Jermaine is on a mission to uplift under-invested and under-supplied communities, seeing it as both a passion and a privilege to play a role in aiding others in realizing their full potential. His own personal journey, shaped by adversity, a strong and supportive community, and the power of opportunity, led him to co-found and serve as Managing Director of NewMarkMerrill Hadler Community Partners, because for Jermaine, community isn’t just important—it’s everything.
Growing up in Compton, CA, during the crack epidemic of the 1980s, Jermaine faced significant challenges. His father’s addiction fractured the family, leaving his mother to raise three children on her own in a violent and turbulent environment. Homeless three times, Jermaine found hope through his loved ones, faith, and education, determined that learning was his way out. Even after losing his brother, Andre, to gun violence in their hometown of Compton, Jermaine’s resolve to succeed and love for his community, ultimately only grew stronger.
After high school, he excelled at El Camino Community College while working full-time, and transferred to Morehouse College, earning awards and a degree in 2011. Jermaine then went on to attend Harvard Law School, where he graduated in 2014 while also representing low-income families in eviction cases as a student attorney. After graduation from Harvard, Jermaine embarked on his journey into real estate, an industry he believed had the power to positively impact and transform communities. His bold move started with a cold email to NewMarkMerrill Companies President and CEO, Sandy Sigal, during which Jermaine laid out an overly ambitious plan for himself and inquired about a position at the firm that would allow him to learn the ins and outs of the business. A shared connection led to an opportunity, which served as a bedrock for Jermaine’s career.
Their relationship has grown into one of deep mutual respect, trust, and admiration, leading to the creation of their venture, NewMarkMerrill Hadler Community Partners. The venture is dedicated to being the best operators and investors in retail shopping centers in under-invested and under-supplied communities. Their mission is to enrich every community they touch through driving economic success and growth, along with collaborating with local leaders, and creating multi-generational gathering spaces that benefit all aspects of communities.
Some of Jermaine’s prior experiences include serving as an Asset Manager with Primestor Development Inc., where he oversaw the operations and performance of their grocery-anchored shopping centers held in partnership with Federal Realty Investment Trust. Jermaine also founded an investment business in which he opened the first Black-owned 7-Eleven franchise on historic Crenshaw Boulevard with 100% of employees being local. Additionally, Jermaine currently serves as Vice Chairman on the board of T.H.E. Health & Wellness Centers, which serves 18,000 low-income patients in Los Angeles County at six locations.
Recognizing the privilege of his current position and how community has transformed his life, Jermaine is not only dedicated to providing outsized returns and outcomes for clients and investors, but also leveraging his career in real estate to inspire others facing adversity, and embodying a commitment to impact, empowerment and building strong communities.
In his free time, Jermaine loves to spend time with his friends, family, and his 80-pound pup, Blue. Jermaine also enjoys playing and watching active sports. Jermaine is known to be competitive and has won several fantasy football league championships, and there is also a rumor floating around that he once unintentionally broke the rib of Mark Sigal (Managing Director of Bright Street Ventures) during a game of pick-up basketball, which he can neither confirm nor deny.