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OUR STORY

“A Dream Rooted in Hard Work, Hope and Entrepreneurship”.

A Dream Rooted in Hard Work, Hope and Entrepreneurship

Sharif Mitchell and Edward Sarkisyan did not grow up in the same world — but they were shaped by the same values.

Sharif’s path was different. Raised in a family business founded in 1982, entrepreneurship was a way of life from an early age. After the tragic passing of his father, Sharif watched his mother—now a single parent—carry the business forward, instilling in him a deep appreciation for resilience, housing stability, and long-term responsibility.

Sharif went on to attend Morehouse College, where he studied Economics and Spanish. He purchased his first investment property as a freshman and began his career in property tax consulting before transitioning into real estate finance at JPMorgan Chase. 

There, he developed a disciplined foundation in capital markets, deal structuring, and risk management that would shape his investment philosophy.
Edward came to America from Armenia with a single goal: to build a future through hard work, integrity, and opportunity. Fueled by determination and an entrepreneurial spirit, he enrolled at Babson College to study Finance & Entrepreneurship. 

For Edward, Babson became more than a school—it was the launchpad for Smart Build, a company he founded as a freshman and grew into a national general contracting firm focused on multifamily renovation and value-add construction.

He was driven by the classic American Dream: the belief that disciplined effort, continuous learning, and purpose-driven work lead to lasting success.

When Edward and Sharif Mitchell first met, something clicked.

They recognized the same determination in one another—the kind forged through responsibility, adversity, and self-made paths. Their early conversations weren’t about transactions or returns; they were about people, purpose, and the opportunity to build something meaningful. With Edward’s hands-on construction and operational expertise and Sharif’s institutional finance and investment strategy background, they realized they weren’t just aligned—they were complementary.

Though their journeys began worlds apart, Edward and Sharif share a core belief: success isn’t measured solely by financial returns, but by the legacy you leave behind. 

Today, they lead Mitchell & Sarkisyan Holdings with the conviction that real estate can be both profitable and deeply human—where strong returns and strong communities go hand in hand.