From a career in education Kay moved to commercial real estate in 1980. She holds a Masters of Education Degree, a Graduate Realtors Institute (GRI) designation and the highly sought-after Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) accreditation. She chaired the board of what is now MNCAR (Minnesota Commercial Association of Realtors.) Her clients inlcude national Fortune 500 companies as well as locally owned businesses. Her specialty areas are industrial and office user properties and requirements.