By Steven Spinola
Next week, our industry will convene for what is always one of my favorite nights of the year, the REBNY Annual Banquet which will take place at the New York Hilton on January 15.
Tickets are still available, but they won’t last.
In between meeting new contacts, catching up with old friends, and schmoozing with the movers and shakers of real estate and government, you’ll want to keep an eye out for five special REBNY members.
The Bernard H. Mendik Lifetime Leadership in Real Estate Award will go to William C. Rudin, CEO & Vice Chairman of Rudin Management Company, Inc.
Barbara Fox, President of Fox Residential Group, will be the recipient of the Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award, which is given to REBNY members who provide exemplary service to their community.
The Louis Smadbeck Broker Recognition Award will be given to Peter Hauspurg, CEO and Chairman of Eastern Consolidated. This award honors an executive who exemplifies the characteristics of a successful commercial broker.
Daniel M. Kindbergh, Senior Vice President, Operations, U.S. Office Division, Brookfield Property Partners, will receive the George M. Brooker Management Executive of the Year Award, which is awarded to individuals of super accomplishment in the commercial management industry based on outstanding professionalism, civic achievement, and contributions to the real estate industry.
The Young Real Estate Man of the Year Award, will be awarded to Glen Weiss, Executive Vice President and Director of Leasing at Vornado Realty Trust.
Last but not least, there’s one more person who will complete the program of honorees next week. I was deeply honored when our Chairman Rob Speyer announced that I would be the recipient of the Harry B. Helmsley Distinguished New Yorker.
The 2015 Banquet will be my last as REBNY President. I will be retiring later this year after nearly three decades of what has been the job of a lifetime.
I look forward to seeing you at the Hilton to celebrate the positive impact of our industry, our distinguished honorees, and all of our 16,000 members for their support in making REBNY the most important voice for the real estate industry in our City and State.
There’s another event coming up next week that will take on an issue of critical importance to our future.
Buildings are a central part of life in New York City. They are where we live, work, recreate, dine, and more. However, the ways in which we use these buildings are also among the largest contributors to our City’s carbon footprint, and in the midst of Mayor de Blasio’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 2005 levels by 2050, it is important that we explore all avenues to meet this target.
In keeping with this goal, an independent non-profit has created the Building Energy Exchange, an exciting and original resource center which will be holding its ribbon cutting and cocktail celebration on Monday, January 12 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The event is being held at the Building Energy Exchange at 31 Chambers Street, and a number of political and environmental leaders will be in attendance, including New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, New York City Council Members Donovan Richards and Costa Constantinides, President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) John Rhodes.
Mayor de Blasio’s newly appointed Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, Nilda Mesa along with the mayor’s Senior Advisor for Recovery, Resiliency, and Infrastructure William Goldstein will join in marking the grand opening of this unique new public asset.
The Building Energy Exchange will be the first program of its kind in New York State, dedicating its efforts to developing and delivering innovative energy efficiency practices and technology to real estate, design, engineering, and construction industry stakeholders.
By doing this, the Exchange hopes to bring building owners and occupants the tools they need in order to significantly cut down on their collective $3.4 billion annual electricity bill, reduce carbon emissions and pollution, and be on the frontlines of an overall greener and more efficient quality of life for New Yorkers.
Going forward, we can expect a series of exhibits, research and stakeholder forums, educational materials, and projects from the Exchange, all of which will work towards these goals.
Among its current projects is its “Retrofitting Affordability” study, which will act as a road map for the NYC “Retrofit Accelerator,” a central component of de Blasio’s climate action plan.
The Exchange will be the first of its kind in New York State, providing critical training and many other resources to help accelerate the adoption of energy efficient projects and technologies.
“Our goals are ambitious: dramatic reductions in energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution- enabling all New Yorkers to save money while creating better, healthier spaces.” said Executive Director Richard Yancey. “We would like to thank the Mayor’s Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability, as well as the New York Power Authority and NYSERDA, for supporting the creation of the Building Energy Exchange.”
REBNY fully supports the Building Energy Exchange. In addition to pursuing goals which benefit every one of our members, the Exchange has come at a crucial time in our City’s development for the future, and will provide a center of learning and resources for energy efficiency and lighting technologies.
By sharing these practices, we can all continue to serve our industry and the general public
