About South End Development
Located in Albany, New York
Our mission is to revitalize communities with healthy, sustainable, and smart eco-friendly environments. We strive to create more opportunities, a more robust and balanced ecosystem that creates generational wellbeing for every resident, partner, and employee.
Our Development Principles
Sustainable Development
We are exploring new boundaries with award-winning triple net-zero design.
Environmentally Conscious
We will do our part to ensure our efforts are not adversely affecting our planet.
Economic & Socially Considerate
Giving back, while promoting excellence to help our communities thrive.
SED Leadership
Through the years, we have gained not only a good understanding of our community but also design, housing, and building experience while delivering projects on time and within budget. South End Development (SED) has contributed to the rich history of the South End and is committed to the future development and continued growth of the community in the South End of Albany, New York.
Jeremy Horne (Corey’s Brother) / Corey Jones | Chief Executive Officer, Founder
The Seventy-Six = Triple Net Zero “NE PLUS ULTRA”
“It’s the height, the zenith, the ultimate, the crown, the pinnacle. It’s the peak, the summit, the crest, the high-water mark.” All of these expressions, of course, mean “the highest point attainable.” But “ne plus ultra” may top them all when it comes to expressing, in a sophisticated way, that something is the pink of perfection. It is said that the term’s predecessor, “non plus ultra,” was inscribed on the Pillars of Hercules at the Strait of Gibraltar, which marked the western end of the classical world. The phrase served as a warning: “(Let there) not (be) more (sailing) beyond.” The New Latin version, “ne plus ultra,” meaning “(go) no more beyond,” found its way into English in the 1630s.”
Mr. Jones is a revolutionary. A South End, Albany native. Corey’s unique story in the South End is rooted in the fabric of the South End’s history, community, and heritage. From his birth, Corey’s life experiences, challenges, and deep personal connections molded his development and business philosophies. His real-world perspective has driven Corey to launch an even deeper crusade to revitalize Albany’s South End, all the while digging deeper to answer macro, micro and personal lifelong questions in order to hold those accountable in both government and state leadership, for the poor treatment of underserved communities and his own–extremely traumatic–childhood.
Corey Jones was born Corey Horne, in the Albany County prison; a “crack baby.” Immediately after birth, New York’s government leadership stripped him from his mother and father and ostensibly threw him into the New York State foster-care “system” for his so-called best interest. That system, and Corey’s life, led to his enduring journey to seek the truth which remains a mystery due to red tape and bureaucratic protections. When Corey separated from his forced-upon-him “family,” the New York foster-care system refused to contact his next of kin, even though Corey and his brother had no shortage of family. Instead, New York separated Corey and his older brother Jeremy into foster care. Shortly after, and only two weeks old, a state-approved physician diagnosed Corey as clinically retarded and prescribed him the drug Ritalin. Continuing thereafter, Corey and brother were then shuffled from foster home to foster home. For the next several years, Corey suffered deeply from separation anxiety and hyperactivity. Most likely, the dosage of prescribed Ritalin was too high and caused adverse effects. Jeremy, now having to bear the burden of caring for his sick little brother and incapable of taking care of him, succumbed to the overwhelming responsibility of caring for a sick child when he was also a child. The brothers soon after were separated once again by the State Child Care “Protection” caseworkers. Fifteen homes later, Corey and his brother were ultimately adopted; each by different families.
Like many children, Corey now realizes he was at the mercy of the State’s decision – a decision that was shrouded in mystery and completely against Corey’s and his family’s best interests. Corey and his brother did not get a fair opportunity or the essential tools to thrive. Like many children, Corey fell prey to circumstances administered by state social workers, corrupt policies, and potentially criminal Ponzi schemes that prey on the most vulnerable.
Nonetheless, Corey learned to adapt and persevere even with all odds against him. Ironically, his brother went on to become a professional NFL football player. Corey was later adopted, became Corey Jones and learned to take care of himself. He was out on his own as soon as he was old enough.
After venturing on his own, Corey immediately showed an interest in building and construction. Mentored by business owners of a local construction company, he soon led projects of all types and sizes. Not only did Corey overcome the diagnosis forced upon him at two weeks of age, he rose to become a viable, productive, and honorable force in the South End community; clearly he was not retarded. It was perhaps the complete opposite. As it turns out, Corey Jones is a mastermind in organizing large complex projects. He excelled working as a project manager and soon after started working for an even larger construction company. He has worked on multi-million dollar Federal, State, and commercial projects. Corey has been instrumental in bringing together a team rich in multiple disciplines from top-level architects, civil engineers, design consultants, legal teams, marketing teams, and community social activists.
Corey often interacts in an extremely unorthodox manner. However, always striving for cutting-edge results that are innovative, out-of-the-box thinking, never having been done, aesthetically pleasing world-class designs. Nothing is impossible to obtain for Mr. Jones. His motto is often, “If you can envision it, we can build it. No project is too small or too large.”
Unfortunately, city workers or leaders of Albany may have had other plans or possibly even benefitted by keeping children in the dark and on drugs. In Corey Jones’s case, this setback didn’t work. It backfired, but in a good way. It lit a fire and created a drive and motivation deep into Corey’s soul that continues to drive his curiosity to peel away at the many layers of corruption, digging deeper and deeper into dark city secrets. He not only wishes to clean up the South End of Albany because of his deep roots, he also has a sense of responsibility to protect and defend those whose voices are silenced, or are too young to know the difference (much like his situation.) Corey has vowed to rectify his case and use it as an example to its fullest potential so that no child from the South End will ever have to endure such an experience in their lives ever again.
With that, Corey will revitalize the South End, Albany, New York, the United States, and the World. It starts, here, with you and in his home: the South End.
Len Morales Jr. | Executive Officer, CMO/CTO
Len Morales Jr. has had the pleasure of working on creative, marketing, and technology projects for many major U.S. and international companies over the past 20 years. The most well known of those companies include Samsung, Walt Disney, Intuit Inc. (QuickBooks), Starbucks Coffee, Citi Bank, Motorola, St Jude Medical, UCLA, Dr. Phil, American Express, Showtime, and DirectTV, though there are countless others. Uniquely, Len has a diverse history of assisting companies across a vast array of industries—including medical, legal, financial, music and entertainment, aerospace, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, academia, landscaping, and construction.
Mr. Morales is a performance-driven entrepreneur and former marketing executive offering 25+ years of verifiable success in start-up, growth, and turnaround environments. Acclaimed for adopting innovative approaches and intelligent business decisions to meet and surpass brand positioning, sales targets, and other engagement metrics. “Lead by example” type of leader who values teamwork, resourcefulness and honesty, Built relationships with people at all levels, and secured buy-in through powerful communication and presentation skills. Forward-looking initiator with an ability to see the big picture and adapt businesses to changing market forces. Coalesced strategic vision with operating expertise and financial acumen to position businesses for sustainable growth in competitive market landscapes.
Currently, Len is a board member of a growing SaaS (Software as a Service) company with innovative cloud publishing, viewing, and sharing technology. He has also secured a technology patent for a system and method for publishing online posts in the cloud, which is a culmination of many years of work in cloud technology. Today, Len continues to incubate, develop, and invest in new business models, and technology. When he’s not all business, he enjoys photography, music, snowboarding, and producing fine art.
Chauntwanette Okantey | Executive Administrator
Chauntwanette Okantey, AKA Chauntwanette Wilder, is a proud educator of more than 20 years, mother of two young adult men, a teenage daughter, and wife of 25 years. Chauntwanette was born and raised in Harlem, New York.
Her life began with two teenage parents aged 17 and 18. Realizing that a life with a child so early on was destined to be filled with many challenges, and at a time when teenage pregnancy was frowned upon by communities, families and the nation-at-large, Chauntwanette’s family members quickly sought, on several occasions, to remedy her 16 year-old mother’s pregnancy through termination. Fortunately, for Chauntwanette, and the many people that have been impacted by her life, the plan to end her life did not come to fruition.
Chauntwanette spent her first four years of life with her maternal great-grandparents in Georgia. She had a teenaged mother that needed to complete High School and a father that was newly incarcerated. Upon returning to New York, she began living with her mother and maternal grandparents. Chauntwanette and her mother eventually moved on their own and remained so until she was eleven years old.
Chauntwanette realized that her life was not like many of her peers. She came up during a time when it was normal to have in-tact, two-parent households, where the father was the breadwinner, meals were prepared, and food was always available. This was not the reality for Chauntwanette while living with her mother. Growing up, Chauntwanette had minimal contact with her father’s side of the family. She was not only the product of a single teenage mother and absent father but grew up in a household exposed to illegal drugs, minimal food insecurity at times, lack of knowledge of basic living skills and questionable behaviors. Her mother was diagnosed with a mental illness (Paranoid Schizophrenia) after giving birth to her son; Chauntwanette’s eleven-year junior brother. The seemingly “normal” life that Chauntwanette was used to, came to a screeching halt. As a result of her mother’s illness, Chauntwanette, her newborn brother, and her mother, in-turn went to live with her maternal grandparents. Chauntwanette eventually found support and solace from a local family church and community leaders through a community-based organization that supported teenagers by way of educating them on prevention of early pregnancy and parenting. It was through these people and institutions that she developed strong faith, commitment to her community and the desire to be a servant-leader. The years that followed were filled with difficult emotions and life changing experiences. Even to the extent of gaining custody of one of her brothers when she was 23 and he was 12. Although she was not raised in a traditional family environment, she was still able to achieve and accomplish her goals and dreams.
Chauntwanette’s story does not end there. After graduating High School Chauntwanette entered college. After three years, she left college and worked full time with the Harlem Branch YWCA. However, after five years, she enrolled in community college and completed her first degree while working full-time; graduating with honors. Although she found favor amongst employers prior to obtaining her degrees and gained valuable skills in the field of education, she had an intense desire to excel. She understood the importance of needing to complete her education and continued to push forward. She realized that education was the doorway to many opportunities; breakthroughs that were not possible without the “legal” paperwork. Chauntwanette went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Human Development and a master’s degree in Education from Union Institute and University, with an emphasis on Social Justice and Teacher Leadership, concluding with a GPA of 3.97. Chauntwanette did not end there. She continued and received certification in Preschool to Grade three from Monmouth University and most recently her Supervisor’s certification from Georgian Court University, completing both programs with honors.
Chauntwanette has worked for a NYC Early Intervention Program, taught at a nursery school and kindergarten in NYC, owned and operated a small licensed and registered child-care facility while raising her children for nine years, worked as a Head Start Teacher with a diverse community of learners, Inclusion Teacher and a Master Teacher in an urban school district for almost ten years, coaching and providing professional development to numerous teachers.
Chauntwanette’s desire is to impact the neighborhood she is called to serve, as a servant-leader. To empower young men and women to persevere beyond their challenges, to reach for the exception and not settle for the status-quo. Her aspiration is to expose and expand the minds of children in underserved communities. To level the “playing field.” She is here in the South End to let the children, parents, caregivers and families know that they can “DREAM BIG.” It is possible!
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” ~ By Maya Angelou – Phenomenal Womanhood ~