Aaron Berson, CPA, has joined Gettry Marcus as the Managing Director of Gettry Marcus VRTL.
Pronounced “virtual,” Gettry Marcus VRTL uses virtual systems to streamline and automate processes.
Berson specializes in cloud-based accounting integration, conversion and implementation and will assists clients with developing financial and growth strategies.
A graduate of Binghamton University, he holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Accounting.
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Bijou Properties has promoted Chris Mazzola to the role of Director of Development to direct its expansion.
The new assignment expands on Mazzola’s existing role overseeing the development of multiple projects, including acquisitions, financing, design and construction, marketing, and leasing.
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GHP Office Realty announced the promotion of Brendan Hickey to Senior Director.
In his new role, Hickey will continue to focus on leasing space within GHP’s portfolio of 
properties while also taking on greater responsibilities in the sales, acquisitions, and brokerage fields.
Hickey first joined the company in 2010 as a tenant services coordinator and was later promoted to a leasing associate.
He is a New York State licensed real estate salesperson and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business in 2010.
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Armstrong Teasdale announced the addition of eight associate attorneys to the firm’s New York office.
Kenneth H. Amorello has over 20 years of experience representing cooperatives and condominiums in litigation and appeals, and before various administrative agencies.
He counsels clients in matters related to commercial contract disputes, cooperative and condominium governing document enforcement and housing and employment discrimination claims. I
Abraham Ally Dayon focuses primarily on real estate and business matters, and has extensive experience handling commercial lease agreements and other real estate transactions.
Jack Dayon focuses primarily on real estate matters. He also has experience with cases involving bankruptcy and financial restructuring, as well as loans and mortgages.
Denise DeNicola focuses her practice on cooperative and condominium law and other real estate related matters, including residential and commercial real estate transactions and the preparation and negotiation of loan documents for commercial lenders, commercial leases and construction contracts.
She has past experience as in-house counsel and asset manager, Thomas Juneau has more than 20 years of experience focusing his practice on commercial and real estate litigation. He has successfully defended clients before both state and federal trial and appeal courts.
Juneau also has experience representing clients in personal injury and property damage matters as a result of mold-related real estate claims.
Daniel Lavian has broad experience in all aspects of commercial real estate. He concentrates his practice in the negotiation and documentation of joint venture agreements on behalf of both “money partners” and “operating partners,” co-participants, preferred equity investments, workouts of distressed properties and loan facilities and special situations.
Marijana Predovan focuses her practice on transactional real estate matters, with extensive experience in cooperative and condominium law, and commercial lending. Her robust experience includes representation of cooperative and condominium housing boards, purchasers, sellers and lenders.
Jose Saladin concentrates his practice on commercial and real estate litigation. He has a depth of experience in cooperative, condominium and landlord-tenant matters.
Saladin has represented clients before trial and appellate courts in New York, Federal Bankruptcy Court, and various administrative agencies, including the New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development.
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Lee & Associates announced that longtime industry professional David Violette has joined their property management team as Executive Director.
Prior to joining Lee & Associates, Violette was Director of Property Management at NAI DiLeo-Bram.
He previously served as Senior Vice President for Colliers Houston & Company with responsibilities for a portfolio of 75 properties throughout New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania.
He services a client portfolio that includes Cabot Properties, Prudential, and Blackstone among others.
David received his B.S. in accounting from Northeastern University and received his CPA license in 1987.
He currently serves on the Executive Committee for the Industrial and Office Real Estate Brokers Association (IOREBA) and is a member of the American Institute of
CPA’s (AICPA) and the New Jersey Society of CPA’s (NJSCPA).
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BEB Capital has promoted Donna Gehnrich to the new position of operations manager
Gehnrich joined BEB Capital in 2014 as a paralegal. In her new post, she is responsible for maximizing the efficiency of the operations team, which includes researching and instituting forward looking software and policies.
Gehnrich earned a Juris Doctor degree from Albany Law School.
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Herrick announced two new partners at the firm.
Liliana Chang began her career as a corporate associate at Herrick after graduating from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2010.
She focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships and strategic alliances, financings, corporate restructurings and reorganizations; and provides corporate governance and general corporate advice to boards, committees and directors.
Her private company clients come from a broad range of industries including sports, real estate, hospitality and consumer products.
A member of Herrick’s sports law group, Liliana has represented professional sports franchises on numerous high-profile team acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures and financings.
Shivani Poddar is an experienced litigator who focuses her practice on commercial, securities, real estate and employment-related disputes in federal, state and bankruptcy courts and arbitration.
Shivani also has extensive experience in bankruptcy-related matters, in which she has advised distressed note holders and creditor committees.
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RFR has appointed Jonathan Lee Cohen as Head of Acquisitions.
In this new role, Cohen seeks direct equity, loan origination, and note purchase transactions in U.S. gateway markets, leading a larger team that RFR is continuing to build out through the promotion of Brandon Romanoff to Vice President of Acquisitions and the hiring of two additional Associates.
Cohen is a seasoned acquisitions professional with diverse real estate experience in sourcing, structuring, and executing innovative business plans for complex assets.
Most recently, he served as a director at Madison Capital. Some notable transactions he has closed are 71 Fifth Avenue and 606 Broadway in New York, 2000 Collins in Miami, and John Hancock Center in Chicago.
Prior to Madison Capital, Cohen specialized in the acquisition and asset management of real estate and clean energy assets at Cabot Investments. He began his career as an acquisitions analyst at The Praedium Group.
Cohen graduated with Honors from the University of Michigan, earning both a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.
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Newmark Knight Frank (NKF) announced that industry veterans John Ennis and Brett Lake, MAI have recently joined NKF Valuation & Advisory (V&A) as senior vice presidents in the Financial Reporting practice.
Ennis and Lake bring more than 45 years of combined industry experience to the Whippany, New Jersey office.
John Ennis brings more than 25 years of U.S. and international experience in real estate valuation and
analysis. He has served a wide range of clients lic utilities and individuals across a full range of property types. Prior to joining NKF, Ennis served 12 years with FTI Consulting, a global business advisory firm.
Brett Lake brings more than 20 years of industry experience focused on consulting and valuation requirements. He has successfully completed valuation and consulting
assignments for a complete range of property types. Prior to joining NKF, Lake
served more than 13 years with FTI Consulting.
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Hunt Capital Holdings announced
that Rachel Diller has joined the firm as senior managing director and Head of Private Real Estate Equity Strategies, bringing over her UrbanView Capital platform. Joining Rachel from UrbanView is Senior Vice President, Michael Saadine.
Diller will focus on building Hunt’s private real estate equity investment platform.
She will be based in the firm’s New York headquarters and will report to James P. Flynn, President and Chief Investment Officer at Hunt Real Estate Capital.
Prior to Hunt, Diller founded and was Managing Partner of UrbanView Capital, a specialist fund manager.
Earlier, she was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs in the firm’s Urban Investment Group (UIG).At Centerline Capital Group, she led the affordable housing lending businesses.
Diller began her career as a New York City Urban Fellow, developing transitional housing projects for New York City’s Department of Homeless Services, where she was the Director of Facility Planning and Development.
Diller serves on the board of Corporation for Supportive Housing and is an Adjunct Professor in Columbia Business School’s Real Estate MBA Program.
She earned a BA in Urban Studies from University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
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GHP Office Realty announced that Rob McNamara has been named Director of Operations & Management.
McNamara will oversee the day-to-day operations of GHP Office Realty’s entire portfolio, consisting of 20 buildings and over two million square feet. He specializes in the technical aspects of building systems as well as construction management.
During his tenure with GHP, McNamara has overseen the completion of over $15 million in energy efficiency, capital and tenant improvement projects.
McNamara has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Biology from the University at Albany and holds the Certificate in Commercial Property Management from New York University Schack Institute of Real Estate.
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Transwestern announced Robert F. Vicci has joined the firm as Senior Vice President to grow the firm’s property management portfolio throughout the Northeast.
Vicci was previously an asset manager at CenterPoint Properties, where he oversaw the operations of warehouse/flex properties exceeding five million square feet. A
A 30-year veteran of the industry, Vicci has worked for national firms including Keller Williams Realty Inc. and managed trophy properties including the Empire State Building.
A decorated army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he received his commission from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1981 as an infantry officer, and he holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
Vicci is also CEO of VetREST, an organization that helps veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
