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OUR STORY

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 building 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, but 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.