The Socius Team
Decades of Experience and Perspective
Scott L. Aaron
Founding Principal
Scott Aaron is the Founding Principal of SOCIUS Development Group. Since 1996, he has directed the development of more than 2 million square feet of luxury residential rental, condominium, and hospitality projects in New York and Miami. His deep understanding of financing, structuring, designing, and developing large-scale projects is enhanced by his experience of navigating through up and down cycles in the market. SOCIUS projects consistently outperform the market and set new benchmarks in design, efficiency, and economic performance.
In 2009, Scott was recognized as one of New York City’s “Developers on the Rise” by Real Estate New York Magazine.
Scott founded SOCIUS Development Group in 2013. SOCIUS is focused on value-add development and re-development opportunities across multiple asset classes, primarily in the New York Metropolitan area. Scott's vast experience in developing luxury hi-rise projects includes collaborations with world class architects, engineers and designers. His 22 year track record of successful development projects in the most competitive markets in the world is a testament to his design vision and collaborative style.
Jason D. Pizer
Socius Advisory Board
Jason Pizer currently serves as Head of Real Estate for North and South America for Publicis Groupe, the fourth largest advertising and public relations firm in the world.
Prior to EAM, Mr. Pizer was the President of Trinity Real Estate, a division of Trinity Church of New York City.
At Trinity, Mr. Pizer had complete oversight for Design & Construction, Leasing, Property Management, and Strategic Planning of Trinity Real Estate and approved all commercial real estate transactions for the nine-million-square-foot Trinity portfolio. He successfully led Trinity through the 2008 crash, restructuring millions of square feet of leases and maintaining over 95% of the tenants.
Jason is a recognized leader in the real estate industry. He was instrumental in the rezoning of Manhattan’s Hudson Square neighborhood. As President of the Hudson Square Business Improvement District, together with Mayor Bloomberg’s Office and the Department of City Planning, Jason helped pave the way for Hudson Square’s rezoning and the rise of one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in New York City.
Mr. Pizer holds a Bachelor of Science from The State University of New York at Albany and a Juris Doctor from the University of New Hampshire, School of Law. Mr. Pizer is a member of The Real Estate Board of New York. His philanthropic focus includes the National Jewish Health and the Diabetes Research Institute. During his tenure at Trinity, Mr. Pizer was a member of the Executive Board of the Hudson Square Business Improvement District, as well as its Chairman.
Matthew Pargament
Hospitality Operations/ Turn-Around Specialist
Since 1990, Mathew has managed and directed the development of major hotel properties in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.
In 1990, Matthew began his career in Operations for The Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts in New York City, at The Pierre Hotel. The Four Seasons platform of uncompromising principles in hospitality and guest service became the foundation of Matthew’s career.
In 1998, he joined the legendary Ian Schrager Hotels, which later became Morgans Hotel Group. Over the next nine years, his career in Executive Management expanded, ultimately becoming Director of Hotel Operations in New York (The Paramount, St. Moritz, and the Hudson) and at the portfolio’s urban resorts (Delano and Shore Club in Miami, The Mondrian in Los Angeles).
Turnaround/Property Openings:
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The Delano, Miami - Under Matthew’s direction, the property did a remarkable restructuring, resulting in an NOI of over $12M in 2006 from a loss of $2.9M in 2002.
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The Mondrian, LA - Matthew directed, stabilized, and elevated the Mondrian Hotel into LA’s hottest property. He also played key roles in the openings of The Clift in San Francisco and the Mondrian in Scottsdale.
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In 2007, Matthew joined George Maloof to plan and open The Palms Place Hotel, Condo, and Spa, in Las Vegas. The 599-key Palms Place opened in February 2009.
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In 2009, he returned to Miami as the Regional Director for Andre Balaz properties, overseeing the revitalization of two iconic properties, The Raleigh Hotel and The Standard Spa Hotel.
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In 2013, Matthew’s opened the flagship property of the EDITION brand in the United States for Marriott International and Ian Schrager to critical acclaim.
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Matthew's depth of knowledge in property operations is the critical element in restructuring and repositioning hotel properties. His distinguished track record is unparalleled in the industry.
Eduardo Salcedo
Director of Design and Construction
Eduardo brings 35 years of experience designing, coordinating, and managing the design and development of residential, commercial, and institutional buildings.
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Since the 1990s, Eduardo has served as lead architect at top NYC architectural firms. For the past 15 years, Eduardo has managed construction projects for Owners/Sponsors. Eduardo has been involved in numerous ground-up high-rise residential and hospitality projects, including major renovations and condo conversions in the New York Metropolitan area. He has collaborated in the development of more than 3 million square feet of luxury rental, condominium, and hospitality projects.
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Eduardo’s wealth of experience in the production and coordination of design drawings for large projects is a key part of analyzing, planning, and executing an efficient project. He brings a vast amount of knowledge of building codes, zoning regulations, and the permit approval process.
His ability to navigate complex permitting and design requirements is an invaluable part of the team's planning process
Eduardo graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Architecture.
Drew Aaron
Marketing Associate
Drew holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from The University of Maryland, College Park, in Psychology with a concentration in Human Behavior and Data Analysis. Since joining SOCIUS, Drew has implemented a rebranding strategy to include exposure on social media platforms, public engagement, and website optimization. She works closely with SOCIUS’s partners and PR teams during public outreach initiatives for projects working through the entitlement process.
Steven Vegliante
Legal Advisory
Mr. Vegliante is an expert in planning strategy and brings a wealth of experience from working with owners and developers through all aspects of the development process. As a seasoned real estate attorney for over 20 years, Steven drives the negotiation, acquisition, contract, and financing issues for sellers and purchasers. Steven regularly appears before Planning Boards, Town Boards, and Zoning Boards on behalf of developers, and was instrumental in the approvals of the largest casino resort in New York State, Resorts World Catskills
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Steven has a diverse background in government and public service, including serving as an Assistant County Attorney, Conflict Counsel for the County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency, and member of the Town of Fallsburg Planning Board, and Supervisor for the Town of Fallsburg.
Sheila Hantman
Requisitions and Financial Management
Sheila brings 40+ years of experience managing large offices, creating and analyzing operating budgets, and directing operations for mid-size law firms. Sheila is in charge of processing lender requisitions, maintaining budget reporting for SOCIUS Development Group and Socius Advisory Services, and working with our team to analyze operations cash flow on multiple projects. Sheila's combination of management and budgeting experience plays a vital role in analyzing potential efficiencies in operations. Sheila has served as both Treasurer and President of Condominium Associations, where her guidance on allocations of budgets, legal issues, and construction projects has been critical to the ongoing viability of the homeowners.