By John Banks, president, REBNY
In every field, it is important to recognize those who go above and beyond the call of duty, and at our 27th Annual Residential Deal of the Year Charity and Awards Gala, REBNY celebrated the achievements of 15 of its members who exceed that requirement.
It was at the same event that we introduced a new annual prize, The Eileen Spinola Award, for distinguished service.
This new award honors Eileen Spinola, our recently retired senior vice president of education and brokerage services, who played a tremendous role in the growth of the education and brokerage services divisions during her tenure at REBNY.
Vickey Barron of Douglas Elliman was the first recipient of The Eileen Spinola Award for distinguished service.
At Douglas Elliman, Barron serves as the Director of Sales at the newly converted Ralph Walker collection, and has played a key role in the dramatic growth of the new development market in the city by commanding and achieving record-breaking sales.
She has also made far-reaching contributions to REBNY, serving as Co-Chair of its Education Committee, as well as and serving on our Ethics Committee, Residential Sales Council, and as a founding member of the New York Residential Specialist Credentials Committee.
Among The Residential Brokerage Division Deal of Year Sales & Rental Awards, Ross Evangelista of Stribling & Associates and Anne Marie Folan of Douglas Elliman Real Estate were presented with the first prize award for residential sales. Sharon Burroughs and co-broker Nick Sakalis took second prize in the same category, while Carol E. Levy of Carol E. Levy Real Estate took third.
The first prize rental award was presented to Grace Hiura and Miyuki Katagiri of Halstead Property, along with co-broker Ashley Reidy of Elegran Real Estate & Development. Jacob Wood of the Corcoran group, along with Christine Toes Muldoon and Valerie Mayworm (formerly of The Corcoran Group) took home the second prize rental award, along with co-broker Debra Ortega of Halstead Property.
Tamara Abir of Halstead Property was awarded the Most Promising Rookie Salesperson of the Year Award for her standout accomplishments within her first years of working in the New York City residential sales market.
The top honor of the evening, the Henry Forster Award for lifetime achievement, was presented to Corinne Pulitzer of Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
Pulitzer is one of Douglas Elliman’s consistent top producers, selling and leasing luxury co-ops, condos, and townhouses, as well as commercial and investment properties. Over the past 20 years, she has successfully closed tens of millions of dollars of transactions, and is also the Co-Chair of REBNY’s Membership Committee – a position she has filled for several years.
32BJ SEIU and Straus News joined forces with REBNY recently to host the 9th Annual 2015 Building Service Workers Awards.
These awards are presented to the hardworking men and women who clean, maintain, and care for New York’s buildings, and who play a critical role in our city’s infrastructure that too often goes unnoticed.
Among the award winners at the Building Service Workers Awards were Thomas Louie (Building Manager of the Year), Edward Bonilla (Doorman of the Year), Ruselit Guillen (Doorwoman of the Year), Tony Ahmeti (Outer Borough Residential Worker of the Year), Craig Tsouristakis (Super of the Year), Denise White (Green Award), Emma Mehmedovic (Helping Hand Award), Celia Seda (Longevity Award), Marie Le Bon (Lower Manhattan Office Cleaner), Joe Ferdinand (Midtown Office Cleaner), Tomas Seaton (Outer Borough Office Cleaner), Haydee Reynald (Public School Cleaner), Stephanie Williams (Security Officer – Commercial), Carlos Galvez (Security Officer – Higher Education Building), Lance Mumford (Security Officer – Public or City Building), Germania Pagan (Stadium/Area Cleaner), Martha Londoño (Theater Cleaner), and Sam Ruiz (Window Cleaner Award).
The Life Saver Award for 2015 was presented to the family of Idrissa Camara, who was fatally shot at his security post last year.
Beginning next year, the Security Officer Award for Public or City Building Award will be named The Idrissa Camara Award in his honor and memory.
The Real Estate Board of New York is proud to be part of the Building Service Workers Awards. We’re honored to represent the New York industry that is the largest provider of quality, good paying, private sector, union jobs. We congratulate all the hard working award winners and we look forward to our continued strong partnership with 32BJ in serving and maintaining the most important real estate in the world.
Showing our appreciation for these people and all they do through these awards ceremonies is just one of the ways that we can give back to the people who give the city so much every day.
In other REBNY news:
REBNY’s Residential Ethics Course for New Members is on November 17 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This non-credit course is required for all new REBNY members, and registration is required. To register, email ResidentialEthicCourse@rebny.com.
The next Residential Rental Clinic is on November 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Mendik Education Center. These free REBNY member-only seminar is offered to our residential members, where the Residential Rental Committee presents a monthly series of morning rental seminars for the professional development of REBNY members. For more information, contact Yesenia Dhanraj at YDhanraj@rebny.com.
REBNY’s Annual Commercial Brooklyn Cocktail Party will be on December 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Brooklyn Navy Yard – Green Manufacturing Center. Hosted by the REBNY Commercial Brooklyn Committee, the evening will include an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, and networking. To register for this REBNY commercial member-only event, contact Desiree Jones at DJones@rebny.com.
REBNY’s Residential Upper Manhattan Committee will be hosting its next panel discussion at MIST Harlem from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information on this upcoming event, visit www.rebny.com.
Request for Housing for Veterans in Need: New York City is seeking housing for homeless veterans, with the greatest need being for studios and one-bedroom apartments. The City has committed to ending veteran homelessness by the end of 2015 and has worked to ensure that all veterans have a rental subsidy.
There are also landlord and broker incentives available for those who place veterans in housing. Learn more about the program, or if you have an apartment you’d like to make available, please visit http://www1.nyc.gov/site/dhs/outreach/veterans.page.
