to the Transaction. In the event that no such protective order or other remedy is obtained, or that Discloser does not waive compliance with the terms of this Agreement, Recipient will furnish only that portion of the Confidential Information which Recipient has a duty as a matter of law to disclose, such determination to be made in good faith reliance on the written advice and direction of Recipient’s legal counsel.
5. Remedies
In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Recipient of the provisions of this Agreement, Recipient agrees that the remedy at law available to Discloser would be inadequate and that Discloser shall be entitled to seek an injunction, without the necessity of posting bond therefore, restraining Recipient from disclosing, in whole or in part, such Confidential Information. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting Discloser from pursuing any other remedies, at law or in equity, in addition to the injunctive relief available under this Agreement, for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of consequential and punitive damages from Recipient. In addition, in the event of any violation of this Agreement by Recipient or its Representatives, Recipient shall reimburse the Discloser and its affiliates for all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred in order to enforce the provisions of this Agreement or exercise any remedies for a violation thereof.
6. Waiver
Recipient agrees that no failure or delay by Discloser in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof of the exercise of any right power or privilege hereunder.
7. Binding Agreement and Assignment
This Agreement shall be binding upon Recipient, its Representatives, its personal representatives, successors and assigns, and shall run to the benefit of Discloser and its affiliates, successors and assigns. This Agreement is not assignable by Recipient, and any attempted assignment by Recipient shall constitute a material breach by such party.
8. Severability
If any portion of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, it is agreed that said invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the other portions of this Agreement and that the remaining covenants, terms and conditions or valid portions thereof shall remain in full force and effect and any court of competent jurisdiction may so modify the objectionable provision as to make it valid, reasonable and enforceable.
9. Notice
Any notice or communication required or permitted to be given by any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been effectively given and received on the date personally delivered to the party to whom it is directed or when deposited by registered or certified mail, with postage prepaid, and addressed as set forth on the signature page hereof. Either party may change its notice address by delivering a written change of address to the other party in the manner set forth in this paragraph.
10. Agency Disclosure
Broker as Single Agent or Transaction Agent. Broker has been retained by owner of the Property in the capacity of:
☐ Single Agent for Owner/Seller ⌧; Transaction Broker
For purposes of this agreement, a “Single Agent” means a broker who represents, as a fiduciary, either the purchaser (or lessee, as appropriate) or seller (or lessor, as appropriate) but not both in the same transaction.
For purposes of this agreement, a “Transaction Broker” means a broker who provides limited representation to a purchaser (or lessee, as appropriate), and seller (or lessor, as appropriate), or both, in a real estate transaction, but does not represent either in a fiduciary capacity or as a single agent. In a transaction broker relationship, a purchaser (or lessee, as appropriate) or seller (or lessor, as appropriate) is not responsible for the acts of a licensee. Additionally, the parties to a real estate transaction are giving up their rights to the undivided loyalty of a licensee. This aspect of limited representation allows a licensee to facilitate a real estate transaction by assisting both the purchaser and the seller, but a licensee will not work to represent one party to the detriment of the other party when acting as a transaction broker to both parties.
11. Applicable Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws thereof. Any action to enforce or construe the terms of this Agreement shall be brought in a state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in Florida.
12. Entire Agreement
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes and is in full substitution of any and all prior agreements and understandings whether written or oral between the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. No modification, amendments or waiver of the terms and conditions hereof shall be binding upon Discloser, unless approved in writing by Discloser.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which shall constitute one agreement. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile and PDF copy signature or other electronic means, which shall be accepted as if they were original execution signatures.
The following information from your profile will be used in the agreement:
Process. Execution. Results.