Uri Kaufman is the CEO of Harmony Group, a commercial real estate investment and development firm located in Albany, New York. He founded the company to combine his dedication to historic preservation with his vision of revitalizing overlooked communities. Through Harmony Group, he has led the transformation of aging industrial buildings into residential spaces that preserve architectural character while supporting sustainable neighborhood renewal. Together with Uri's business partner, Ira Schwartz, he has established a strong track record of identifying undervalued properties and transforming distressed assets into successful developments. Their work encompasses complex projects nationwide, demonstrating their ability to navigate regulatory challenges and deliver meaningful results. Kaufman began his professional career as an attorney in Long Island after graduating with honors from New York University School of Law in 1989. After being dismissed from his legal position, he shifted to real estate, where he saw great potential in Upstate New York. He recognized that many historic buildings in the region could be converted into residential lofts, offering both character and opportunity for community improvement. This idea gave rise to Harmony Group. Since then, Kaufman has specialized in restoring historic properties and adapting them to incorporate modern features that meet present-day needs. His work has been recognized with awards at both the state and national levels. He is noted for bringing together stakeholders, obtaining historic tax credits, and incorporating union labor into his projects—all while completing them on time and within regulatory guidelines. Beyond real estate, he is an accomplished author. In April 2025, he published American Intifada: Israel, the Gaza War and the New Antisemitism, which explores growing hostility toward Israel. Kaufman also authored Eighteen Days in October: The Yom Kippur War and How It Created the Modern Middle East, released in 2023. The book was the culmination of over two decades of research, which included battlefield visits, interviews with veterans, and the review of thousands of pages of declassified documents. He worked with researchers to translate records from Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, and German. The book received praise from major publications and public figures. His writing has appeared in Foreign Affairs, Newsweek, The Jerusalem Post, and The Independent. Kaufman earned his undergraduate degree from Queens College (CUNY), attending evening classes while working. He lives with his family in Lawrence, Nassau County, Long Island, and enjoys spending time with his children, biking, reading, and playing hockey. Uri Kaufman continues to combine his dedication to historic preservation and research through his development projects and written work.