Our team consists of real estate professionals, economic development professionals, entrepreneurs, web developers, designers, small business owners and historic preservationists out of Buffalo, NY.
With substantial experience in commercial real estate development and technology we are well-equipped to bring vetted investment opportunities to you, through online crowdfunding.
Community, family, friends, pets, the outdoors, real estate, small business growth, economic empowerment, the opportunity to build wealth no matter how much money you start with - these are our passions. These are what drive us to make Common Owner a platform that provides crowdfunding opportunities for everyone.
We hope that we can help you achieve your goals, whether you own a small business, develop real estate, or are looking to build personal wealth.
This is who we are.
Julian Anjorin | Co-Founder
Hometown: Syracuse, NY
Degree(s): B.S. in Computer Science, Minor in Web Development
Favorite professional moment to-date: Winning a contract that doubled the size of a small company in Buffalo, NY.
Why crowdfunding?
I believe crowdfunding is an excellent win-win process, when implemented the right way. The average person gets to actively build wealth while projects and businesses get necessary capital they need to achieve their goals.
Favorite Western New York food:
Chicken wings. Bar Bill, Kelly’s Korner, Gabriel’s Gate to name a few places with great wings.
Richard Rogers | Chief Compliance Officer
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Degree(s): J.D. , M.U.P. - Doctor of Law, Master of Urban Planning
Favorite professional moment to-date: Closing the $10 million Shea's Seneca construction financing. It was my first major closing as an attorney.
Why crowdfunding: Crowdfunding is one of the last chances to reduce wealth inequality and to save capitalism, where everyday people have been excluded from many wealth-building opportunities and equity crowdfunding provides a potential opportunity to change. I have great hope that equity crowdfunding will provide an opportunity to rebuild our cities, where for too long our existing real estate finance system has destroyed our walkable, mixed-use commercial districts in many cities.
Derek King | Director of Operations
Hometown: Barnstead, NH
Degree(s): History (BA) and Anthropology (BA)
Favorite professional moment to-date: My preservation consulting firm reached $100 million in historic tax credits earned for our clients, generating over a quarter-billion dollars in construction activity.
Why crowdfunding? Real estate development is broken: Small scale projects can’t access investor networks that established developers have and struggle to get support from lenders, while community members are left out completely when projects happen in their neighborhoods. Crowdfunding can address that.
Favorite Western NY Food: Buffalo-style pizza, hands down. There are great wings all over the country, it's just that nowhere in Buffalo makes bad wings, but as regional pizzas go, Chicago Deep Dish is a weird spaghetti sauce pie and New York is a greased up thick tortilla, with Buffalo-style splitting the difference in the best ways.
Mitch Skomra | Director of Technology
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Degree(s): B.S. in Computer Science: Software Engineering
Favorite professional moment to-date: I helped support a platform that brought opportunity and help to the food service industry and hungry customers through the pandemic
Why crowdfunding? I believe in a free market and our platform will allow anyone to invest and be a part of the action. It has the potential for all involved to benefit, from local projects being funded and a vision realized to investors having a growing interest in it.
Favorite Western New York food: My favorite WNY food has got to be the pizza and wings. I don’t think I’ve ever gone more than a week without having either--it’s a staple in my diet. One of my favorite places in my area to order from on bills Sunday is Picasso’s Pizza on Union Road.
Mike Puma | Director of Business Development
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Degree(s): Environmental Design (BA)
Favorite professional moment to-date: Working with OMA on the Albright-Knox Art Gallery expansion and rehabilitation
Why crowdfunding? Crowdfunding enables people to be active participants with projects in their own communities in ways that were previously unavailable to ensure that neighborhood redevelopment truly benefits those around it.
At 5:30 on Friday you’ll find me: Going for a long, rambling drive along Lake Erie in my 1971 Road Runner with my partner and our two doggos.
Jake Walsh | Director of Finance
Hometown: Syracuse, NY
Degree(s): MBA, Financial Economics (BS)
Favorite professional moment to-date: Upon completing my MBA I was the recipient of the Magnus Award for Greatness, which recognizes a student who demonstrates greatness in academic performance, leadership, innovation and generosity of spirit.
Why crowdfunding? Crowdfunding is the first step toward a more democratized system of planning and development. When the average citizen can financially participate in the development of their locality, we can build communities that are truly for everyone.
Favorite Western New York food: There is nothing quite like hitting the Lloyd Taco truck at 3:00 a.m. on (Josh) Allen Street.
Andrew Contino | Lead Developer
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Degree(s): B.A.Sc., Computer Information Systems: Systems Management
Favorite professional moment to-date: Received Quarterly Recognition Award for building an automation to aid in the processing of the Payroll Protection Program loans.
Why crowdfunding? I believe crowdfunding will enable community engagement with small businesses and redevelopment projects, while also providing economic and environmental benefits to all community members.
Favorite Western New York food: Pizza.I might have been referred to as a pizza connoisseur once or twice in my life. Jay's Artisan Pizza hands down is the best Neapolitan pizza this side of the Mediterranean Sea.
Zach Zika | Creative Director
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Degree(s): Animation & Illustration (BA) Fredonia State University
Favorite professional moment to-date: Winning best in show at American Advertising Federation Buffalo 2020 with my team's 3d animation, "Bring Home the Dome." We beat out all the larger agencies with a single spot versus full creative campaigns that normally win.
Why crowdfunding? Crowdfunding is a very inclusive way to fund a project or business. It can be a very effective method to strengthen a business or project's awareness and engagement with the local community.
Best Western New York hiking spot: The best Western New York hiking spot would have to be a section of the gorge known as "Devil's Hole." It is a fairly short drive away and provides some intimate views of the Niagara River along the trail.
Max Radley | Compliance Lead
Hometown: Batavia, New York
Degree(s): BA of Economics and Political Science, SUNY Fredonia; Juris Doctor, Albany Law School of Union University
Favorite professional moment to-date: Preparing and winning a successful motion for summary judgment that won a six-figure judgment for my client.
Why crowdfunding? It presents a unique opportunity to help individuals who may not otherwise have the opportunity or access to invest in projects, and create a more equitable access to capital. Thus, not only helping people to build wealth, but giving rise to the possibility of helping distressed neighborhoods.
Night owl or early bird? Early bird. I’ve got a routine that helps kick start my mornings.