Executive Team
Scott Chaplan – Managing Director
Scott Chaplan founded the Urban Group of Companies following the recession during the early 1990s and transformed it into an integrated private equity and advisory services firm which has structured, financed, brokered, acquired, developed, rehabilitated and manages over $1 billion of multi-unit residential, mixed use, commercial and office properties throughout the United States. Many of these projects involve historic buildings which have been rehabilitated to provide affordable housing with low-income communities.
Mr. Chaplan was a pioneer in developing environmentally sustainable projects within the inner-city. Leveraging his knowledge relating to the residents’ needs within the urban community, Mr. Chaplan created a comprehensive consulting business that assists organizations and individuals in low-income communities with developing essential and sustainable business and life skills. One positive outcome is the conversion of renters into buyers of DRU properties.
Mr. Chaplan serves on multiple for-profit and non-profit boards including Hayward Lumber Company, Forest Stewardship Council, Environmental Media Association and Pepperdine University School of Law Palmer Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology Law where he remains on the faculty as an adjunct professor. He is also a faculty member of Kaplan University.
Mr. Chaplan began his professional career at the public accounting firm of Peat Marwick Mitchell prior to attending Pepperdine University School of Law, where was a member of the Law Review. Mr. Chaplan was a Partner in the law firm Argue Pearson Harbison & Myers prior to co-founding Greene, Fidler & Chaplan, LLP, an AV rated business boutique with an emphasis in real estate, corporate, family business office and non-profit law.
Consuela Kielbowicz – Principal
Ms. Kielbowicz joined the Urban Group of Companies in 2010 and was integral in the launch of Del Rey Urban Capital’s first fund. Thereafter, she, alongside Scott Chaplan, and the DRU Executive Team, launched three additional funds managed by DRU, its second opportunity fund and their first and second income fund.
Ms. Kielbowicz began her career at Sotheby’s International Realty. She then moved to Keller Williams where her acquisition, analytical and design skills were further honed. She joined Del Rey Urban as its Vice-President of Acquisitions and Dispositions and has lent her unique design and deal talent to our investment and brokerage business segments.
Ms. Kielbowicz is integral in all aspects of DRU’s business from sourcing opportunities and capital to investment analysis, fund management and the representation of both buyers and sellers. Ms. Kielbowicz’s market knowledge and intimate understanding of the psychology of potential buyers provides DRU a distinct advantage in the identification, acquisition and disposition of investment opportunities.
Ms. Kielbowicz’s passion for design and architecture provides tremendous value for DRU’s clients and investors who realize higher returns as a result of shorter sale cycles and higher exit prices. DRU’s Design by ConsuelaTM is becoming an industry standard.
Jesse Elconin – Principal
Prior to joining the Urban Group of Companies and Del Rey Urban Capital as an investment analyst, Jesse Elconin began developing his finance background at Pacific Capital Bancorp, a California based regional bank that has since been acquired by Union Bank. While there, his focus of interest evolved to being a liaison for the bank’s high net worth clients. Thereafter, Mr. Elconin narrowed his scope to the real estate sector working for Oasis Realty, a real estate investment, brokerage and property management firm. At Oasis Realty, he handled the company’s asset management and accounting needs.
At DRU, Jesse’s main areas of focus are managing the company’s national, growing commercial portfolio which DRU intends to grow to 10,000 plus units by 2020, underwriting new commercial and residential acquisitions, overseeing the company’s financial reporting, forecasting, analysis and investor reporting.
Jesse is a graduate of California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and licensed with the California Bureau of Real Estate.
Kevin Potts – Director of Security
Kevin joined the Urban Group of Companies and Del Rey Urban Capital in 2012 as its Director of Security and Site Supervision. Kevin’s role includes management, construction supervision, personal protection and logistics.
Kevin’s main duties are to oversee the company’s security and property management needs throughout our residential and commercial portfolio. Kevin is the tip of the sword, the urban family protector.
