Real Estate and Marketing Pro Connects Prosperity to St. John’s, Devotion to Family

“St. John’s is an integral part of my life,” said Mr. Maundrell, now Executive Vice President at Corcoran New Development NYC & Corcoran Group Marketing New Jersey—one of the nation’s leading real estate marketing firms.  “The University shaped who I am today.” 

A proud native of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY, Mr. Maundrell was named one of Brownstoner’s Top 50 Leaders in Brooklyn Real Estate, Architecture, Design, and Development and was profiled in The New York Times. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the College of Business Administration, now The Peter J. Tobin College of Business.  

By his junior year of high school, Mr. Maundrell decided to stay in New York to support his family and attend St. John’s. “I wanted to pursue an internship or a part-time job with a major company and break into the business world from the ground up,” he said.  

Family was his prime reason to remain in New York. “My maternal grandparents, mother, and younger sister all lived in a three-family home in Brooklyn. After my parents divorced, I felt responsible for being the man of the house and staying close.  I also lived in the world’s greatest business city, so it all aligned.” 

Mr. Maundrell’s first job was checking bags at a local C-Town supermarket. He eventually moved to the deli department, working five to six days per week. That early work ethic set the tone for a lifelong passion for real estate. 

His entry into the field came unexpectedly after his first year at St. John’s. “My mom mentioned a client was looking for an assistant at a real estate appraisal firm. She asked if I’d be interested—I had no experience and never considered real estate, but I felt this might be the stepping-stone I earlier envisioned..” 

That firm, Mitchell Maxwell & Jackson Appraisers (now MMJ Appraisal Management, Inc.), offered him a summer job that quickly became a full-time role during the school year. “I was working up to seven hours a day after school. That experience sparked my interest in real estate and taught me the value of efficiency, hustle, negotiation, and shmoozing,” he explained. 

While attending St. John’s, Mr. Maundrell discovered a natural affinity for marketing through his coursework at the CBA. “I fell in love with advertising and marketing,” he said.  

After spending four years in the insurance industry and working part time as a real estate agent, in 2002, he founded aptsandlofts.com, a real estate brokerage focused on new development marketing that quickly became one of New York City’s leading, privately owned firms. The company consistently ranked as the second or third largest new development marketing company in New York City, according to The Real Deal.  Mr. Maundrell eventually sold aptsandlofts.com to a subsidiary of Anywhere Real Estate Inc., the world’s largest real estate brokerage firm. He continues to serve as Executive Vice President of New Development and is widely regarded as one of the leading experts in new development marketing across the tri-state area. 

Throughout his journey, Mr. Maundrell has championed four guiding principles: hard work, professionalism, honesty, and treating people well. However, he has this advice for St. John’s students: “Always be true to your roots and yourself—and listen to your mom when she has a job opportunity for you.”