BIO
Corey J. Schneider has led an impressive career as a commercial/investment real estate broker and a commercial real estate appraiser in his forty-plus years working in the real estate industry. In December of 1981, in the midst of a recession where mortgage rates hovered around the 18% range, he opened his real estate brokerage/consulting company. Prior to starting his own company, he gained experience in originating loans with the Lincoln LaForge Agency. In this position, he was the only loan officer other than the president, making commercial and residential loans.
Corey realized early in his career that to add value to his clients and navigate the complexities of the market and the different property types, he needed to obtain advanced specialized knowledge.
He has earned a BBA in Real Estate from Western States University, a certificate in Petroleum Land Management from Oklahoma City University's Meinders School of Business, a certificate in Small Business Management, and an Associate of Applied Science in General Technology from North Arkansas College. Additionally, he is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute (OU EDI), where he gained advanced knowledge in economic development strategies and community revitalization. Furthermore, he achieved the Zoning Official certificate from Rutgers University – Center for Government Services, the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation from the CCIM Institute, and the Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation from the Realtors Land Institute. He’s currently licensed in AR, NJ, NY, PA, and TX as a real estate broker. Corey has also been quoted in several well-known industry publications, including the Bergen Record and the Certified Commercial Investment Member magazine.
His real estate practice has involved not only real estate investments but also development properties and real estate consulting. Some notable transactions have included the assemblage of two entire city blocks for a new Home Depot that was a Brownfield site to an island in the middle of the Delaware River. He has extensive experience in researching real estate matters and has personally acquired property by adverse possession and cleared the title of an unknown owner parcel.
As a Senior Real Estate Advisor, Corey has deep industry knowledge with strong analytical and negotiation skills. His expertise and specialized knowledge have made him uniquely qualified to guide many clients through successful real estate transactions while maintaining the highest ethical standards. His boundless enthusiasm for real estate and treating his clients with superior service makes him head and shoulders above the rest.
On a personal note, he is on the board of directors of several nonprofit organizations that are aligned with keeping our drinking water safe and reducing drug abuse. During his free time, he finds solace in playing fetch with his dog Lefty, engaging in activities such as being an amateur radio operator, and traveling around North America in his sports car.
I am a commercial real estate strategist, economic development practitioner, and founder of Head Start to a Million Jobs, a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to restoring economic productivity in overlooked communities by transforming abandoned industrial sites into engines of job creation. With over 40 years of experience in commercial and investment real estate, I specialize in complex land assemblage, brownfield redevelopment, and strategic site positioning to drive economic growth.
A hallmark project in my career was the redevelopment of a brownfield site in Paterson, New Jersey, formerly the Lyons Pierce Dye Works factory—once the third-largest dye works operation in the United States. I successfully assembled two full city blocks, navigated environmental and title challenges, and repositioned the site for productive reuse. That site is now home to a Home Depot that ranks as the 3rd highest-grossing store in the company’s national chain, bringing jobs, tax revenue, and commercial momentum to a historically industrial corridor.
I bring a strong foundation of professional discipline and analytical rigor to my work, supported by earning the prestigious Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation from the CCIM Institute. This designation, combined with my graduate work at the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute (OU EDI), enables me to approach redevelopment through both an economic and community development lens—balancing feasibility, market demand, public benefit, and long-term economic outcomes.