Uri Kaufman

Uri Kaufman is the CEO of Harmony Group, a commercial real estate investment and development firm based in Albany, New York. He founded the company to combine his passion for historic preservation with his goal of revitalizing underserved communities. Through Harmony Group, he has led efforts to transform aging industrial buildings into residential spaces that maintain their architectural heritage while contributing to long-term neighborhood revitalization. Uri's business partner, Ira Schwartz, has established a proven track record of identifying undervalued properties, redeveloping distressed assets, and executing highly complex development projects across the nation. Their combined work consistently demonstrates a capacity to transform underutilized structures into valuable community assets. His career began as an attorney in Long Island after graduating with honors from New York University School of Law in 1989. A turning point came when he lost his legal job, prompting him to explore the real estate market. Kaufman saw significant potential in Upstate New York, where he believed many historic buildings were ideal for conversion into residential lofts. This insight led to the creation of Harmony Group. Since then, his work has focused on restoring and updating historical properties with modern amenities. These projects have earned recognition at both the state and national levels. Kaufman is known for successfully aligning with stakeholders, obtaining historic tax credits, and incorporating union labor into development processes while meeting timelines and adhering to regulations. Outside of real estate, Kaufman is also a published author. In April 2025, he released American Intifada: Israel, the Gaza War and the New Antisemitism, examining modern attitudes toward Israel. In 2023, he published Eighteen Days in October: The Yom Kippur War and How It Created the Modern Middle East, the first comprehensive account of the war in nearly two decades. The book is the culmination of over twenty years of research, which included site visits, interviews with veterans, and the examination of declassified records in multiple languages. The work was met with strong praise from major publications and public figures. His writing has appeared in Foreign Affairs, Newsweek, The Jerusalem Post, and The Independent. Kaufman completed his undergraduate education at Queens College (CUNY), attending classes at night while working. He resides with his family in Lawrence, Nassau County, Long Island, and enjoys spending time with his children, biking, playing hockey, and reading. Uri Kaufman continues to focus on preserving history and improving communities through both his development projects and his writing.