James Lane Post has partnered with Saunders & Associates to create the series “The Saunders Stewardship Impact.” This is the second installment, featuring Saunders & Associates’ broker, Aimee Fitzpatrick Martin.
In the Hamptons, where high-stakes real estate transactions often unfold behind hedges and gates, Aimee Fitzpatrick Martin has built a reputation on precision, discretion, and an ability to navigate the complexities of waterfront deals with ease. A top broker with Saunders & Associates, she has spent more than 15 years advising a clientele that ranges from Wall Street executives to media figures, guiding them through purchases and sales across Quogue, Westhampton Beach, Remsenburg, East Quogue, and Hampton Bays.
But her influence extends well beyond the closing table. As a member of the board of directors at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center and an active leader within the Westhampton Rotary Club, Fitzpatrick Martin has become a central figure in the cultural and civic fabric of the East End. Her commitment to community has earned her some of Rotary’s highest honors, including Rotarian of the Year at both the club and district levels, along with the Paul Harris Fellow Award — recognition typically reserved for those whose impact reaches far beyond their profession.
Before entering real estate, Fitzpatrick Martin was already documenting the lives and homes of the Hamptons’ most notable residents as the creator of the At Home With column for the Southampton Press, with additional bylines in Newsday, the Los Angeles Times, and the Chicago Tribune. That editorial eye — and a background spanning public relations, hospitality, and corporate communications — continues to inform a methodical, highly informed approach to her work today, where even the most complex transactions are handled with a measured, almost editorial clarity.
You’ve built a highly successful career in Hamptons real estate — what drew you personally to become involved with the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, and why did it feel important to you?
My involvement with the WHBPAC really started as a showgoer who fell in love with the world-class performing arts, music, dance, and cinema programming I was enjoying on a year-round basis. Coincidentally, the WHBPAC was founded as a not-for-profit arts organization in 1997, the same year I moved to the Hamptons. Before real estate, I wrote for the Southampton Press and got to interview many of the top performers who were gracing the stage. I quickly saw what a vital role this 425-seat jewel box of a theater was playing in the community. I also fell in love with the wonderful professionals who were working tirelessly behind the scenes to make all this magic happen. When I was asked to join the board about seven years ago, I jumped at the chance. I wanted to be part of its mission to educate, entertain, and inspire, and shout from the rooftops why this cultural heartbeat of the East End needs our continuing support.
The Hamptons is often associated with luxury and lifestyle — how do you see institutions like the Performing Arts Center shaping the cultural identity of the community?
There’s no doubt that the arts have a profound impact on individual and community well-being. Research from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that arts engagement has the power to transform lives and foster a healthier, more connected society and quality of life.
The WHBPAC is widely known for its arts education programs and community partnerships that reach diverse audiences regardless of socio-economic status. Annually, 10,000 students from across Long Island come to the theater to see curriculum-connected shows from around the world. For many of these students, it’s their first exposure to live theater.
The theater also runs classes and camps for arts learners ages 5 to 99, all of which culminate in performances on stage, whether it’s showstopping musical productions, “Upbeat,” a class for differently-abled students, or “Melodies & Memories,” a landmark music and theater program for seniors 65 or better.
Inclusivity and community partnerships are vital to the mission of the theater. This year, in partnership with Organización Latino Americana (OLA), the theater is bringing comedian Pedro Gonzalez to perform Spanish and English language shows on May 30. The theater is also joining with the Butterfly Effect Project to co-present a Marvin Gaye Experience on September 5.
This summer, the PAC’s Main Stage has a full lineup of top talent, including Jared Freid, Darren Criss, Matteo Bocelli, Kelli O’Hara, Chris Botti, and JB Smoove.
As someone who understands the Hamptons market at a very high level, do you think buyers today are placing more value on access to arts and culture when choosing where to live?
I do. We’re lucky to have the offerings of so many arts organizations right here in the Hamptons. Besides the PAC, we’re only 15 minutes to the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead and less than an hour to the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor and Guild Hall in East Hampton. And with the opening of the Sunset Theater in Westhampton Beach and the Southampton Playhouse, we have more local access to first-run movies and even IMAX. If that’s not enough, Broadway is only 90 minutes away.
You’ve spent years advising clients on building not just homes, but lifestyles — how does your work with the arts influence the way you think about what makes a place truly livable?
The performing arts have a positive impact on communities that extends far beyond the stage. It fosters social connections and a desirable lifestyle where you can enjoy the beach, local shops, and the farmers market during the day, then dine at a critically-acclaimed restaurant on Westhampton Beach’s Main Street before attending a world-class show at the PAC. The arts are always an inherent component of the health of an economy. My clients realize they have everything they need right here, west of the canal.
You’ve also been recognized for your leadership with the Westhampton Rotary Club — how has that experience shaped your perspective on community involvement and responsibility?
I’ve been involved with the Westhampton Rotary Club for almost ten years and am honored to serve on its board. “Service Above Self” is the principal motto of Rotary International and is based on a commitment to volunteer service and prioritizing community needs over personal interests. It was a real honor to be named the Club’s 2018 Rotarian of the Year, 2024 District 7255 Rotarian of the Year, and a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award, the highest award a Rotarian can receive.
Our club works hard to raise money for student scholarships; support the efforts of other non-profits, feed the homeless, support a local food pantry, keep local roadways clean, and support the efforts of Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, a local camp for disabled children. Every spring, I chair a fundraising event at the PAC that’s always fun. We had a psychic one year, an Elvis and Frank Sinatra show, and this year we’re having five top comedians perform on Saturday, May 2, at 8 PM. With what’s going on in the world, we all need a laugh!
Your career has been built on precision, negotiation, and results. How does that mindset translate into your philanthropic work, if at all?
That old adage, “If you want something done, ask a busy person,” is so true. Real estate is definitely a 24/7 business, but if you believe in something, you make time for it and make it happen. Negotiation is part of volunteering, whether it’s asking a performer to give a better non-profit rate, to working with club members on coordinating schedules for speakers.
What’s something about the Performing Arts Center that people might not realize — whether it’s the impact it has locally or the work happening behind the scenes?
People should know how fiscally responsible the PAC is. An impressive 80 cents out of every dollar they raise goes directly to main stage programming. The average is only 65 cents. The theater is so lucky to have a talented powerhouse like Julienne Penza-Boone as its Executive Director. It’s incredible to me that Julienne and her hard-working team of only eight full-time staffers can oversee 50 main stage productions a year, along with summer camps and after-school programs, an Arts Academy programming for 10,000 students, a World Cinema Series, and so much more. The reputation of the theater and its staff is the reason 100 volunteers want to be part of its success.
A fun factoid about the theater that many people don’t know is that the last row of the balcony would be considered center orchestra at Carnegie Hall. All seats are great seats at the PAC.
In your view, what role should successful professionals — especially in industries like real estate — play in supporting the communities they work in?
No doubt, real estate is a stressful business. I read that 94% of volunteers report improved moods and a stronger sense of purpose. I think that’s very true. In addition to supporting the needs of a community, volunteerism builds teamwork and can open doors for new opportunities and friendships.
The Hamptons continues to evolve rapidly. How important is it to preserve and invest in cultural institutions as that change accelerates?
It’s very important. That’s why the PAC will soon be announcing the expansion of the theater to better address the changing needs of the community. Details will soon be announced!
Oh wow. On a personal level, what has this work given back to you? Has it changed the way you see your career or your place in the community?
Helping to address the changing needs of the community truly gives my life greater purpose. I’ve met amazing people and made great friends along the way. I’m a worker bee at heart, and hopefully I can make a difference in some small way. I encourage everyone reading this to find a cause that matters to them and start volunteering. You won’t regret it!
Learn more about Martin by visiting hamptonsrealestate.com.
