© 2020 All Rights Reserved. Schelton Assoumou
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About Me
I’m a real estate developer and owner of a family owned business in Brooklyn NYC. I’m passionate about helping families create equity in their homes to improve financial well being. In my free time I mentor entrepreneurs, spend time with my family and can be found on Rockaway Beach during a summer day.
Introduction / Bio
Early Life and Education
Wall Street Career
Entrepreneurship
Philanthropic Activity
Legal Issues
Introduction / Bio
American Born. West African Raised. Ivy League Trained.
Schelton is an African American real estate developer and investor based in New York City with investments in multi-family, commercial, mixed use and luxury condominiums in the Greater New York area. After graduating from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1998 with a BA in Economics and a BS in Business Administration, Schelton began his finance career on Wall Street within the prestigious investment banking division of J.P. Morgan.
In 2003, Schelton took time off to enroll in Harvard Business School’s internationally acclaimed Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) program.
Upon his graduation in the Class of 2005, Schelton returned to JP Morgan with expanded responsibilities as part of the industry leading Syndicated & Leveraged Finance Group where over a period of 10 years, he amassed considerable experience in investment banking, private equity, entrepreneurship, real estate development and investing; He was responsible for the execution of over $25 billion of lead-managed ABS transactions and the origination, execution and marketing of over $9 billion of high yield bond offerings and leveraged loan syndications.
Schelton left JP Morgan in 2008 to pursue his passion for real estate. For the past 12 years, he has been involved in every facet of real estate industry such as strategic planning, business development, acquisitions, valuation, construction, financing, property management and sales. He has successfully repositioned over 120 New York area distressed assets totaling over $100 million in renovated value.
Schelton has been collaborating with several small and middle market real estate ventures as well as nonprofit organizations such as Harlem based, the Abyssinian Development Corporation, to help several families to transition from shelters and temporary dwellings into permanent housing.
More recently, Mr. Assoumou has been serving as Managing Director of Brownstone NYC (BNYC). BNYC is a minority owned and operated real estate investment and development platform. BNYC houses more than 300 residents across New York City and Westchester; of which 60% are occupied by veterans, single mothers, victims of domestic violence, tenants, etc. all of whom were previously in homeless shelters.
Moreover, BNYC has been diligently working with homeowners to develop several homes and vacant lots into multi-family rentals or condos. These projects have two major goals: increase the market value for their owners as well as allow stay in their neighborhood, if they so desire.
Furthermore, with nationally renowned partners, BNYC is pushing modular construction technology in New York City. BNYC believes that this construction method will revolutionize the landscape of New York City construction. BNYC is seeking to become the premier minority owned sponsor of modular construction projects in New York.
Schelton is also focused on giving back to his community. For example, he is in the process of launching ASK Second Chance (ASK) by the end of 2020. ASK Second Chance, will be a non-profit geared towards criminal justice reform by providing a second chance to individuals who are re-entering society after a prison term or are currently on probation
Entrepreneurship / Investments
In 2008, Schelton left J.P. Morgan and Wall Street to found Brooklyn Renaissance Development Corp(“BRC”) as a real estate development and property management company specializing in distressed and historically ethnic neighborhoods in the emerging Brooklyn housing market.
He formed Ask Capital (“ASK”) as an investment vehicle designed to invest in the housing market and provide high yield returns to investors. With initial investments for properties in the historic Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Clinton Hills and Bushwick areas of Brooklyn, BRC profitably renovated and restored dozens of residential properties while actually increasing the pool of affordable housing units and homeless shelters within those neighborhoods.
More recently, through his own ventures ZOPA Consulting and Third Level Ventures, Schelton has been consulting with several small and middle market real estate ventures such as Brownstone NYC (BNYC). Furthermore, he has been helping people who otherwise would have limited access to affordable housing. He has been working with several nonprofit organizations such as the Abyssinian Development Corporation in Harlem and Because Everyone Deserves Shelter, Inc (BEDS) which started out as transitional housing program in Brooklyn for men going from shelters to independent living to those recently released from prison.
Schelton has been managing director of Brownstone NYC since 2019. BNYC is a minority owned and operated real estate investment and development platform.
The original business model was to invest in distressed and foreclosed properties in low income neighborhoods in New York and resale within a year. However, in late 2017, his mother was touched to see so many families and veterans living in homeless shelters for a prolonged period of time. At her request, they decided to adapt the business model and started to work with several nonprofit organizations such Samaritan Village, Services for the Underserved, the Abyssinian Development Corporation of Harlem, etc. Today more than 60% of our apartment and room portfolios are occupied by veterans, single mothers, victims of domestic violence, tenants, etc. all of whom were previously in homeless shelters.
Schelton continued with his original mission of renovating and restoring residential properties in distressed and emerging ethnic neighborhoods. In 2019, Brownstone NYC (“BNYC”) embarked on a “Wealth Creation Initiative” designed to educate and empower current property owners in rapidly gentrifying areas. He helps them into utilizing their properties as wealth creation platforms while maintaining a presence and ownership stake in their respective communities.
The inaugural group of properties has been identified and construction activities will commence soon in formerly depressed and undervalued areas. This effort will create new jobs while establishing a new capital base for communities that have previously lacked access to capital and professional services in the construction sectors.
BNYC’s primary mission continue to be community empowerment through development, diversity and expanded knowledge.
Building on our initial success, Brownstone is diligently working with homeowners to develop several multifamily homes and vacant lots into multi-family rentals or condos. These projects have two major goals: increase the market value of these properties for their owners as well as allows them to stay in their newly renovated or constructed rather than being forced to sell and move out of the neighborhood.
Furthermore, with nationally renowned partners, we are pushing modular construction technology in New York City. Wherever possible, this construction method is proven to be more cost effective and is up to 50% faster than traditional construction. We believe that this construction method will revolutionize the landscape of New York City construction within the next 24 months. Brownstone NYC would like to become the premier minority owned sponsor of modular construction projects in New York in that time span.
Early Life and Education
Schelton was born in Oakland, California in 1976 to father Martin Ngoran Assoumou from the Ivory Coast, a member of the Akan ethnic community, and a Trinidadian mother, Maureen Williams. Schelton and his younger siblings, brother Stephane and sister Sabrina, had the benefits of an international upbringing, traveling frequently to Africa, Europe and South America.
Ingrained in their family life was the value of education: after having been the top student within the Ivory Coast, Martin became an engineering graduate from Columbia and returned for a time to the Ivory Coast to assist in the economic development of his country. After Brooklyn College, his mother has spent 40 plus years in international and US banking at Chase Manhattan and predecessors, Ecobank and SunTrust.
Schelton enhanced his global perspective during all phases of his education: he attended the Lycee Francais Jean Mermoz, a French International school in West Africa through middle school followed by the Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle, a French International high school in England. He excelled both academically and athletically playing on the soccer, basketball and tennis teams through his formative years abroad. This global exposure also allowed him to become conversant in several languages including being fluent in English, French and Spanish.
After returning to the US, he continued to utilize that perspective while self-financing his attendance at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. At the University, he tutored fellow students and athletes in math and economics through his student government activities. He also served as Resident Assistant for three years which would help him develop his leadership skills and gain university recognition.
In addition to his scholarly achievements, he is an avid tennis player having begun his love for tennis as a member of the Ivory Coast junior national team. This activity continued as part of his high school and college programs. His love for tennis continues today. He also earned academic recognition as members of the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society and Golden Key National Honor Society. He was an Academic All American every year for all four years and graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors.
Wall Street Career
Wall Street Career
J.P. Morgan New York, NY 1996 – 2007
Senior Associate
Schelton began his career at J.P. Morgan in 1996. He was a member of the firm’s investment banking division. His experience was broad and included working in the firm’s Oil & Gas advisory, Asset-Backed Securities, Structured Finance, Collateralized Bond Obligations (CBO/CLOs), Distressed Debt Proprietary Trading and Syndicated and Leveraged Finance. He performed extensive capital structure, credit analysis and due diligence for client financing projects. Schelton worked extensively with financial sponsors on leveraged buyouts (LBOs) as well as corporate client top-level executives in various industries, including healthcare, auto, consumer products, retail /distribution and industrial products
He was a member of various top-ranking Wall Street investment banking teams. All in all, he was involved in the execution of over $35 billion of lead-managed ABS transactions and the origination, execution and marketing of over $9 billion of high yield bond offerings and leveraged loan syndications
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship
In 2008, Schelton left J.P. Morgan and Wall Street to found Brooklyn Renaissance Development Corp(“BRC”) as a real estate development and property management company specializing in distressed and historically ethnic neighborhoods in the emerging Brooklyn housing market.
He formed Ask Capital (“ASK”) as an investment vehicle designed to invest in the housing market and provide high yield returns to investors. With initial investments for properties in the historic Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Clinton Hills and Bushwick areas of Brooklyn, BRC profitably renovated and restored dozens of residential properties while actually increasing the pool of affordable housing units and homeless shelters within those neighborhoods.
The initial success and profits from the primary portfolio created rapid expansion for BRC and ASK Capital. By 2012 the companies had invested and renovated tens of millions of dollars’ worth of properties for dozens of investors and over a hundred families were residing in BRC managed properties. Ask Capital was poised for significant institutional investments.
Soon after the legal issue was settled, Schelton continued with his original mission of renovating and restoring residential properties in distressed and emerging ethnic neighborhoods. In 2018, Brownstone NYC (“BNYC”) embarked on a “Wealth Creation Initiative” designed to educate and empower current property owners in rapidly gentrifying areas. He helps them into utilizing their properties as wealth creation platforms while maintaining a presence and ownership stake in their respective communities.
The inaugural group of properties has been identified and construction activities will commence soon in formerly depressed and undervalued areas such as the Bronx. This effort will create new jobs while establishing a new capital base for communities that have previously lacked access to capital and professional services in the construction sectors.
BNYC’s primary mission continue to be community empowerment through development, diversity and expanded knowledge.
Philanthropic Activity
Philanthropic Activity
Schelton has been involved in philanthropic work from a young age. As a result, he has received several awards and recognitions. His passions are mentoring youth and giving his personal time to the people of the communities he invests in. His focus has expanded with Ask Capital. Some of his work includes:
Academic All American (Varsity Men’s Tennis) (1994-1998)
Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society (1996)
Golden Key National Honor Society (1995)
Stony Brook Wall Street Internship Project – (1998-2002)
Project Live Mentorship Program (Learning through Industry and Volunteer Educators) (1999-2003)
Inroads Internship (JPMorgan) and then mentor to over 15 interns and alumni (1996-Current)
Robert Toigo Fellowship recipient (Harvard) and then mentor (2003-Current)
ASK Capital Foundation (2010)
Brooklyn Tabernacle (2014-Present)
Introduction / Bio
Legal Issues
Between 1998 and 2007 Schelton worked as an investment banker with J.P. Morgan Chase after graduating from Harvard Business School. While at JPMorgan, Schelton began investing in small real estate development projects in Brooklyn.
As word of his success spread, Schelton’s former classmates and friends asked if he would assist them in finding properties to purchase.
In 2008, Schelton was introduced to a real estate attorney named Wally Duval who advised him that his friends could get better financing terms if their mortgage applications stated that they would live at the premises.
Around 2013, the government began an investigation of Wally Duval and her network. Therefore, because Schelton had used her for a few closings, the Government thought that he was involved in a large scale fraud that she was allegedly running. However, after a thorough (5) year investigation, the Government realized that in an attempt to assist his friends, Schelton exercised poor judgment but was never involved in the large scale fraud that Government was investigating.
In order to resolve the charges against him, Schelton pled guilty to one (1) count of wire fraud in connection with the making of the false statements regarding owner-occupiers versus investors.
On May 16, 2018 the Court sentenced Schelton to time served (consisting of the four (4) hours from his arrest to the time bail was posted for him) and two (2) years of supervision. No restitution was imposed as part of his sentence nor was he barred from the real estate industry. A nominal administrative fine of $5,000 was imposed.
Recognizing the unique facts of this case, Judge Brian Cogen, in a rare statement for a Federal Judge, explained the sentence he was imposing by saying: “I think this defendant is not a particularly venal or malicious person. I am not seeing that…I think Mr. Assoumou understands what it means to be honest’’.
Clearly, the sentence imposed by the Court reflected the Judge’s feeling that to the extent Schelton acted improperly it was an aberration which would not be repeated. On August 22, 2019 Schelton was released 10 months early from Federal Supervision on exemplary behavior.
Entrepreneurship
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