About Us
About Loretto Properties, LLC, Lamar Hunt, Jr., and James Arkell. Loretto Properties is a Kansas City real estate company dedicated to investing in and developing projects that help the local community. Their motto “Investing in Families by Investing in Communities” is the belief shared by founders, Lamar Hunt Jr. and James Arkell. Both men live by these words each day. Meet our two passionate founders:
Lamar Hunt, Jr.
Lamar Hunt Jr. has always felt the weight of the responsibility that comes with being born into opportunity and blessing. The Hunt family has a long history of entrepreneurship and investment in the oil and gas industry, real estate, philanthropy, faith-based education, and, perhaps most famously, in sports.
Lamar’s father, Lamar Hunt, was the founder and longtime owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, as well as a groundbreaking contributor to the foundation of Major League Soccer (MLS) in America. As Lamar Hunt Jr. often says, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” Lamar has made it his goal to use all that he has, to do all that he can, to give back to the communities that have meant so much to him.
Lamar Hunt, Jr. is the founder of the Loretto Companies, LLC, based in the Kansas City area and is a vehicle designed to help use resources to help others. The four (4) Loretto Companies include Loretto Commercial, Loretto Sports, Loretto Properties, and Loretto Foundation. Through Loretto Sports, Mr. Hunt is the owner of the Kansas City Mavericks, a franchise member of the ECHL, the premiere “AA” professional hockey league in the USA/Canada. He also serves on the board of directors of Hunt Midwest Enterprises (HME), a family-owned real estate development company based in Kansas City, MO.
Dedicated to helping to build strong families and support communities, the Loretto Foundation is devoted to promoting the intrinsic dignity of all human beings, with a special focus on the poor and vulnerable and those who are underserved by society. Lamar Hunt Jr. believes that strong families come from strong communities and vice versa. The Loretto Foundation is concerned with programs that help to strengthen both, while addressing the root causes of poverty and other social ills thus promoting spiritual well-being, social good, emotional/physical wellness, and economic prosperity.
The desire to help others and give back to the community has been a constant throughout Lamar Hunt Jr.’s life, inspired in part by his own father, Lamar Hunt, who taught Lamar Hunt Jr. and his siblings to “think of others first and put ourselves last.” After studying music at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and playing flute in the Kansas City Symphony for ten years, Lamar Hunt Jr. returned to school and attended Dallas Baptist University, where he received his Master of Arts degree in Counseling, with a focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy. As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), he worked with at-risk teens, homeless individuals, and persons who were recovering from addiction and trauma.
Lamar Hunt Jr. cites his faith as a driving force in both his work as an LPC and with the Loretto Foundation, as well as his continued involvement with a variety of faith-based and charitable programs and organizations. “Faith asks us to step out of our comfort zones and do things we might not normally even consider,” he says, adding that he sees his faith as something that is always continuing to grow and unfold. To that end, Lamar also serves on the board of directors of the Bright Futures Fund which helps children attend inner city Catholic Schools, St. Michael the Archangel High School in Lee’s Summit, MO (where he is currently President), and he recently completed several terms as a board member of Dynamic Catholic, a national organization that leads people into a more dynamic relationship with God. Lamar and his wife Rita won the 2017 Elizabeth Ann Seton Award presented by the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) to individuals whose support impacts Catholic Education and the well-being of our nation’s youth.
Today, Lamar Hunt Jr. remains active in a variety of charities across Kansas City besides those offered through the Loretto Foundation.
Two of Lamar’s passions in life are the beauty of classical music and the promotion of healthy family relationships. He is regularly in demand as a public speaker regarding effective interpersonal relationships. Lamar is married to his lovely wife, Rita, and between them they are the proud parents of nine children and nine grandchildren. Rita, a devoted Kansas State football fan, has worked to promote breast cancer awareness/prevention in the Kansas City community.
James Arkell
The Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Loretto Holdings loves helping his fellow man; especially because, at his darkest hour, someone reached out to help him. That experience made James a big believer in second chances. With that second chance, James has built a new life consisting of God, family, and various business and charity pursuits. It should not be a big surprise to those who really know him. Spending time with his wife and four beautiful children as well as working with others who need help through tough times are his favorite things to do.
It all began at an early age. At twelve, James learned the meaning of hard work when he started his own lawn mowing business. The sweat that business produced propelled him to work diligently in school and after college James worked in a variety of positions allowing him to hone his sales and marketing skills and gain the necessary experience to ultimately run his own company.
In 2006, James Arkell started an executive driving service. It quickly became successful. In 2011, James was offered an opportunity with Loretto Properties, LLC. It was the perfect match. The company received a hard working, no-task-is-beneath-me guy and James received a position that not only allowed him to exercise his entrepreneurial talents but help Kansas City families as well. James jumped in with both feet.
From day one, he studied the business. In short order, he learned about the Kansas City real estate market and was buying and renovating single family properties. This put him in contact with families needing quality, comfortable and affordable housing. The families he deals with love him. The bottom line is that Loretto Properties LLC has thrived through his hard work. In the ten years Loretto has been in business they have quickly expanded from the single family market into commercial real estate development. Today Loretto Holdings has an impressive collection of residential and commercial properties they own and manage and continue to expand their reach with developments in sports management and arena development.
James sits on multiple boards local to Kansas City and loves the opportunity to help and work with charities that help support families.