Buying Houses Building Homes.
Empowering a Change in Family Legacy is AIK’s Mission
A.I.K. is a family-owned company whose principals have lived in Schenectady County since 2011 and in the Capital District since 1982. Pamela Swanigan, one of the principals, worked for New York State at SUNY, involved in supplier diversity, minority and women’s rights for many years, taking five years to work as a high school teacher. She is well educated, thoughtful, and has a ready smile and sense of humor, helping her understand the complexities of the real estate market in this geographic area.
“We have a personal stake in this community and want to help this community grow and flourish. We are a for-profit company but believe our success is related to how we care for our community,” Swanigan explained. As Robert F. Kennedy said, “It is not more bigness that should be our goal. We must attempt, rather, to bring people back to the warmth of community, to the worth of individual effort and responsibility, and of individuals working together as a community, to better their lives and their children’s future.”
A.I.K. relies on its invaluable relationships with leaders throughout the government, financial, and real estate sectors. These bonds are critically important to the company’s success. With the support of these valued partners, A.I.K. is recognized by the mayor and other government officials as an exemplar of civic-mindedness, making a difference in people’s lives and helping them build the family legacy that will lead them to home ownership.
Awards for Excellence
Additionally, A.I.K. has received several awards for excellence in helping the community by engaging in real estate development that enriches lives, prevents evictions, and demolishes run-down structures to build new residences for moderately priced housing for community members. A.I.K. has built projects and advised others on their building and rehabilitation projects. A.I.K.’s goal is to improve our community and help each other succeed.
A.I.K.’S Mission Based on Family History
“We are a family-owned company driven by a belief in God that we should leave this place a better one than we found. Our mission is to discern God’s purpose for us to be righteous, kind, and neighborly,” Swanigan said. As Maya Angelou explained, “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
Pamela Swanigan’s great grandfather, a porter on the Rock Island Railroad, was a Southern Baptist and built the first church in his community in Arkansas, and the church building is still there. The family became a powerhouse in their community and were well respected for their industry and good deeds. My grandmother was a poor woman but kept her backdoor open to everyone who needed a place to eat. Many men got off the railroad they were riding (illegally) and found their way to my grandma’s house (near the railroad tracks), where she fed them all—Black, white, and others. She had two freezers filled with food. Though the community was segregated, when people were hungry, they did not care about who was feeding them. We never had any problems. The men were appreciative of the food and the conversation.
The Swanigan family is conscious of our neighborly obligations. Our values are charitable, resilient, and being problem solvers and teaching problem-solving skills to the community. My goal is for our children to understand their responsibility and be blessed to have rich rewards and give back.
This giving back to the community shaped my world. We have three children of whom we are very proud because they are nice human beings, and the A.I.K. is based on the initials from their first names. Our son is an electrical engineer and graduate of Rensselaer Polytech, and today is working as a systems engineer involved in coding. Our oldest daughter is a graduate of Dartmouth Medical School and Harvard and is a board-certified psychiatrist in a state hospital in New York State. Our youngest daughter is a licensed attorney working in Syracuse, the assistant corporation counsel for the city.