John Abell
Managing Partner
Crayton Advisors

Mr. Abell founded Crayton Advisors in 2011, which was the culmination of 25 years+ of investment and development activity, resulting in; the acquisition and re-development of over 4,000 urban/garden apartments across the country, the development/redevelopment of $350 million in office/retail properties and the development and capitalization of in excess of $240 million in hospitality assets. Currently Crayton
Advisors is executing a mixed-use micro-community development strategy and has 800 units in development in the Chicago area.

Marrying a Wall Street background to a passion for creating unique rental living/working environments, for 25 years Mr. Abell has been well known for leveraging his capital markets expertise with creative problem solving, building “Best of Class” teams and generating above market risk-adjusted returns to investors. Often a contra-cycle investor and viewing the world with a longer outlook, whether redeveloping value-add apartments
in a weak, over-mature market or investing at the bottom of the housing crisis when no one else would, Mr. Abell and his team have proven that agility, hard work and a keen focus on people are the keys to success.

Prior to forming Crayton Advisors, Mr. Abell was an executive at two of Chicago’s most prestigious real estate firms, including Mesirow Financial and Draper and Kramer and later, a principal of Midwest based Sterling Acquisitions. A consummate entrepreneur, outside of real estate, he has started and successfully operated several businesses, including but not limited to; a custom metal manufacturer, various restaurants/bars and
a key marina operation, which became a catalyst for change in the marine industry in downtown Chicago.

Mr. Abell graduated from Purdue University, resides in Chicago, Illinois and Naples, Florida, is married, has one daughter and lives in Chicago’s Gold Coast Neighborhood.