Meet REW’s 2019 Rising Stars

Harrison Abramowitz
Newmark Knight Frank
Commercial Broker
Harrison Abramowitz is a director in the New York office of Newmark Knight Frank. He specializes in retail leasing on behalf of owners and tenants.
Harrison represents national and local retailers expanding throughout New York City. Recently, he helped CVS/pharmacy negotiate a lease for 10,000 SF at 387 Park Avenue South. He was also part of the team that secured 19,000 SF for CVS/pharmacy at the Brill Building in Times Square. Harrison is actively expanding emerging brands, such as Candid Co for whom he is negotiating deals around the country and Japanese beauty brand Shibuyala for whom he negotiated its first Manhattan store last year and is working on its New York roll-out and national expansion.
On the ownership side, Harrison represents some of the city’s most significant landlords, including Extell Development Company, L&L Holding Company, SL Green and Cohen Brothers, as well as private investors and co-op boards. He is currently marketing 35,000 SF of retail for Extell, as exclusive agent across various projects. Harrison’s agency experience includes representing Solil Management in securing Build-A-Bear adjacent to the Empire State Building, and representing Harlington Realty Co at 103 Fifth Avenue, securing UNTUCKit for its New York Flagship.

Judah Aderet
Eastern Union
Banking & Finance

Judah Aderet joined Eastern Union three-and-a-half years ago, rapidly rising to the position of senior loan consultant.
At 29 years of age, he’s learned the ropes quickly; in his first year as a broker, Judah closed three transactions, and then 15 deals the year after that. Impressively, by year three, his yearly total had reached 45 transactions.
While Judah has delivered financing in the office, retail and industrial sectors, his focus has been in multifamily work, along with the niche category of mobile home parks, where he has arranged more than 30 deals.
He calls the mobile home sector “a tricky world.” Lenders can be picky over unit type, occupancy levels, and ratios of tenant- to park-ownership. He recently closed a $9-million deal on an asset that had been bypassed by numerous lenders.
Judah knows how to pull non-players into real estate. About a third of his borrowers have been first-timers. “I hold my client’s hand every step of the way,” he says.
Proud of his relationship-building skills, nearly half of his portfolio consists of out-of-state deals.
Most recent achievement:
Working with a borrower making his first-ever large acquisition, Judah Aderet recently arranged a $24 million loan for the purchase of Woodland Village, a 545-unit, multifamily property in Lindenwold, NJ. The transaction had been consummated because Judah had successfully reassured both borrower and banker of the deal’s worthiness.
An up-and-coming broker by day, Judah often sings at weddings in the evening.
Judah Aderet lives with his wife and two sons in Lakewood, NJ.

Carrie C. Adduci
Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman
Law and Accounting
Carrie C. Adduci is an Associate in our Real Estate Practice Group where she concentrates on acquisitions, sales and refinances of commercial and residential properties. She also represents developers with regard to the sale of their newly constructed residential homes.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Adduci was a Real Estate Associate at a small Long Island law firm. In this position, she represented and advised purchasers, sellers, landlords and tenants in a variety of commercial and residential real estate transactions, including real property and co-operative apartments.
Ms. Adduci earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from St. John’s University School of Law in 2012. She was Managing Editor of St. John’s Law Review and Vice Co-Chair of the Public Interest Committee. She also she helped her peers to strengthen their writing skills, as a consultant in the Writing Center.
St. John’s Law School awarded Ms. Adduci with a Merit Based Scholarship, the ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership Award, and the St. John’s Gold Pro Bono Service Award. She was also on the Dean’s List.
During the summer of 2011, Ms. Adduci served as a Law Clerk at the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian in Chicago, Illinois. She was designated a guardian ad litem and attorney for children involved in protective proceedings in Cook County Juvenile Court.
She earned her Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, from St. John’s University with a major in Legal Studies and a minor in Theology.
She is admitted to practice in the state of New York and is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association and New York State Bar Association.

Trevor Adler
Stroock Stroock & Lavan
Attornies at Law
Trevor advises clients in commercial real estate matters, with a particular emphasis on complex leasing transactions. He has expertise in negotiating leases, subleases, licenses, construction contracts and acquisition agreements for office, retail, co-working, non-profit and educational space in New York City and nationally on behalf of major landlords, tenants, purchasers, sellers, managers and principals.
Trevor is the lead pro bono counsel to IMPACCT Brooklyn, a non-profit that promotes affordable housing, small business and cultural diversity projects. He is also a member of the executive committee of the board of directors of Broadway Housing Communities, Inc., a nationally recognized not-for-profit.

Marko Agbaba
Ariel Property Advisors
Commercial Broker
Marko Agbaba is a Director in the Investment Sales Division at Ariel Property Advisors. In addition to originating and executing exclusive listing sales, he is responsible for leading business development and networking initiatives in Northern Manhattan, with a particular focus on East Harlem. 
Marko’s passion for real estate was evident when he first joined Arial Property Advisors as an Associate in 2012, and he has since proven himself to be a valuable asset to the company. Since entering the industry, he has been involved in the valuation of over $1.2 billion in properties and has successfully participated in the sale of over 40 transactions, with an aggregate value of more than $200 million.
Marko serves on the executive board of BMNAR as the head of the Upper Manhattan Commercial Division and he is a member of REBNY’s Commercial Upper Manhattan & Bronx Committee.
He believes in giving back as well and selflessly donates his time to the United States Air Force Auxiliary, serving as a First Lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol. In this role, Marko spends time participating in nationwide search-and-rescue missions for missing persons, providing relief to people in disaster areas, and keeping the homeland safe. 
Marko graduated with a BSBA from Bucknell University.  
Recently, Marko originated and transacted several sizable commercial deals that had an aggregate value of more than $20 million. Notable transactions include 4477 3rdAvenue, a development site that sold for $100 per buildable square foot in the Bronx, and 320 East 120th Street, a vacant shell that sold for $550 per existing square foot in East Harlem.

Jonathan Aghravi
JBA Equities
Banking & Finance
Throughout his short career Mr. Aghravi has secured financing of nearly $2 billion on commercial property throughout the United States. Since establishing JBA Equities in August 2018, Mr. Aghravi and his team have closed and signed up in excess of $500M in financing. Prior to forming JBA Equities, Mr. Aghravi was a Principal at Eastern Consolidated and started their Capital Advisory Division. He also held finance positions with Hybrid Capital and Freddie Mac. Some of his top transactions include:
6100 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA $65,000,000.00
Olympia House $71,000,000.00
2030 Broadway, New York, NY $85,000,000.00
9350 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA $30,000,000.00
120 West 44th Street, New York, NY $31,800,000.00
131-01 39th Avenue, Queens, NY $42,000,000.00
Packard Square $45,033,000.00
Mr. Aghravi received his bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Colgate University in Hamilton, NY. He is a member of The Real Estate Board of New York, the Young Mortgage Bankers Association, and a number of charitable organizations.

Michael April
JP Morgan Chase
Banking & Finance
Michael April is a Treasury Services Associate for Real Estate Banking, within Commercial Banking at J.P. Morgan. Michael works closely with some of the most influential real estate property owners, operators, developers and investors, providing them with a broad range of cash management and payment solutions that are designed to meet their specific industry needs. Previously, he served as a Private Client Associate with Signature Bank, providing clients with personalized banking and credit services, cash management systems and flexible financing. Michael received his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Johnson & Wales University with a concentration in Operations Management.

Christopher Barbaruolo
Loeb & Loeb
Law & Accounting
Most Recent Achievement: Represented a joint venture of private equity funds in connection with the sale of (and concurrent reinvestment in the joint venture acquiring) a majority of the assets located at the Gateway Center in Newark, New Jersey, in excess of $325,000,000. Totaling 1.6 million square feet of office space, the transaction was the state’s largest office deal in 2018.
Christopher Barbaruolo has developed a reputation as a highly skilled attorney with a practical approach to deal making. Christopher counsels developers, owners and investors in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including the acquisition, disposition, development and management of office, multifamily, retail and mixed-use properties; affordable housing development transactions; commercial mortgage, mezzanine and construction financing; acquisition of distressed debt; and joint ventures and restructurings.
Further, Christopher has extensive knowledge and expertise in ground lease transactions, having represented many clients in the creation of ground leases, as well as the acquisition and disposition of existing leasehold interests.
Christopher’s practice also includes representing institutional lenders in an array of loan transactions, including the origination of portfolio, CMBS, bridge and mezzanine loans. In addition, Christopher represents both landlords and tenants in all areas of commercial leasing and retail leasing transactions.
Education: Hofstra University School of Law, J.D., Notes and Comments Editor, Hofstra Law Review; Lehigh University, B.A.
Prior recognition: Barbaruolo was named “New York Metro Super Lawyer” in Real Estate by Thomson Reuters.

Brian J. Beller
Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP
Law & Finance
Brian J. Beller is a partner in the Real Estate practice. He has extensive experience in a wide range of complex real estate matters involving the acquisition, sale, leasing and financing of commercial property, with an emphasis on office, retail and restaurant leasing transactions both in New York City and nationally.
Brian takes a creative and practical approach to helping his clients, who range from developers, owners, investors and tenants, achieve their business goals. In addition to real estate matters, Brian’s clients also routinely seek his advice as outside general counsel for their various ongoing business needs.

Ariel Benyacov
Westbridge Realty Group
Commercial Brokers
Ariel Benyacov is an Associate at Westbridge Realty Group, joining the team in June of 2017.
Ari specializes in mixed-use, multifamily and development properties in all five boroughs of New York where he is known for his “hands on” approach, often involved in the sourcing, underwriting, due diligence and financing of his client’s deals.
In the past 18 months, Ari has closed over $65 million worth of real estate in Brooklyn and the Bronx. His most noteworthy transaction is 210 E 164th Street (Sheridan Court), a 131-unit mixed use building in the concourse area of the Bronx which was sold to the Lightstone Group for $23.8 million in January of 2019.
Prior to joining Westbridge, Ari was as a salesman for a building material company called M&D Door and Hardware, selling material to the majority of New York City’s developers. It was this experience that drew Ari into real estate. Soon after, Ari began working at the Stuyvesant Group, a group led by Adam Cohen, in management and acquisitions.
Ari’s experience working alongside and learning from both Adam and now Steven Westreich at Westbridge Realty Group, has allowed him to successfully identify trends and opportunities, particularly in mixed-use and multi-family assets throughout the five boroughs.

Daniel Ross Berman
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Attorney at Law
Among his most recent & notable work, Dan represented an owner of Broadway theaters in the sale of a mixed-use building in Times Square, with the seller retaining ownership of the landmarked theater currently at street level. As part of the purchaser’s redevelopment of the property, the purchaser intends to lift the theater by up to 30 feet above its current location to allow for retail space at street level, and will renovate the theater for the seller. This multi-year representation includes providing counsel throughout the design and approval process, and navigating issues related to the purchaser’s financing and construction. 
Biography: Daniel Ross Berman counsels and represents investors, developers, operators and financial institutions in a range of real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, financings, joint ventures, and developments involving commercial and multifamily properties nationwide. Many of the transactions Dan handles involve complexities beyond typical real estate deals, including unconventional deal structures and distressed situations.
Education: J.D., Columbia Law School, 2006; B.A., with honors, Brown University, 1999.
Prior recognition: Berman was named a “Rising Star – Super Lawyer” in New York by Thomson Reuters’ (2011-2017); he also was named to Legalease’s Legal 500 US in 2010.

Ben Biberaj
Meridian
Retail Leasing
Recently, Mr. Biberaj leased 505 Columbus Avenue, a 5,000 square foot multi-level restaurant in the Upper West Side. The property is located between West 84th and West 85th Streets, features 13’ ceilings, and seats 199. He represented both the landlord and the tenant, the Spanish Caribbean restaurant Don Pedro’s, which was previously a staple on the Upper East Side. 505 Columbus Avenue benefits from its prime location on a prominent restaurant block, surrounded by local eateries such as Viand Café, Prohibition, Blossom, Cotta, Good Enough to Eat, Joe Coffee Company, and Jacob’s Pickles. Don Pedro’s will complement this popular restaurant corridor with its unique menu and ambiance. The restaurant is a natural fit for the space, as there is a void for this type of cuisine in the area close to the American Museum of Natural History and Lincoln Center.

Lee J. Brodsky
BEB Capital
Developers
Having left his mark as a top commercial leasing broker with Newmark Knight Frank, Lee J. Brodsky is now at the helm of BEB Capital, one of Long Island’s most prominent family-run real estate development firms, steering it in exciting new directions.
Following graduation from Emory University’s business school, Lee was hired by Barry Gosin at Newmark Knight Frank, where he rose to the post of senior managing director, cultivating and guiding such major national clients as Marcum LLP, Creative Artists Agency and Bank United.
After a decade at Newmark, Lee assumed the reins as CEO of the Port Washington-based firm founded in 1984 by his father, noted serial entrepreneur Bert Brodsky. Working with a multi-million square foot portfolio – consisting primarily of industrial and multifamily properties on Long Island – Lee has begun creating a significant multifamily footprint for BEB Capital in Manhattan, while expanding and upgrading the firm’s industrial assets in Nassau County. “Our objective is to become as significant a player in the five boroughs as we are on Long Island,” he says.
BEB Capital’s growth, however, is not all that occupies Lee’s attention. He continues his relationship with Newmark Knight Frank, overseeing the major accounts he handled there, and he sits on the boards of four healthcare-related institutions. “I’m following my father’s sterling example about the importance of devotion to community welfare and philanthropy,” he explains. “Success in business isn’t complete until you return something to the communities that made it possible.”

David Burman
Engel Burman Group
Building Development Management & Construction
The acquisition, design and development of The Bristal at York Avenue; the acquisition of a parcel located on the Southeast corner of 86th street and York Avenue in Manhattan, containing six buildings. David was involved in the design of a 14-story, 132-unit assisted living community catering to residents with Alzheimer’s Disease. Final approvals were recently obtained to start construction with a scheduled groundbreaking of March 1, 2019.
David is an innovative real estate owner/developer and a partner with The Engel Burman Group since 2003. He is involved in a broad spectrum of real estate disciplines, with an emphasis on acquisitions, project planning, municipal approvals, site planning, architecture, design and pre-construction. His current efforts include all aspects of Engel Burman strategic development including residential projects, assisted living facilities, as well as commercial andretail developments throughout the eastern seaboard.
David acquired a Bachelors of Business Administration degree from The University of Miami, majoring in Finance, with an emphasis on Real Estate. David also holds a Grande Diploma from The French Culinary Institute with a concentration in Classic French Culinary Arts.
He brings to his career a strong multifaceted approach to meeting the demands of real estate, differentiated by a strong work ethic and an artistic eye toward bringing about success in the marketplace.

Michael Cardillo,
Compass Commercial
Commercial Brokers
In just a few years, Michael Cardillo has become a household name in the world of East Brooklyn
commercial real estate. He began his career in the investment sales division at Corcoran where he
sourced, negotiated and structured the terms of sale of several successful transactions including The East NY Development Portfolio, 525 St. Marks Place, 2178-2182 Pitkin Avenue, 1565 Ralph Avenue, 2817 Atlantic Avenue, 126-94 Willets Point Blvd and 520 Liberty Avenue. Cardillo set record pricing for development in East New York when he recently completed the sale of 118 New Jersey Avenue at $100 per buildable square foot. He serviced a majority of in-house sales and leasing referrals from residential agents over the firm’s eight Manhattan offices. Cardillo was also a Co-Founder of Middlegate Funding, where he was responsible for marketing and business development as well as firm-wide underwriting transactions on national accounts. Prior To Middlegate he was a portfolio manager at a long/short equity hedge fund, responsible for the execution of all trading for a $300 million long/short equity portfolio and the management of a profitable $150 million consumer-focused trading account. Cardillo is a native of Queens, graduating from Queens College at the City University of New York with a degree in Economics.

Cathleen P. Cassidy
Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP
Attorney at Law
Cathleen P. Cassidy is an associate in the Construction practice. She represents owners and developers in transactional construction matters. She drafts and negotiates license, access, design and construction agreements. As a litigator, Cathleen has experience litigating claims related to license and access agreements as well as construction contracts.

Allison Chiaramonte
Warburg Realty
Residential
A trailblazer at Warburg Realty, Allison Chiaramonte sets the bar for luxury real estate experiences and has been recognized as a rising star at the legacy brokerage. Experienced in the Upper East Side and Upper West Side but active in all Manhattan neighborhoods, Allison brings an enhanced understanding of luxury marketing, design aesthetic, pricing and negotiating strategies, and best-in-class customer service.
In the first quarter of 2019 alone, Allison surpassed her entire 2018 closed sales volume by $4.6 million. With a heightened eye for savvy investment opportunities, Allison’s extensive experience buying, selling, and renovating properties brings a professional perspective to every transaction, and she provides her clients with a rolodex of consultants and experts essential to the real estate process.
Name by Forbes as a “Luxury Real Estate Broker Killing It on Instagram,” Allison’s personal social media presence boasts over 5,000 avid followers. Even more, Allison is frequently quoted in top regional, national, and international media outlets, including publications such as The New York Times, Business Insider, New York Post, and Apartment Therapy on topics ranging from home renovations to family lifestyle. A mother of two young boys, Allison is a long-time resident of Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Gill Chowdhury
Warburg Realty
Residential
Native New Yorker Gill Chowdhury lives and breathes Manhattan real estate. Since starting his professional career in the industry at just 20 years old, Gill has quickly climbed through the competition to become one of the city’s top brokers.
Gill joined Warburg Realty in 2017 and has built the foundation of his business through rigorous research and data mining, cold calling, and forging relationships with customers and clients. He leaves no stone unturned in his 24/7 attention to sourcing and expertly representing his clients. As a result, in the first quarter of 2019, Gill is expected to exceed his entire 2018 closed sales volume twice over.
A significant key to Gill’s success has been his focus on top-notch customer service. Regardless of price point, Gill treats every client with the same level of dedication and professionalism, ensuring that everyone he interacts with walks away completely satisfied.
Gill’s listings and expertise has been featured in regional, national, and international media outlets
including The New York Times, Forbes, Apartment Therapy and Brick Underground.

Kyle Ciminelli
Newmark Knight Frank
Commercial Brokers
Mr. Ciminelli recently represented Pace University in a 30-year leasehold condominium transaction for all of 161 William Street, totaling 215,000 rsf. This transaction, along with his other successes in 2018, led to Mr. Ciminelli winning NKF’s NYC Managing Director of the year, an award given to the highest earning Managing Director in NKF’s NYC offices.
Kyle Ciminelli, senior managing director at Newmark Knight Frank, provides strategic real estate advisory services to both owners and tenants. Recently, he assisted clients Nixon Peabody LLP, WebMD and Goldberg Segalla LLP with the strategic development of their global real estate portfolios.  Mr. Ciminelli has also provided services for distinguished buildings including Trinity Church’s Hudson Square South Portfolio, 325 Hudson Street, 575 Lexington, 450 West 15th Street (Milk Studios), 130 Fifth Avenue and Industry City (Brooklyn).
Mr. Ciminelli’s talent and accomplishments have earned him recognition from his peers, including NKF’s Aaron Gural award for the broker best representing the firm’s brand and the Rising Star Award, which acknowledges NKF’s top broker with less than seven years of experience.  He has also been named as one of Real Estate Forum’s Tomorrow’s Leaders of New York and earned an SL Green Most Significant Lease GreenDeal award for representing Pace University in its 140,000-square-foot lease at 180 Broadway. 

Nichole Cortese
Loeb & Loeb
Law & Accounting
Most Recent Achievements: In 2018, Nichole Cortese represented Global Holdings, as landlord, on the approximately 125,000 RSF lease to Transperfect Translations International Inc. at the Nomad Tower (1250 Broadway). She represented Glacier Global Partners, as landlord, in the lease of approximately 50,000 square feet of office space to Soho Works, a flexible-workspace brand, at 10 Jay Street in Brooklyn. She also represented Global Holdings, as landlord, on the Bloomberg lease renewal of approximately 470,000 RSF at 120 Park Avenue. Another significant 2018 deal: Cortese represented Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America on WeWork’s approximately 235,000 RSF at 368 Ninth Avenue.
As one of New York City’s youngest and most dynamic commercial real estate attorneys, Loeb & Loeb’s Nichole Cortese actively represents developers, landlords and investors on all aspects of commercial real estate (CRE) law transactions (leasing and sales) on a national basis.
Nichole’s practice focuses on the representation of both landlords and tenants on office and retail leasing transactions, including related matters such as commercial real estate sales and acquisitions.

Gethin Davies
The Instant Group
Commercial
After six years delivering flexible workspace solutions as a Director at The Instant Group’s London headquarters, Gethin Davies relocated to New York City in 2016 to lead the east coast region for the global flexible workspace specialist. He leverages Instant’s workspace data to advise some of Instant’s largest corporate clients on the flexible workspace market, helping them develop total cost of occupation, (TCO) information so that client’s can compare the entire flexible market accurately and procure solutions that best support their business objectives, on time and on budget. His clients recently have included Turner & Townsend, Dataminr, GWI and LHI Group.

Jamie DeNicola
Cignature Realty
Commercial Brokers
Jamie DeNicola, 24, is an investment sales broker at Cignature Realty Associates  who has written over $250 million in potential sales with one of the city’s top performing investment sales firms led by Lazer Sternhell and Peter Vanderpool.
At Cignature Realty, Jamie dedicates his efforts on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. His most recent accomplishments over the last year include: sourcing a $60 million portfolio of three, six-story walk-up apartments in Yorkville; a $40 million seven-story elevator building in Carnegie Hill, a $40 million five-story elevator apartment in Yorkville and a $15 million, six-story walk-up apartment in Yorkville.
DeNicola grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, where his father worked in commercial construction. From a young age, he accompanied his father to the sites he worked on, including airports and large commercial properties. In college, DeNicola interned for a residential real estate development firm. These experiences piqued his interest in a career in commercial real estate.
He credits his success to his mentors at Cignature: Peter Vanderpool and Lazer Sternhell who set the tone and encourage DeNicola to emulate the work ethic and skills that make them so successful.
“As a rookie, I try to be a sponge and absorb as much information as possible – from my co-workers, industry periodicals, etc,” said DeNicola. “Additionally, I can accredit much of my success to my aggressiveness, determination and willingness to take risks.”

Lauren Dennison
Vocon
Designer
As Design Director, Lauren helps serve as the “voice” of design for Vocon’s New York-based colleagues, with responsibility for overseeing large-scale design projects; leading and molding the firm’s design team; and focusing on fostering strong, interactive client relationships. She helps corporations make decisions about the design and use of their workspace to support their culture and business goals, such as improved productivity, employee attraction and engagement, innovation to increase market share and real estate portfolio optimization. Her experience includes work with national and regional clients. 
Lauren started her career at Vocon 12 years ago in the Cleveland headquarters where she thrived as a designer and established Vocon’s environmental graphics practice. Lauren relocated to New York in 2013 to help position the firm for future growth and bring her expertise in Workplace Strategy to Vocon’s newer market. In 2017, Lauren became Vocon’s youngest Director and her influence has been a leading factor in the exponential growth in New York with 180 current active projects.
Lauren has a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from Kent State University. She is an active member of IIDA, a LEED Accredited Professional and a National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCDIQ) Certified designer.

Mark Fischer
Lane Office
Commercial Brokers
The entrepreneurial Mark Fischer, fresh from finishing his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, worked as a caddy and boat captain in Montauk, N.Y., hoping to meet people who could help him secure a position on Wall Street. One day he wound up caddying for Greg Burke, Lane Office’s CEO, and was offered a job there selling DIRTT and furniture.
In his five years with Lane, Fischer has handled individual projects exceeding 125,000 square feet and worked on over 1 million square feet of furniture/DIRTT transactions for major companies such as Flatiron Health, Blackstone, NY Road Runners, Broadway Technology and more.
Fischer has seen 5 years of continuous sales growth due to perseverance, hard work, and facing challenges head on. Although he never intended to sell furniture and custom interior construction solutions, Fischer now sees this as his job for life.
“Fish”, as he’s commonly known in the industry, has accomplished all this while running his fishing business, Stella Fishing Charters, serving as head of the Young Leader Education Subcommittee of the corporate real estate advocacy group CoreNet, and volunteering with the charities like Adopt a Platoon and Coalition for the Homeless.

Donal Flaherty
Bestreich Realty Group
Commercial Brokers
Donal Flaherty, 27-years-old, is a Vice President at Bestreich Realty Group, BRG, a commercial investment sales firm founded in 2016 that specializes in the sale of multifamily, mixed use and development site properties.
Flaherty co-heads the company’s North Brooklyn investment sales team focusing on multifamily, mixed use and development sites in Brooklyn. During the course of his 3 year career he has closed over 30 transactions valued over $100 million. In 2018, he won Generator of the Year award.
Flaherty has been with Bestreich Realty Group since it’s conception. He graduated from St. John’s University graduating from the Tobin School of Business and also played Midfield for the St. John’s men’s Lacrosse team. In his spare time, he enjoys activities like lacrosse, squash, and golf. It is this high intensity and efficiently that Flaherty is able to provide for clients as well as the real estate industry as a whole.

David Gheriani
CBRE
Commercial Brokers
David Gheriani is a Vice President and joined CBRE in 2013. He provides occupier and investor representation services to clients throughout Central and Northern New Jersey. David specializes primarily in the leasing and sales of industrial properties, specifically cold storage and food-related transactions along the New Jersey Turnpike Corridor. With David’s extensive knowledge of New Jersey’s industrial market, he leverages the CBRE global platform to advise his clients in an array of markets outside his core area. His clients consistently seek out his advice and judgement. David prides himself on giving all of his clients the most precise and up-to-date feedback on the state the market, drivers, trends, comparable leases and sales. His extensive background in site selection, financial modeling and property valuation analysis within the New York metropolitan area gives him the ability to understand his clients’ needs more robustly, which has resulted in a large number of successful transactions. Since working at CBRE, David has been involved in over 200 deals resulting in more than 15 million square feet—or more than $1 billion in total transaction value.

Dana Gold
Rivkin Rader
Law & Accounting
Dana Gold concentrates her practice in real estate, construction and landlord tenant litigation, both residential and commercial. Dana handles all aspects of a broad based litigation practice, from inception through trial. Drawing on her extensive courtroom experience, Dana has successfully argued motions and tried cases before various courts and administrative agencies.
Dana also teaches a course at Columbia University entitled Legal Issues in Building Construction, a required court for students pursuing a Master’s Degree in Construction Administration.
A movie buff and a fan of the classics, Dana majored in film at Columbia University, where she set out to become a screenwriter and director. After taking a class on the First Amendment, Dana realized, however, that her calling was law. Dana was once a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
Dana serves as a professor at Columbia University, teaching Legal Issues in Building Construction, a master’s-level course she has taught for two years.

Eric Hakim
Case Real Estate Capital LLC
Banking & Finance
In his role as an investment analyst at Case Real Estate Capital, LLC, Eric assists in underwriting, high-yield loan modeling, due diligence, and the management of all aspects of origination. Recently, Eric extended his role into asset management, applying his excellent skillset there as well.
Along with full workdays at Case, Eric attends the Schack Institute of Real Estate at New York University’s School of Professional Studies and, during evenings and weekends, is working toward his Master of Science degree in Real Estate, with a concentration in Finance and Investment. This spring, he is taking the “Real Estate Finance” course and has plans to enroll in the “Principles of Real Estate Accounting and Taxation” as well as “Legal Principles & Practices” courses during the summer. Eric earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in finance and business administration from Muhlenberg College.
Before joining Case, Eric served as a quantitative equity/options analyst and assistant portfolio manager for Toro Fund, LP in Jupiter, Fla., where he developed systematic-based long/short equity and option trading models and managed portfolio risk and optimization. Prior to that, Eric worked at The Clearing House Association in New York City and Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in Paramus, N.J.

Brooks Hauf
Avison Young
Commercial Brokers
Brooks Hauf is a Senior Director in Avison Young’s New York City office.
Brooks specializes in tenant representation with a strong focus on business development in the New York Metropolitan area. He recently closed a 19,000 RSF on behalf of BAL Group at 11 Times Square in the opening of their first NYC office. In addition to his tenant representation work, Brooks is also an exclusive leasing agent for RXR Realty at 530 Fifth Avenue, where the team closed a lease for 116,000 square feet for Convene, and recently won the leasing agency at 1140 Avenue of the Americas.
In 2018, Brooks was recognized as Avison Young’s Emerging Leader for New York City. In 2015, he was recognized by the Commercial Observer as one of the Top 30 Commercial Real Estate Professionals in the Tri-State region under 30 years old. After only five years in the business, Brooks had already completed over two million square feet of transactions.
Prior to joining Avison Young, Brooks served as Director in the Brokerage Services division of Cushman & Wakefield. In addition, he was the President of the Tri-State region for Cushman & Wakefield’s Future Leaders, where he coordinated continuing education opportunities, charity events, networking opportunities and community service projects.

Moshe Herskovich
Besen & Associates
Commercial Brokers
Moshe Herskovich is an Associate at Besen & Associates working as part of a team with Shlomo Gelernter, specializing in the sale of multifamily, retail, mixed-use, and development properties throughout the five boroughs. In his first year at Besen, Moshe was involved in the sale of two multifamily properties in New York City as well as a commercial office lease. Along with Shlomo, he recently sold two prime East Village buildings valued at $14.6 million. Those properties were located at (1) 113 East 2nd Street, a 7,000 square foot mixed use townhouse, and (2) 85 Second Avenue, a corner mixed use property. Moshe exhibits high acumen for valuation analysis, and has an innate understanding of real estate investment dynamics. His background and education in actuarial accounting gives him a quantitative edge that has resulted in early success. Prior to Besen & Associates, Moshe interned at another middle-market investment sales brokerage.. Mr. Herskovich quickly developed a comprehensive understanding of commercial real estate fundamentals, trends, sales, and NYC neighborhood expertise. He procured lead origination through phone calls, canvassing, and networking.
Moshe received his Bachelor’s Degree in Actuarial Studies and Economics from Queens College in 2017. Moshe lives in Monsey with his wife and two children. He is proficient in Hebrew and Yiddish.

Paul Hess
Lennar Multifamily Communities
Development
Paul Hess is a Development Associate at Lennar Multifamily Communities, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lennar Corporation. While LMC was founded in 2012, the NY-Metro team was established almost two years ago. LMC is focused on developing ground-up luxury Apartment rental properties in core locations. Paul is responsible for both growing the pipeline of deals and executing on their current developments under construction. He is dedicated to delivering cutting edge apartment homes in what he refers to as “the most alive city in the world.” His passion has always been in Real Estate Development, which he majored in at the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College, and also previously worked for Crescent Heights as an Analyst out of their NYC office. Paul is involved in various Real Estate groups throughout the region and is a member of ULI, REBNY, and NYPEN among others.

Zackary J. Hilgendorf
Quantum Real Estate Advisors
Commercial Brokers
Zackary J. Hilgendorf is a Vice President of Quantum Real Estate Advisors, Inc. Zack has extensive experience handling the acquisition and disposition of net leased investments across the nation. His skill set and in-depth knowledge of the nuances of net-lease transactions have proven to be a valuable resource for his clients.
Zack’s background includes retail development, investment sales of free-standing net-lease properties and financial analysis. Zack has been involved in the acquisition and disposition of over $150,000,000 of real estate in his young career. His work has not gone unnoticed as he has been featured in numerous national publications including most recently REJournals “CRE Future Leaders” in 2018.

Evan Hudson
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan
Law & Accounting
Evan Hudson counsels clients on the formation and structuring of publicly traded, nontraded and private REITs, private funds, DSTs, Qualified Opportunity Funds and other real estate investment vehicles. Evan has assisted clients in raising billions of dollars of equity capital through IPOs, follow-on public equity offerings and private placements.
Evan thrives on guiding asset managers desiring to tap the large pool of capital
controlled by retail investors in the United States. Evan assists successful real estate entrepreneurs and sophisticated institutional asset managers to build durable and lucrative retail-facing businesses while abiding by all relevant securities laws.
With respect to publicly traded REITs, Evan advises on disclosure issues, current and periodic reports and corporate matters.
Evan’s expertise extends to non-exchange-traded portfolio-diversifying investments such as perpetual-life NAV REITs, lifecycle REITs, “Reg D” products and DSTs. He serves on the Legislative & Regulatory Committee of ADISA and has participated in writings issued by the Investment Program Association (now the Institute for Portfolio Alternatives).
Evan brings unique experience in advising issuers as they respond to hostile mini-tender offers and assert their rights vis-à-vis commercial counterparties. Evan also deals regularly with DTCC’s Alternative Investment Product (AIP) platform, “back-office”securities custody issues and transfer agency matters.

Joanna Hung
CNY
Commercial Brokers
With over a decade of international and domestic construction industry experience Joanna Hung, a Registered Architect, has worked as a Project Manager for CNY since 2016, following her previous roles as a Designer and Construction Coordinator at distinguished architecture and design-build firms. She has overseen large scale residential, commercial, transportation and institutional projects, and has extensive experience with BIM applications, interpreting building codes, and optimizing permitting and TCO processes. Her primary responsibilities at CNY are interfacing with owners, architects and contractors, directing the project team, conducting vendor evaluation and selection, and overseeing the total project budget and construction process from conception to owner occupancy. Among the notable New York projects she has managed are: 250 West 55th Street, a mixed-use office tower with extensive amenities; the HS for Arts & Design / PS 59 – an innovative shared school facility with ground floor retail; and Van Sinderen Plaza, a 130-unit affordable housing and retail development. Internationally, she consulted on Godrej BKC Headquarters in Mumbai, India; and on Lotte Supertower in Seoul South Korea, among others. Ms. Hung earned her B. of Arch. and B.S. in Structural Engineering degrees from the University of Texas, and did architectural studies in Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy.

Laura Jackson
FTI Consulting Inc.
Accounting
Most recent achievement: She is currently working on a new project for a $3 billion real estate company that is going public on a foreign stock exchange, rolling up 70+ properties into a REIT structure.  Her team is performing REIT due diligence, running tax models and helping them set up an efficient tax structure.
In the last year, she has provided tax advisory services to some of NY’s largest owners of real estate on transactions valued at more than $2 billion. In the summer of 2018, she received the New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award for her extraordinary contributions to Rebuilding Together NYC, a nonprofit organization that promotes safe and healthy housing throughout New York City. The Jefferson Awards is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious recognition program for volunteer/public service and is the official recognition program of the U.S. Senate. The New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Awards is the local program for The Jefferson Awards and serves as the official recognition of the Governor’s Council on Volunteerism.

Dov Jeremias
Meridian
Commercial Brokers
Dov Jeremias currently serves as a Vice President at Meridian Capital Group and has been with the firm for more than three years. He specializes in arranging financing for multifamily properties and has closed more than $150 million in real estate debt transactions over the last 12 months with an additional $200 million currently in the pipeline.
Mr. Jeremias grew up in Brooklyn, NY, where he currently lives with his wife and three children.

Kevin Kennelly
JRT Realty Group
Commercial Brokers
Kevin Kennelly is a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson at JRT Realty Group, Inc. (JRT). Born and raised in Brooklyn, Kevin recognizes and appreciates the increase in outer borough activity, which has expanded his traditional Manhattan-based tenant representation approach since joining JRT. Kevin has a work ethic that parallels efficiency, productivity and finesse, assuring clients’ their desired result during the renewal or relocation process.
Prior to JRT, Kevin worked at Cresa New York. Mr. Kennelly has represented tenants such as seele Inc., Choice New York Management, and numerous tech firms. Due to Kevin’s repertoire and career growth, he has had the opportunity to represent Landlords as well. Kevin is currently working with Owners such as 60 Guilders and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Kevin is part of a team that handles approximately 220,000 square feet of retail lease negotiations between the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Journal Square Transit Center. Working with both Tenants and Owners has allowed Kevin to understand each party’s trepidations and concerns during the negotiation process. To provide more depth to his work, Mr. Kennelly has made it a point to join organizations throughout NYC, most notably The Ireland Funds America, New York City Chapter.
Mr. Kennelly graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business from Arizona State University.

Patrick Lennon
NAI James E. Hanson
Commercial Brokers
Since joining NAI James E. Hanson in 2013, Patrick Lennon has helped negotiate 100 deals totaling 2,956,177 sf, valued at $219,696,665. Working in conjunction with Kenneth Lundberg, SIOR, Senior Vice President at NAI James E. Hanson, Lennon has had the opportunity to learn from one of the company’s top brokers. Together, they completed 24 sale or lease deals amounting to 1,157,933 square feet and over $114,000,000 in 2018.
In a short time, Lennon has honed and developed a deep expertise in the northern New Jersey industrial market, with tenants and owners alike valuing his strategic counsel throughout every stage of the transaction. Lennon graduated from James Madison University with a BS in Public Relations and is currently attending the Schack Institute of Real Estate at New York University.

Significant Transacations:

• Sold – 971,485 sf industrial Pension Fund Portfolio
• Leased – 345,250 sf industrial Perth Amboy, NJ
• Leased – 271,176 sf industrial Mahwah, NJ
• Leased – 165,090 sf industrial North Bergen, NJ
• Leased – 145,000 sf industrial Piscataway, NJ
• Sales/ Leaseback – 119,264 sf Mahwah, NJ
• Sold – 108,237 sf industrial Mahwah, NJ
• Sold 19.5 acres of land Staten Island, NY
• Sold – 95,500 sf building on 20 acres, Harriman, NY
• Leased – 44,150 sf industrial Ramsey, NJ
• Leased – 40,000 sf industrial Ramsey, NJ

Adam Leslie
Blackstone Real Estate
Banking & Finance
Since joining Blackstone, Adam has risen through the ranks to become involved in executing significant Blackstone real estate investments in the U.S. across a variety of property types. Transactions he has played a key role in include Stuyvesant Town / Peter Cooper Village (the largest rental apartment complex in the U.S.), EDR Student Housing Portfolio (one of the largest owners, developers and managers of collegiate housing in the U.S.), and the Exchange Building (historic landmark building in Seattle).
Adam Leslie is a Principal in Blackstone’s Real Estate Group. Since joining the firm in 2012, Mr. Leslie has been involved in executing Blackstone’s real estate investments in the U.S. across all property types and has worked on a variety of transactions, including Stuyvesant Town / Peter Cooper Village, EDR Student Housing Portfolio, the Exchange Building (Seattle), etc. He was also Team Advisor for The Wharton’s School’s Management 100 Program. Mr. Leslie received a BS in Finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was a member of Phi Delta Theta.

Kabaye Liku
Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Attorney at Law
Kabaye Liku is a special counsel in Fried Frank’s Real Estate Department, resident in New York. Ms. Liku’s practice focuses primarily on commercial real estate finance and development. She has experience representing lenders and institutional investors in the origination and restructuring of mortgage and mezzanine loans for capital markets; syndicate and balance sheet lenders for the acquisition, development and construction of hotels, shopping centers, office buildings, and mixed-used projects located throughout the United States; and in the purchase and sale of mortgage and subordinated debt, including the negotiation of intercreditor, participation, and co-lender agreements.
Recently, Ms. Liku represented Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (BXMT) in connection with its US$1.8 billion financing for Tishman Speyer’s construction of The Spiral, a 2.8-million-square-foot office building located in the Hudson Yards neighborhood of New York City. The financing represents BXMT’s largest ever single asset origination and third construction financing for Tishman Speyer.
Outside of her client representations, Ms. Liku currently participates in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s 2019 Fellow Program, which identifies, trains, and advances the next generation of leaders in the legal profession.
Ms. Liku received her JD from New York University School of Law and her BA, cum laude, from American University.

Robert Mackowski
RKF
Commercial Brokers
Robert Mackowski is an Associate Director with RKF. His focus is both landlord and tenant representation in Northern New Jersey.
Robert has worked extensively on behalf of regional and national, landlords including Urban Edge, The LeFrak Organization, BLDG Management, Brookfield Properties, Toll Brothers City Living, Normandy Partners, Millcreek Residential and Ironstate Development Company among others. His tenant client roster includes Santander Bank, Jimmy John’s, Insomnia Cookies, Bluestone Lane Coffee, Ample Hills Creamery, SLT Fitness and Cool Vines.
In Hoboken and Jersey City alone, Robert has been responsible for arranging more than 30 leases. He was part of the leasing team that arranged leases at 110 First Street and 13,000 SF at The Morgan, both in Jersey City on behalf of BLDG Management and Toll Brothers City Living, respectively. As part of the assignment, he arranged leases with four restaurants – Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Los Cuernos, Menya Sandaime and Chef Tan.
Some of Robert’s recent tenant representation work includes representing SLT Fitness in a lease at 1420 Willow Avenue in Hoboken, Surf Taco in leases at 301 North Harrison in Princeton and The Yard in New Brunswick, and Metro Diner’s first NJ location at 275 Route 18 in East Brunswick.

Abe Mann
Progress Capital
Commercial Brokers
Abe Mann graduated from Seton Hall University with an MBA in Finance. His expertise throughout the capital markets enable him to effectively negotiate and secure various types of financing including permanent and construction loans, mezzanine financing, preferred equity and bridge loans. Abe has extensive experience in working with all commercial and residential property types. His proficiency in underwriting and negotiating, positions him as an expert in CRE financing in order to advise, originate and close transactions on behalf of high net worth individuals.
On behalf of Jeff Sutton and Wharton Properties, Abe Mann of Progress Capital secured $23,000,000 to refinance 324 West 125th Street. Located on a prime corner in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, the subject property is a newly constructed retail development anchored by CVS and Zwanger Pesiri Radiology. Mann negotiated and secured the permanent mortgage with Wells Fargo.  The noon-recourse loan is accompanied by an extremely low interest rate, full term IO and no prepayment penalty. The proceeds of the loan will be used to retire the existing debt and provide significant cash-out of vested equity that will be used to fuel a continued expansion of the borrower’s real estate investment portfolio.

Ricardo Martinez
HUB International Northeast
Building Management
Ricardo (Rick) Martinez is responsible for New Business Development and Relationship Management at HUB International Northeast, a leading full service global insurance brokerage. Based out of the New York City office, Rick’s concentration is currently on building specialized insurance and risk management solutions for a wide variety of businesses and financial institutions, including hedge funds, private equity firms, and real estate-related entities.
Holding over two decades of experience within the financial services industry, Rick has played an integral role in executing risk management solutions and proactively managing market exposures for a diverse and global group of institutional clients throughout his career.
Prior to joining HUB in 2015, Rick held several long standing senior positions in the financial services sector. Most recently, he served as a Senior Advisor with Norfolk Markets. Prior to that, he was an Executive Director/U.S.Treasuries Trader with Nomura Securities and an Executive Director with UBS Investment Bank.
Rick holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a concentration in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a licensed insurance broker in both Life & Health and Property & Casualty.

Nicole Mendelsohn
Colliers International
Commercial Brokers
Nicole Mendelson joined Colliers’ New York City office as a Retail Leasing Broker in 2016, specializing in both owner and tenant representation in the Tri-State Region. Nicole has been intimately involved with leasing transactions on behalf of several of New York’s most prominent property owners. Most recently Ms. Mendelson has been marketing prime retail spaces such as Bow-tie Building at 1530 Broadway, 1201 Broadway, 225 Park Avenue South, 655 Madison Avenue and 215 West 42nd Street. Some of her recent completed transactions include Toptable Group at 233 Park Avenue South, Boucherie at 225 Park Avenue South and McDonald’s flagship location at 1530 Broadway.
Nicole began her commercial real estate career at Cushman & Wakefield, where she specialized in retail owner representation in New York. Prior to beginning her career in Real Estate, Nicole was an Assistant Buyer at Macy’s. The knowledge she acquired at Macy’s has given her a well-rounded understanding of the retail marketplace as well as the world of e-commerce. These experiences have provided Ms. Mendelson with valuable insight into the right retail landscape and strategies to place tenants. She leverages this knowledge to serve her clients and relationships.

Jessica Millett
Duval & Stachenfeld
Law & Accounting
Jessica Millett is co-chair of Duval & Stachenfeld’s Tax Practice Group. She has particular expertise in U.S. tax issues that arise in complex real estate transactions, notably Qualified Opportunity Fund structures and cross-border investments. She regularly advises clients on tax structuring and documentation for Qualified Opportunity Funds, real estate acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings and refinancings, including inbound and outbound investments, and structures involving REITs.
Most recently, Ms. Millett has been at the forefront of structuring investments into Opportunity Zones. She will be featured as #20 on the list of the Top 50 People Shaping the Future of Opportunity Zones in next month’s issue of Opportunity Zone Magazine (Secretary Steven Mnuchin is #1). To date, she has appeared in Real Estate Weekly, Bloomberg, The Real Deal, The Commercial Observer, and The Wall Street Journal and she has made numerous presentations to industry groups.
Ms. Millett ensures that tax advice is not merely an afterthought to a transaction, but instead an integral part of the deal from the very beginning. She is able to translate complex tax concepts into simple and straightforward issues, and clients appreciate that she is business savvy and understands the industry as well as the current market.

Justin Montero
Compass
Residential Brokers
I have always been interested in real estate as a career. On the job and in the trenches, I educated myself along the way and understand everything involved in helping clients have a successful home search experience.
Being born and raised in Greenwich Village, gave me inherent education with first-hand knowledge of neighborhoods and their nuances.
No matter where my clients want to live, I’m genuinely excited to guide them and show them the best neighborhoods for their unique needs. Interacting with people comes naturally to me, as I also have a background in the hospitality industry.
As a Division 1 athlete, I understand the importance of focus, discipline and competitive spirit. Outside of work, I maintain a strict exercise regimen which includes weight lifting, aerobics and the occasional pick up soccer game.
I was also a co-founder of Dormless NYC. My platform offers a seamless way to transition students from a dorm to their first apartment. Building tons of relationships with schools as well as students, I have leased over 80 rentals.
I currently have 30 rental exclusives and 344 sale exclusives. I’m excited to be doing what I love in the best city in the world!

Timothy Pond
Colliers International
Commercial Brokers
Timothy Pond started working at Colliers International in 2013 after graduating from College of the Holy Cross. He has worked in very close association with the 45-year industry veteran, Robert L. Freedman. His initial project was 501 Madison Avenue, an art deco office building on the northeast corner of 52nd Street and Madison Avenue. He worked with Bob and Kevin Wang, the asset manager for the project where he was able to gain a great deal of exposure to a broad array of skillsets. He also gained keen insight into the debt markets, construction markets, marketing and landlord representation. He has subsequently been retained by Kevin Wang’s development entity KRW Realty, for the redevelopment of 126,000 square feet boutique complex of buildings, 303 West 42nd Street and 300 West 43rd Street dubbed The Hive. Tim has been engaged in specialty retail having represented The Yale Club for the redevelopment of their retail podium and is a key member of the IKEA project team supporting IKEA in their urban strategy.
Tim’s principle thrust, as his career continues to evolve, is in tenant representation with a concentration in the financial services and the technology sectors where he has concluded a host of transactions in virtually all of New York City’s submarkets. He feels that his broad background in the real estate markets will position him exquisitely for future complex leasing transactions.

Gerald Nicholls
Langan
Construction
Gerald (Gerry) Nicholls is an associate at Langan focused on brownfield redevelopment and multidiscipline engineering in New York City. Throughout his career, Gerry has earned a positive reputation among clients and colleagues who rely upon him to solve complex environmental issues and deliver successful environmental remediation projects on schedule.
While Gerry has quickly risen through the ranks during his 15-year career, his interest in the environment began long before he was in a professional setting. As a child, he regularly accompanied his father – a former director at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – on trips to fish hatcheries and spill sites along the Delaware River. Those experiences inspired him to attend public meetings on topics such as regulatory notification rules and the epidemiologic studies.
After earning an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology, Gerry embarked on a career in environmental consulting, working on a variety of projects ranging from former Air Force facilities in Vietnam and the Aleutian Islands to brownfield cleanups in the five boroughs.
Outside of work, Gerry spends his time with his two young children, enjoys the outdoors, and supports his community through the Jersey City Village Neighborhood Association.

Jonathan Ninnis
OC Development Management
Construction
Through the acquisition of Metropolitan Building Services by OC Commercial, Jonathan serves as Principal and President of the OC Development Management.  OC is an owner focused, Development Management Services firm providing turn key development management from project inception through construction and occupancy for varying types of commercial projects.  As the firm’s President, Mr. Ninnis remains actively involved in the daily execution of OC’s projects while also setting the strategic direction of the company and leading all business development efforts.
Mr. Ninnis brings to the table more than 18 years of experience and unlike many others in the field, a foundation in architecture with a highly technical background and knowledge in both design and construction.  This expertise by nature creates a pro-active rather than reactive management style and allows a strategic approach to the many facets of completing a complex project.
Prior to founding OC Development Management, Mr. Ninnis has held positions throughout the Real Estate Industry including Vice President of Development at L&L Holding Company, Senior Associate at VVA Project Managers, and Managing Agent at Citi for Cushman and Wakefield.  These positions have allowed Jonathan to complete prestigious projects for many well-known clients such as Citi, JP Morgan, NYU Langone Medical Center, City University of New York, the Union Club of the City of New York, Beacon Capital and many others.  Over the course of his career, Jonathan has completed over $800 million in projects spanning across 4.5 million square feet of real estate throughout the greater NYC, NJ, and Boston areas.
Mr. Ninnis is a registered architect and holds a Bachelors of Architecture degree from New Jersey Institute of Technology.  Jonathan also serves on NJIT’s, Dean’s Executive Counsel. 

Jared E. Paioff
Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas LLP
Law & Accounting
Jared E. Paioff is a partner at Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas LLP. His extensive real estate litigation experience, at trial and appellate levels, cover construction defects in residential condominiums, real property contract disputes, trespass and air rights disputes, violations of commercial leases, director and officer liability issues, and breaches of AIA and construction agreements. Paioff provides general counseling to the boards and managing agents of SSRGA’s cooperative and condominium clients, and defends and prosecutes actions on their behalves concerning transient occupancy and subletting issues to alteration and property damage disputes with unit owners, tenants, sponsors, and neighboring buildings. Paioff also counsels owners, operators, and developers of multi-family and residential condominium properties in transactions, litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
Paioff’s commercial practice encompasses business litigation on behalf of corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and individuals. He has represented SSRGA’s clients in matters involving disputes over commercial and advertising contracts, non-compete agreements, employment disputes, copyright infringement and theft of trade secret actions, bankruptcy proceedings, and commercial collection matters.
Paioff is admitted to the bar of the State of New York, the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Heather Payson
Vidaris
Sustainable Real Estate
Heather Payson’s work as a sustainability strategist and advocate is grounded in her dedication to improving the performance of the built environment. Heather’s passion for sustainability, coupled with her pragmatic understanding of the A/E/C industry, yield a distinctive ability to drive sustainability agendas for large scale, high profile, and complex projects.
Prior to her current role at Vidaris, Heather spent 6 years at a sustainability consultancy focused on New York City’s legislative landscape. Through this work, Heather was deeply engaged in the implementation and iterative development of the 2009 Greener Greeter Buildings local laws, helping to shape a piece of legislation that would become a model for cities across the country.
As an Associate at Vidaris today, Heather delivers LEED Certification services and advises on strategies for improved occupant health and wellness, energy efficiency, and overall environmental performance. Heather’s portfolio at the firm includes several significant projects underway in NYC including Heatherwick Studio’s first residential design, 515 West 18th Street and Trinity Church’s 74 Trinity Place. Most notable however is Heather’s ongoing and extensive involvement in the Hudson Yards development. Heather has championed the megaproject’s aggressive LEED Certification goals for individual towers and the newly constructed neighborhood as a whole.

Michael Phillipou
Venable LLP
Law & Accounting
Michael Phillipou supports owners, tenants, and developers of real estate with design, construction, development, leasing, land use, acquisition, and disposition. Michael advises clients on capital construction and expansion, P3, infrastructure, renovation, leasing, purchase and sale, joint venture, condominium and cooperative, and financing projects.
From the World Trade Center site to Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town, Michael’s career has spanned projects that define New York. He is integral to two of New York’s biggest infrastructure projects–advising Amtrak on the redevelopment of Moynihan Station and the Hudson Yards/Gateway Tunnel project. In one of the largest sales in 2018, Michael represented Waterfront N.Y. in the $880 million sale of the Terminal Stores Building. He represents several New York institutions, including New York Road Runners, in lease, sale, and construction projects, and the Public Theater in the revitalization of the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, scheduled to begin in 2020.
He devotes time to the New York City Bar Association’s Diversity Fellowship program, and represents pro bono clients through the asylum process. He is a speaker at New York Law School’s “Rooftop Project,” an annual conference focused on giving nonprofits the tools to pursue their missions through real estate.

Brandon Polakoff
Avison Young
Commercial Broker
Brandon Polakoff is a Director on the Tri-State Investment Sales group of Avison Young’s New York City office specializing in multi-family and mixed-use assets.
Previously, Brandon was an Associate Director in the Investment Sales Group at Cushman & Wakefield in New York. He has been involved in sales with an aggregate value of $2 billion. Brandon was named one of Commercial Observer’s Top Leasing and Sales Professionals of 2018 and is a recipient of Connect Media’s Next Generation Award for 2018.
Brandon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Trinity College and participated in the Business Bridge Program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in 2010. He currently serves as an academic tutor for Harlem Lacrosse, a school-based non-profit organization that provides at-risk youth with academic support, mentoring, leadership training, college readiness, career exploration, admissions counseling and lacrosse instruction.

Trystan Polsinelli
Compass Commercial
Commercial Brokers
Growing up in Manhattan sparked my passion for real estate at an early age. I started my first internship when I turned 15, doing basic property shark searches and filing setups. Eager to learn more, I continued to intern at various brokerage firms, every summer and every break, to learn the fundamentals of the industry. Getting my commercial real estate career started in August was a dream come true and my hunger to learn paid off quickly. Through cold calling and canvassing, I successfully won the exclusive on four Manhattan properties. My first sales transaction was 262-272 Mott Street. The retail condo had just been sold to a private investor, but after diligent research we believed there was money left on the table. After intense negations, we were able to sell three retail condos for $3,000 per square foot. I was fortunate to close my first deal within the first few months of my career as a licensed agent. I learned that perseverance pays off. While we are in challenging times, keeping a positive outlook has enabled me to focus and keep an eye on the goal. Every day is an adventure!

Dan Reider
Newmark Knight Frank
Commercial Brokers
Dan Reider joined Newmark Knight Frank’s Rutherford, New Jersey office in 2013. Specializing in tenant representation, landlord representation, and corporate services, Dan partners with his clients to develop and implement real estate strategies that meet the financial, operational, and cultural objectives of his clients. Areas of specialization include location strategy, site selection, portfolio strategy and lease negotiations.
Mr. Reider has represented a wide range of clients, including Terumo Medical Corporation, Elliott Management, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group, Reed Elsevier, Signature Acquisitions, American Equities Partners, and Onyx Equities. Recently, he advised Sound Healthcare Communications and Lerner David on their respective headquarters projects.
Prior to joining Newmark Knight Frank, Dan worked with Deluccia Commercial Group at Century 21 Van Syckel-Golden Post in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

Taylor Reynolds
Cushman & Wakefield
Commercial Brokers
Taylor Reynolds joined Cushman & Wakefield’s Retail Services Group in 2016. Taylor provides brokerage support to retailers and landlords in connection with assignments in New York and other select markets nationally. Her focus is on strategic planning and the development and execution of thoughtful leasing strategies for retailers and landlords. Prior to Cushman & Wakefield, Taylor interned at Hermes of Paris, Louis Vuitton, and Tommy Hilfiger.
Clients Served
Tenants: Alexander McQueen, Emily Pizza, Forever 21, Gucci, JPMorgan Chase, Lacoste, Muji, Paige Denim, Polestar, Tie Bar, UNTUCKit and Vince

Tom Reynolds
Bestreich
Commercial Brokers
Tom Reynolds is a Vice President at BRG specializing in Investment Sales and Advisory Services. He is responsible for originating and executing the sale of all asset types, with a focus on Northeast/Central Brooklyn and emerging markets, including Ridgewood. He is also BRG’s development and conversion site specialist.
He has successfully brokered 50+ transactions, totaling over $110 million. His services have also provided clients with professional guidance to improve property performance and value.
Among many honors, Tom was named one of Commercial Observer’s Top 30 under 30 Brokers in NYC. His sales have been featured in a variety of real estate publications. Previously, he worked at Marcus & Millichap and was the top earning rookie for 2015.
Tom graduated with a degree in Sociology from Virginia Tech, where he was a member on the varsity wrestling team.

Ian Rice
SCG Retail
Retail Leasing
Ian Rice is an Associate at SCG-Retail, specializing in both landlord and tenant representation in the greater New York City metro area. Prior to joining SCG-Retail in 2015, Ian started his career at Bloomberg and SinglePlatform focusing on sales and account management. He is the exclusive broker for Ferrero SpA, one of the world’s largest chocolate and confectionery product companies. He recently secured Ferrero’s first Nutella Café in downtown Manhattan and represented SuitSupply for their first Brooklyn location at the William Vale Hotel, in Williamsburg.
On the landlord side, Ian has helped complete deals for F&T Group, Redsky Capital, and ABC Properties. Currently Ian is working with F&T Group on their new Flushing, Queens flagship development, Tangram, offering 1.2 million sq. ft. with 275,000 sq. ft. of enclosed retail space. Ian was part of the team that helped secure Regal Cinemas that will anchor the retail within Tangram and the leasing team will announce several other tenants who have signed onto the project soon.
Having grown up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, post college, Ian jumped across the Hudson and lived in Williamsburg and Greenpoint developing an expertise for the Brooklyn real estate market. He currently resides back in Manhattan in the Flatiron District.

Tim Rorick
Newmark Knight Frank
Commercial Brokers
Tim Rorick joined Newmark Knight Frank in February 2012 and currently serves as a senior managing director in the company’s Stamford, Connecticut office where he specializes in tenant and landlord representation as well as property disposition in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
Mr. Rorick has significant expertise in representing large office tenants and helping them reduce occupancy costs through space optimization. Prominent clients include Stamford Hospital, WWE, HomeServe USA, Littlejohn & Co, ADP, and Reproductive Medicine Associates. Mr. Rorick also represents numerous prestigious landlords as their exclusive leasing agent including Building & Land Technology (BLT), Cambridge-Hanover, Collins Enterprises, Riverbend Technology, Realview of CT, ClearRock Properties, and Paragon Realty Group. He recently negotiated a 173,000 square-foot lease for FactSet in Norwalk, Connecticut on behalf of BLT, for which he was recognized with NAIOP’s 2018 Fairfield County Lease of the Year award; and a 59,300 square-foot renewal and expansion for Gartner in Stamford, Connecticut on behalf of the landlord. Over the years he has negotiated more than $100 million in leasing and sales transactions.
In 2016, Mr. Rorick was recognized with the Fairfield County Forty Under Forty Award, and is a three-time recipient of the Co-Star Power Broker Award for Westchester & Fairfield County.
Prior to joining Newmark Knight Frank, Mr. Rorick was a senior managing director with Colliers International for twelve years in the firm’s Stamford, Connecticut office.
Mr. Rorick graduated from Saint Joseph’s University with a Bachelor of Science degree in political science, and holds a real estate license in the state of Connecticut.

Eric Rosenstock
Greystone
Banking & Finance
Eric is a loan originator at Greystone where he handles transactions for multifamily and healthcare properties across a variety of lending platforms, including Agency, HUD, bridge and CMBS. Before joining Greystone three years ago, he worked at New Vernon Capital.
Eric attended the Hebrew Theological College in Chicago, IL. He currently serves as Managing Director of the Eliezer and Maya Rosenstock Charity Fund.

Samantha Sax
Elad Group
Developer
Samantha Sax is Chief Marketing & Design Officer at Elad Group, one of the nation’s leading real estate companies, overseeing a multi-billion dollar development portfolio. In this role, Sax leads all aspects of marketing, sales and interior design, and is also intricately involved in pre-development planning and business development.
Since joining the firm, Sax has redefined marketing luxury real estate, molding the success of the firms’ trophy properties such as 108 Leonard, 22 Central Park South (22 CPS), 250 West Street and the mega development One West End (OWE) in New York, as well as, The Carlyle Residences (Carlyle) in Los Angeles.
Through groundbreaking partnerships with notable brands and meticulous attention to detail, Sax has created unique living experiences at Elad Group’s developments. The success of her efforts has drawn the attention and accolades of media and luxury brands around the world. Under her direction, Elad Group’s properties have earned numerous awards, and her strategies and innovations have led to some outstanding accomplishments.
From establishing the first ever partnership with Bergdorf Goodman that allowed residents of a luxury condominium red-carpet access to exclusive personal shopping and design services, to a penthouse furnished with the largest collection of Lalique ever, Sax has developed innovative partnerships with some of the world’s most sought-after brands.
Sax also led the launch of OWE, one of the largest new construction condominiums in Manhattan. Not only was this project the most successful building in Manhattan the year it launched sales, but continues to be one of the city’s top-selling buildings year after year. Sax also spearheaded the grand transformation of 108 Leonard, the 19th century McKim, Mead and White landmarked property in Tribeca which is being converted into a luxury condominium.
Prior to joining Elad Group, Sax served as Senior Marketing Director of Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, where she managed the pre-development planning, marketing and sales of new construction and conversion developments in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Long Island City.

Joseph Scarinci
MKDA
Construction & Design
Since joining MKDA, a design firm with corporate interior design studios in New York and Stamford and an innovative architecture studio in Miami, Joseph Scarinci has been a Rising Star.
He began his career at the firm, which this year celebrates its 60th Anniversary, as a CAD draftsman and has worked his way up to Vice President and Senior Project Manager.
Joseph specializes in landlord services, including building repositionings, lobby upgrades, prebuilt programs, marketing suites and more. He manages projects on Class A commercial office buildings around New York for leading owners that have included Vornado Realty Trust, Durst Organization, Boston Properties, RXR, Northwood Investors, Mitsui Fudison Americas, and Fisher Brothers, among others.
He is also lead project manager on major workplace assignments for traditional financial and FinTech firms such as SS&C, Epoch Investment Partners and LearnVest; media firms such as Cumulus and ChartBeat; fashion firms such as Sprayground and Outerstuff; and many others.
Joseph earned his Bachelors of Architecture from the New York Institute of Technology,
where he was a leader in student government and the Tau Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was one of 12 students chosen to participate in the AIA Regional Urban Design Assistance Team (AIA RUDAT), an elite program that pairs students with professional architects around the world

Darya Shneyder
Marks Paneth LLP
Accounting
Darya Shneyder, CPA, is a member of the Real Estate Group at Marks Paneth LLP, where she recently became one of the youngest professionals to reach Partner. She has dedicated her career to providing industry-specific accounting, tax and advisory services to commercial and residential real estate owners, developers and investors, as well as co-op and condominium boards. One of her areas of expertise is securing real estate reduction via certiorari audit filings.
Darya takes a multi-generational approach to her client relationships, working with owners and their successors to understand their mutual business goals and provide sound advice on how to leverage client resources for greater operational efficiencies and tax savings. With her finger on the pulse of New York City’s real estate market, Darya regularly represents Marks Paneth within the industry, most recently as a speaker at the Brooklyn Real Estate Summit, published author in The Cooperator and Commercial Observer and a guest on the popular television program “The Stoler Report.”

Roy Schwartz
Zetlin & De Chiara LLP
Attorney at Law
Roy H. Schwartz focuses his practice on commercial and construction litigation. He has defended architects, engineers, and land surveyors in professional malpractice claims. Prior to joining Zetlin & De Chiara, Roy was with a New Jersey law firm where he represented design professionals in the defense of professional liability and related claims. He has lectured on malpractice-related issues. His successes include procuring summary judgment several times by arguing that plaintiffs’ experts have provided inadmissible, net opinions. His experience also includes representing plaintiffs and defendants in commercial and personal injury claims and preparing appeals.
Roy clerked for the Honorable Anthony J. Parrillo, J.A.D., a New Jersey Appellate Division judge.
He is admitted to practice in the State and Federal Courts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York; and the Third Circuit. He received his J.D. from Rutgers Law School-Camden and his M.S. (Global Studies) and B.A. (Political Science and Economics) from Rutgers College. While in law school, Roy served as Production Editor of the Rutgers Law Journal and Vice-President of the Rutgers International Law Society. He participated in Hunter Moot Court and was recognized as a Top Ten Oralist. Roy also received the Richard B. Morris Prize in American Legal History.

Karen Schwimmer
Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP
Attorneys & Accountants
Karen Schwimmer is an associate in the Real Estate practice.
Karen represents owners, operators and developers in the acquisition, financing, leasing, development and disposition of property. She also assists lenders with commercial real estate loan transactions, and cooperative and condominium boards with governance issues.

Michael Scrima
Redwood Realty Advisors
Commercial Brokers
Michael Scrima is responsible for all multi-family transactions in the Hudson Valley region of New York. Prior to joining Redwood, he worked for a regional construction company specializing in multi-family housing development in the area. This experience helped Michael gain invaluable insights into the multi-family industry and was his motivation for getting involved in brokerage. Additionally, he worked for the REIT Annaly Capital Management, where Michael was responsible for analyzing; investments, derivatives, financing, income recognition, and expenses. Michael is a member of the NYC Metro Chapter of the CCIM Institute and is currently pursuing his CCIM designation.
In his spare time, Michael stays active participating in local CrossFit competitions, racing with the Redwood triathlon team, and multiple other sporting events. He enjoys volunteering for local charities, spending time with his friends and family, and watching the Mets, Jets and Knicks. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Cortland. Michael holds a real estate license in both New York and New Jersey.

Sean T. Scuderi
Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP
Attorneys & Accountants
Sean Scuderi is an associate in the Construction practice. He regularly advises real estate industry clients, including institutional and individual owners, developers, architects, engineers, general contractors and construction managers, in various commercial, real estate and construction business ventures and disputes.
Sean approaches each deal and legal dispute with a strong awareness of his client’s business, and legal and personal goals to provide tailored legal advice and services. Sean also acts as general counsel to his clients, identifying any and all legal services they may require and ensuring that their needs are best met and that their interests are protected.
Sean’s experience ranges from negotiating and preparing construction, design, and neighboring property license agreements to representing clients in complex legal disputes in litigation, arbitration and mediation.

Miriam Spira
Evergreen
Banking & Finance
One of the youngest members in the Evergreen family, Miriam is testament to the adage, “Age is just a number.” As in, big numbers. She joined us fresh out of school, with no formal accolades to prop her up. But within 18 short months, she leapfrogged from small-business inbound sales, to big-business inbound sales, to self-directed outbound sales rep.
She’s since set a new standard for workforce entrants. With little more than first-year sales relationships, she created a commendable pipeline of leads, referrals, and valuable clients. Her earliest premiums averaged $5,000. Now they top out north of $500,000.
Her secret sauce? “I’m not here to ensure my own gain. I partner with clients to get them properly insured while paying only what they must by the laws of aggregate finance.”
Her Rolodex produces the same sentiment: She always goes beyond her job description to benefit clients—even at no personal benefit. Whether renegotiating needless coverage costs or shepherding transition projects, Miriam has grown into a fine bridge builder and model Licensed Insurance Producer. Oh, and a Rising Star, if there ever was one.

Jessica A. Stanton
Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP
Attorney at Law
Jessica Stanton represents clients in commercial real estate deals and corporate transactions. Her practice and experience includes drafting and negotiating documents for acquisitions, dispositions, loans, and commercial leases and ground leases. Jessica has particular experience in representing landlords leasing office and retail space in New York City, as well as across the country. Jessica also has experience in co-working leases and representing tenants leasing space for their headquarters.
Jessica Stanton was featured in a special spotlight section titled “Ones to Watch” in 2018 in the New York Real Estate Journal. The feature focused on her start in the Real Estate law field, her success, contribution and the balance of professional and personal life In January 2019, The New York Post awarded a Golden Brick Award to a transaction that Jessica worked on with partners Samuel Ross, Hyman Kindler and Dov Brandstatter. The transaction was between 390 Tower Associates LLC, an affiliate of Omnispective, a Korein family company and Waterman Interests, LLC in its joint venture with a Brookfield-managed real estate fund for the long-term leasehold of the historic Lever House at 390 Park Avenue. Jessica represented the ground lessor and assisted in the drafting and negotiation of the ground lease, as well as facilitating the closing of the ground lease.

Matt Swerdlow
Ariel Property Advisors
Banking & Finance
Matt Swerdlow is a Director in the Capital Services Division at Ariel Property Advisors. He is responsible for the placement of debt and equity, with an expertise in multifamily, mixed-use, and commercial properties.
Matt enjoyed a banner 2018 after closing several complex transactions, including a $41 million cross collateralized pool of 23, non-credit retail assets across 15 states. Additionally, Matt placed numerous construction loans for multifamily, rental and condo developments in the NY Metro area.
Aside from debt financing, Matt has been successful placing equity for highly structured transactions. In Toledo, Matt raised a preferred equity investment for a 504-unit, multifamily community which called for each unit to be renovated in under 6-months. In Sacramento, Matt facilitated a preferred equity investment into a joint venture for a stalled luxury multifamily ground up construction project. The developer on the modular, 118-unit building incurred cost and time overruns, which required the joint venture to seek creative financing outside of their already closed construction and EB-5 loans.
Earlier in his career, Matt was an Associate Analyst at Eastern Consolidated, supporting a team of 30 investment sales brokers. Previously, Matt worked at a leading commercial real estate crowdfunding platform where he was responsible for the origination, underwriting, asset management and solicitation of senior debt, mezzanine debt, preferred equity, and joint venture investment opportunities to accredited investors and institutions.
Mr. Swerdlow received a B.S. in Finance & Real Estate from Lehigh University.

Christopher Terry
Kleinberg Kaplan
Attorneys & Accountants
Chris Terry is a partner with the real estate department of law firm Kleinberg Kaplan. Based in New York, Chris concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate and real estate finance law, with a general concentration in joint venture transactions, real estate development, sales and acquisitions, financing, leasing and real estate private equity. He has extensive experience providing legal counsel on medical office building and healthcare development, commercial leasing, and the sale and acquisition of hotels, resorts, and commercial office buildings. A diverse group of clients includes owners, operators, developers, lenders, borrowers, landlords, tenants and investors in sophisticated transactions in and across the continental United States and Hawaii.
Kleinberg Kaplan real estate partner Chris Terry was part of the deal team involved in one of the most significant hospitality transactions in New York in the past few years. Terry advised Elliott Management Corporation and GFI Capital Resources Group, in a joint venture to acquire The Parker New York hotel.
The Parker New York overlooks Central Park along the famed “Billionaires’ Row” corridor in Manhattan. The new owners have committed more than $100 million to revitalize the hotel and will add a mix of new luxury residential condominium units – that will boast floor-to-ceiling windows, and offer an array of unique hotel services and amenities.

Adam Thilges
Corgan
Building Management
Adam is a talented designer in Corgan’s interior design studio. He has become an invaluable team member. He perfectly balances the delivery of inspiring big-picture design while capturing the small, but significant details that result in spaces that wow clients and their guests. His relatable and charismatic nature allows him to connect with practically all personalities, having worked with clients ranging from e-commerce, technology, financial service and even into the world of aviation. Most recently Adam has taken a workplace focus for clients including Hodinkee, LinkedIn, Lock Lorde, UBS and RugsUSA.
Adam is involved with several corporate real estate organizations including CoreNet, IFMA and IIDA. He is also commits time to firm-led community events including the Annual MS Climb, Cycle for Survival and the Lady Savant Foundation Art Ware for Good programs. His dedication to his craft and the industry have led him toward industry organizations including: IIDA NYC Mentorship Committee and CoreNet Global New York Chapter Special Events Committee. Adam is a graduate of Iowa State University and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with emphasis in Interior Design.

Christopher Todd
NAI James E. Hanson
Commercial Brokers
Since starting his career at NAI James E. Hanson in 2013, Christopher Todd has helped negotiate 43 deals totaling 1,473,205 sf with a value of $130,539,514. Working on a team with Scott K. Perkins, SIOR, CCIM, Senior Vice President, Todd has become a trusted advisor on industrial sales and leasing by a wide range of owners and tenants throughout northern New Jersey.
Working in one of the nation’s most-competitive industrial markets, Todd has developed the ability to quickly understand real estate transactions and deliver counsel to clients, allowing NAI James E. Hanson’s industrial team to stand out. Todd graduated from Manhattan College with a BA in Business Administration in 2013.

Significant Transactions:

• Sold – 208,000 sf industrial – 200 Maltese Drive, Totowa, NJ
• Sold – 219,304 sf industrial – 615 Route 303, Blauvelt, NY
• Sold – 126,000 sf industrial – 7777 West Side Ave., North Bergen, NJ
• Sold – 82,000 sf industrial – 560 Jefferson Avenue – Secaucus, NJ
• Sold – 82,524 sf industrial – 140 Legrand Ave., Northvale, NJ
• Sold – 73,373 sf industrial – 39 Robinson Road, Lodi, NJ
• Sold – 49,140 sf industrial – 19 Central Blvd., S. Hackensack, NJ
• Sold – 22,000 sf Whole Foods – 110 Washington St., Morristown, NJ

Mary Torres
Modern Spaces
Residential
Mary Torres joined Modern Spaces in March 2014 with over two decades of combined experience as a business developer and community banker. It’s her love of the community combined with her professional experience in client and business development, which compelled her to pursue real estate in Long Island City.
Mary Torres has happily called Long Island City home since 2009 when she bought an apartment in Citylights – LIC’s first waterfront luxury high-rise condo. Nothing makes Mary happier than helping clients find their own perfect spot in LIC and she works tirelessly to guide them through the process of renting, buying or selling both residential and commercial properties in Long Island City and throughout New York City.
Mary’s superb communication skills, strong business acumen, and global market experience give her the ability to work with a diverse array of clients. Whether they are looking to rent, buy or sell, Mary ensures her client’s needs are met and moreover, that they are at ease with the process form beginning to end.
Mary holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and is certified as a Buyers Representative and a Certified Negotiation Expert. She is a registered member of the Real Estate Board of New York.

Taylor Ulezalka
Berdon LLP
Attorneys & Accountants
Taylor Ulezalka, an audit principal, has been with Berdon LLP for more than 12 years. She has extensive experience with respect to accounting, auditing, and tax principles relating to the real estate industry, and has earned the title of a true “trusted advisor” to her clients. She has worked with the some of the country’s most prominent privately-held real estate companies, including developers, owners, and operators of residential and commercial properties. Taylor also has a background in tax compliance and tax planning to closely held real estate businesses and high net worth individuals.
Her broad array of accounting, auditing, and tax expertise encompasses areas that include:
Preparing and analyzing audited financial statements on a GAAP and income tax basis and preparing related income forecasting models and detailed budgets
Drafting special purpose financial statements, including cost certifications, certiorari filings, and statements of operating expenses for escalation billing to tenants
Recommending techniques to improve operations and strengthen internal controls by isolating weaknesses and areas of exposure to potential fraud or misappropriation of assets
Reviewing monthly and quarterly reports prepared by management to assist owners in decision-making with respect to leasing arrangements, new construction, and capital improvement projects
Consulting on various tax regulations, including Section 1031 like-kind exchanges, Section 754 step-ups, cross-purchase arrangements, REIT testing, and other complex tax-driven transactions
Advising privately-held real estate companies, their investors, and other clients in connection with new tax provisions such as rules relating to bonus depreciation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and the Tangible Property Regulation
Reviewing the corporate and partnership business income tax returns of real estate clients to identify potential tax savings, and prepare tax projections for high net worth individual investors

Anthony J. Virga
Rosenberg & Estis P.C.
Attorney at Law
Anthony J. Virga joined Rosenberg & Estis, P.C. in 2012 and is an associate with the firm’s Litigation Department. Mr. Virga’s practice involves residential and commercial real estate litigation, as well as commercial litigation. Mr. Virga specializes in landlord/tenant law and the Loft Law, and is experienced in guaranty collection actions and petitions to sell property owned by religious and not-for-profit corporations. Mr. Virga has represented clients before New York City Civil Court, New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, New York State Attorney General’s Office, and New York State Supreme Court.
Mr. Virga received his bachelor’s degree with a concentration on finance from Marist College, where he graduated magna cum laude. Mr. Virga earned his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. Mr. Virga is licensed to practice law in New York. Mr. Virga worked at Rosenberg & Estis as a paralegal and as a law clerk before becoming an associate.

Richard Velotta
Meridian Investment Sales
Commercial Broker
Richard Velotta is a Managing Director with Meridian Investment Sales focused on the sale of multifamily, mixed-use, retail, and development properties throughout New York City. Prior to joining Meridian Investment Sales, he was a Director of Sales at Cushman & Wakefield (formerly Massey Knakal Realty Services) with a specialization in the Brooklyn market. Richard has been involved in the sale of properties with an aggregate value in excess of $500 million. Of note in 2017, Mr. Velotta closed on the sale of 35-01 36th Street, a 50,000 square foot office and retail building in Queens for $24 million, 162-168 East 82nd Street, and a 38-unit walk-up apartment building in Manhattan for $19.4 million. Of note in 2018, Mr. Velotta closed on the sale of a 28-building portfolio across Brooklyn and Manhattan for $100 million. Mr. Velotta graduated from Bates College with a B.A. in Economics and Philosophy. He is an avid runner, golfer, and currently resides in Brooklyn Heights.

Torey Walsh
Newmark Knight Frank
Commercial Broker
Torey Walsh joined Newmark Knight Frank in 2015 as a managing director in the firm’s Stamford, Connecticut office. Specializing in tenant and landlord representation in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and Westchester County, New York, he also conducts multi-market assignments for clients with national and global real estate footprints.
Mr. Walsh has significant expertise in representing office tenants of all sizes and across a broad spectrum of industries. He focuses on developing and executing thoughtful and creative real estate solutions that align with each of his client’s unique business objectives. Notable tenant rep clients include Indeed.com, Structured Portfolio Management, Stifel Nicolaus, Intrepid Aviation Management, Nations Equipment Finance, Keep America Beautiful, Newbury Partners, and The Benefit Practice Group.
Additionally, Mr. Walsh represents numerous prestigious landlords in their leasing efforts including Building & Land Technology (BLT); Cambridge Hanover; Spinnaker Real Estate Partners; RealView of CT, and Willett Companies. On their behalf, he successfully negotiated a 173,000 square-foot lease for FactSet in Norwalk, Connecticut, earning him NAIOP’s 2018 Fairfield County Lease of the Year award.
Other agency successes include the 59,300 square-foot renewal and expansion for Gartner in Stamford, and the corporate relocation into a 23,919 square-foot sublease space in Stamford for SpringWorks Therapeutics.
Prior to joining NKF, Mr. Walsh was a director at Cushman& Wakefield, where he was promoted four times over eight years.
Mr. Walsh received a Bachelor of Arts degree in finance from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. He holds real estate licenses in both Connecticut and New York.

Jeremy Wernick
Redwood Realty Advisors
Commercial Broker
Jeremy Wernick joined the team in September 2014. Before joining the team, he worked for a NYC based real estate investment group as an acquisitions analyst. He also worked at Fentin and Goldman, LLP handling residential payoffs as a collateral agent for various institutional lenders in New York State.
Jeremy graduated from Touro College with a Bachelor’s degree in Managerial Accounting, and was a key member of the Accounting and Investment Clubs while at Touro College. During college, Jeremy spent two years studying abroad in Israel where he thoroughly studied Talmudic Law, the Hebrew language, and improved his analytical skills while examining ancient texts.
Jeremy dedicates his free time to working for the Hebrew Academy for Special Children.

Jack Zalta
Rosewood Realty
Commercial Broker
Jack Zalta, 27,  is an investment sales broker at Rosewood Realty Group where he is a “Rising Star” entering his fourth year with one of the city’s top performing investment sales firms led by Aaron Jungreis.
Over the last two years, he closed $65 million in sales of multi-family and mixed-use properties working with buyers and sellers to effectively negotiate property transactions within the New York City metro area.  This year, he totaled over $30 million in sales that included the $10.2 million sale of a 54-unit Bronx apartment building, the $9.75 million sale of a medical building in Southampton, L.I. and the $3.8 million sale of a 24-unit building in Harlem.
Zalta loves what he does, and admits his success is attributed to his skill at listening to his clients. “With so much competition in this field, it is critical to listen to a client’s wants and needs to better understand what their objectives are — their short term and long term goals,” said Zalta.
Zalta, admits that it is “fear” that motivates him to take on the challenges thrown at him each day. He started his real estate career right out of high school working on renting beautiful high end short-term furnished apartments on the Upper East Side.
Before joining Rosewood, Zalta dabbled in retail leasing touring the streets with different retail tenants such as Gregorys Coffee, Sweetgreen, Dos Toros and Just Salad.
Zalta has a bachelor’s degree from Baruch College He is affiliated with Sheves Achim Gam Yachad which feeds over 100 needy families every weekend in Brooklyn.