Stephen S. Jemal leads JemRock Organization, the company behind BUILT®—an AI-powered, robotics-driven, cloud-based, laser-guided approach to housing production.
A first-generation American raised in Brooklyn, Stephen is the youngest of ten children. The values passed down by his parents—togetherness, family, and hard work—continue to shape both his leadership and his long-term commitment to building what comes next.
From The Wiz to the built environment
Stephen began working with his father and mentor, Norman N. Jemal, at the family discount store in Spanish Harlem. By 16, he had begun his own venture with four electronics and music specialty stores. In 1976, he started Nobody Beats The Wiz on Fulton Street in downtown Brooklyn.
He grew the iconic electronics chain to 110 stores across six states, with 6,000 employees and sales in excess of $2.5 billion. As the business expanded, Stephen built an in-house construction and prefabricated fixture manufacturing company—learning every aspect of development from concept to completion.
JemRock Organization and BUILT®
After The Wiz, Stephen turned his focus to waterfront revitalization and real estate development, assembling underutilized parcels across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and New Jersey. That work led to JemRock Organization and a larger mission: change how the world produces housing.
Today, JemRock presents BUILT®: a precision manufacturing platform that combines AI, robotics, cloud systems, and laser-guided production. Its purpose is simple and urgent—to help deliver dignified, high-quality housing faster, smarter, and at global scale.
A legacy of execution
Stephen works alongside his sons, Norman, Solomon, Richard, and James, and a world-class team of experts. Together, they are building a system that can create local jobs, support government partnerships, and meet one of the defining infrastructure challenges of our generation.