As a self-made multiple business owner, AJ exemplifies the transformation from entrepreneur to leader. With no formal education in business, AJ begin his career in 2008, co-founding Capstone Companies, now the largest privately held multifamily investment sales brokerage in the nation. AJ has learned that above all, the key to scaling a business is humble, servant leadership. As a leader of his businesses, AJ has instilled in his team critical Core Values including putting “Team Before Self”, “Checking Your Ego at the Door” and having a “Relentless Passion for Improvement”.
Having founded three successful real estate start-ups, a growing food and beverage business, and various tech-enabled investments, AJ has acquired valuable skills from the business world. AJ prides himself on his approachable personality, team-before-self way of living, easy going nature and relentless work ethic. These traits have helped AJ develop a reputation as a trusted resource for anything multifamily, commercial real estate, technology or non-profit related.
Currently Managing Partner (Co-founder) of Catalyst Capital Partners, a multifamily development and investment company with a $1B+ pipeline throughout the Southeast, AJ oversees the management and investment activities of the firm.
AJ continues to act as a Partner (Co-Founder) of Capstone and directs the company’s national growth and technology-related business development initiatives. Capstone is a multi-year recipient of the “Inc. 500/5000 Award” and multi-year winner of The Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” List. Over the past 12+ years with Capstone, AJ has led the firm’s growth from one office in Charlotte, NC to twenty coast-to-coast. In his time as a broker at Capstone, AJ led investment sales transactions representing an aggregate value of $2.5B+ and 25,000+ units. In this role, AJ was the Top Producer for 3 of his last 4 years.
AJ is also the founder and passive Partner of Built on Hospitality, a NC-based Food and Beverage group with a focus on creative new concepts in the full-service and QSR space throughout the Southeast.
While his business responsibilities are many, the pursuit of most pride for AJ, international philanthropy, specifically funding and building elementary schools around the world, is AJ’s guiding light. As a Global Board Member of BuildOn, the largest NGO in the world focused on building schools in rural third-world villages, AJ has been responsible for the funding and construction of 3 primary schools in Central and South America (225 students year-round), with 5+ more in the pipeline.
AJ graduated from The University of Michigan in 2007 with a MS in Bio-Psychology and Cognitive Science. AJ is a member of the National Multi-Housing Council and the Urban Land Institute and is active in various other professional and philanthropic roles across the region. He enjoys Michigan sports, volunteering, the outdoors, world travel, and spending time with his wife Caitlin, and two boys, Harrison and Jackson.
aj.klenk@thegoodyearhouse.com