The city’s leading residential managers were out in full force at their biggest annual event: the Real Estate Board of New York’s (REBNY) 16th Annual Residential Management Leadership Awards Breakfast on Wednesday, February 26th at The Roosevelt Hotel.
More than 350 attendees turned out to honor real estate trailblazers Dorothy Vermeer, Vice President of H.J. Kalikow & Co., LLC, who received the Residential Management Executive of the Year Award and Eva Talel, a partner at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP who received the Residential Management Community Service Award.
“Dorothy Vermeer and Eva Talel have made tremendous contributions to the industry and we are grateful for their tireless efforts and exceptional professionalism,” said REBNY president Steven Spinola.
“Residential managers have a vital role in maintaining the city’s thousands of residential properties both large and small, and we look forward to this event each year as an opportunity to highlight their tremendous efforts throughout the year.”
Bruce Ratner, executive chairman of Forest City Ratner Companies and developer of the Barclays Center arena, gave a keynote address.
He began by recognizing residential managers as the core of the industry and thanking them for their dedication to making life in New York City livable.
Quoting Jimmy McMillan’s famous line, “The rent is too damn high,” Ratner continued by explaining New York City’s rent burden and more than 75-year long housing crisis.
With the city’s population expected to grow from 8 million to 9.2 million by 2040 and the current 105,434-unit-deficit, Ratner stressed the need for commitment to finding a solution for the housing crisis and urged industry leaders to join him in contributing to this cause.
Dorothy Vermeer, who oversees H.J. Kalikow & Co.’s residential properties, was presented the Residential Management Executive of the Year award for exemplifying strong leadership and a commitment to the industry.
Vermeer received the award for her business acumen and dedication to the residential management business that has spanned 30 years and has been instrumental in growing H.J. Kalikow & Co.’s property management, marketing and administrative operations.
Vermeer, who received REBNY’s Community Award in 2009, has been an active member of the organization’s Residential Management Council.
She has also been involved with the Association of Real Estate Women (AREW) for 28 years, and serves on the board of the organization’s charitable fund, which supports Women in Need
Eva Talel, a partner in Stroock & Stroock & Lavan’s real estate department and head of its Co-op and Condominium Board Representation Group, was presented the Community Service Award for her outstanding charitable contributions to the real estate industry.
Talel is an adjunct law professor at New York Law School and a faculty member for the New York State Judicial Institute.
