Real Estate Weekly
Terri Adler
Duval & Stachenfeld LLP
Ms. Adler is a founding member of Duval & Stachenfeld LLP, the firm’s Managing Partner, and chair of the Firm’s Real Estate Department.
Ms. Adler is one of the most talented and creative attorneys in real estate and was named as one of the Top 100 female lawyers in NYC in Crains New York two years in a row (2019 & 2019) and was also named to Bisnow’s 2018 New York Power Women list.
Ms. Adler is an unmatched powerhouse in corporate real estate transactions requiring complicated structuring, which plays to her strength of being innovative. Ms. Adler’s success is achieved by understanding the business goals of her clients and assisting them in achieving those goals while helping to build their businesses.
While overseeing one of the largest real estate practices in NYC, Ms. Adler has developed a wide range of expertise in all areas of national and international real estate practice with a particular focus on complex joint ventures and corporate real estate transactions.
Most recent achievement: Named to City & State’s “Law Power 50 List”, which honors the 50 most influential people in law in NYC.
Antonina Agrusa
TerraCRG
Antonina Agrusa is the Vice President of Marketing at TerraCRG and is responsible for leading the firm’s marketing and communication efforts, both those in support of the firm’s client assignments, as well as those aimed at defining and communicating the firm’s brand and advancing TerraCRG’s profile and positioning in the market overall.
Prior to joining TerraCRG, Antonina was the Director of Brooklyn Tourism at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. In this role, she focused on curating all programs, managing community partnerships, communications, public relations and social media efforts for their tourism department, Explore Brooklyn.
A lifelong Brooklynite, Antonina was born and raised in Bensonhurst. She enjoys spending her free time exploring new places – whether it be restaurants, cafes, or different cities around the world.
Most recent achievement: Antonina Agrusa and Elyse Robertson spent September thru December of 2018 collaboratively redefining TerraCRG’s marketing and branding aesthetic to create a standout impression within the dense commercial real estate realm while sticking true to the company’s “Only Brooklyn” vibe. Together, the duo has brought a fresh, new design perspective and ideas to offering memorandums, flyers, advertisements, and social media that has effectively reached new and existing clients, and in the first half of 2019 has directly generated new business for the Company.
Maile Aguila
Swire Properites
Maile Aguila, senior vice president of residential sales, brings over 30 years of experience in finance and real estate sales and sales management to Swire Properties Inc, one of the leading real estate developers in South Florida and subsidiary of Londonbased Swire Pacific Holdings.
During her 20-year tenure with Swire, Aguila has led sales efforts for the company’s Brickell Key developments, an impeccable record that has generated more than $800 million in revenue for the Tequest Point, Courts Brickell Key, Carbonell and Asia condominiums and helped significantly elevate Swire Properties’ profile among domestic and international markets. Today, Aguila oversees the sales of the two luxury residential towers, Reach and Rise, located atop of Miami’s $1.05 billion landmark – Brickell City Centre.
She also directs all operations of general real estate subsidiary Swire Realty.
She is also a registered Florida real estate and mortgage broker, a member of Miami Master Brokers Forum, Who’s Who of American Woman, National Association of Women Executives, Miami Board of Realtors, etc.
Most recent achievement: Aguila was behind approximately $800 million in sales for the two premier residential towers atop of Miami $1.05 billion landmark, Brickell City Centre, bringing Reach Residence to 95% sold and Rise Residence to 70% sold.
Lori Albert
Cushman & Wakefield
Lori Albert began her career with Cushman & Wakefield in 1983 as a member of the Property Accounting group. She later joined the Midtown Research department and remained there until 1998 when she joined the New York Valuation Advisory group as the Senior V&A Administrator. In 2003, Lori returned to Research as a Senior Associate. In 2005 she was promoted to Assistant Director and in 2008 was promoted to Director, covering the Manhattan and Fairfield County markets. Her primary responsibilities include: overseeing daily operations, maintaining quality control of market data, providing brokers and clients with market information and writing the monthly and quarterly market reports.
Ms. Albert has also been involved with testing the new SiteSolutions V rollout and has provided valuable feedback for the new statistical reporting process. She has also contributed to data scrubbing of leasing activity for market activation.
In 1993, Ms. Albert was the recipient of the Employee of the Year Award and in 1997 was presented with the New York Area Research Professional of the Year Award. In 2004, she received the New York Area Research Professional of the Year award and in 2013 was presented with the Top Research Professional award.
Linda Aronson
JLL
In her 35-plus years in property management, Linda Aronson has mastered what was once a male-dominated field. She’s gone from raising her hand for new, more challenging roles at JLL, where she’s been for most of her career, to fostering the best female executives at the firm.
As managing director and regional manager for property management in the tri-state area, Aronson provides senior-level oversight of all property teams, ensures compliance with client strategies and objectives, and conducts business development and client relations.
Just as importantly, Aronson serves as the Americas Lead of JLL’s Women’s Business Network, where she collaborates with the leadership team to influence JLL culture in support of attracting, retaining and developing top talent. She also serves as JLL’s national liaison to the National Association of Female Executives.
Aronson graduated from the University of Cincinnati. She serves on the Virginia Tech Program in Real Estate Industry Advisory Board as well as the National Advisory Council for BOMA.
Danielle Ash
Duval & Stachenfeld LLP
Danielle Ash is a senior real estate associate in the firm’s Real Estate group. She has expertise in a wide array of real estate matters, including joint ventures, construction and permanent financing, multi-stakeholder negotiations and development projects, and complex fund formations, and regularly represents borrowers, lenders, sponsors, institutional investors, and developers in New York City and throughout the country.
Danielle is also a member of Women in Housing and Finance, Women in Funds and the New York City Bar Committee on Housing and Urban Development, as well as an active member of the Associate Board of WHEDCo., a South-Bronx based affordable housing developer and economic development non-profit. She was previously a guest lecturer for an introductory real estate development class at the NYU Schack Institute and is on the Alumni Board of New York Law School, her alma mater.
Danielle joined the firm in January 2015 from the Real Estate Department at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrisson LLP and is magna cum laude graduate of New York Law School, where she was a John Marshall Harlan Scholar affiliated with the Center for Real Estate Studies. She received her B.A. in Urban Studies from Columbia University.
Meghan Barlotta
Kimmerle Group
Meghan joined Kimmerle Group over six years ago and currently serves as Senior Director of Workspace. In her role, Meghan leads the division’s business development platform. She also manages the Workspace solicitation, purchasing and project management services. Her involvement includes overseeing every required aspect on the firm’s projects, from inception to close. Meghan has consistently delivered successful outcomes on complex, intricate projects with a close eye for design and quality that stands out in every engagement.
Meghan’s work with Kimmerle can be found both locally in the New York metro area, as well as throughout the country. Her scope of work ranges from large corporate interior furniture installations to retrofits and upgrades as well as providing branding and artwork consultancy.
Now with 20 years of project management and sales experience, Meghan focuses on building close relationships with her clients, through effective communication, scheduling and cost management. Meghan enjoys being a part of the design process and watching a project grow from a concept to a personalized work space.
Karen Bellantoni
Newmark Knight Frank Retail
Karen Bellantoni has more than three decades of retail real estate and merchandising experience working with both tenant and landlords.
Karen represents an impressive list of retailers, including J.Crew, Apple, lululemon, Ugg, Tumi, Land’s End and Madewell. She is responsible for regional and national strategic plans for these brands and others. For Intermix, she arranged more than 25 transactions throughout the US. She has also secured multiple national locations for L’Oreal brands Kiehl’s, NYX Professional Makeup and The Body Shop. Karen represented J.Crew in leasing several locations throughout Manhattan for its multiple concepts.
Karen has also represented numerous owners throughout Manhattan. Among her notable assignments are consulting with Related Companies on the Time Warner Center; representing Taconic Investment Partners and ING Clarion in leasing 40”1 West “14th Street to Apple, Hugo Boss, Moschino and Tudor Investment Corporation; merchandising and leasing Chelsea Market on behalf of Jamestown Properties and arranging a “16, “153-SF lease with Anthropologie. She also served as an advisor to the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey for the World Trade Center redevelopment.
Karen earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Ohio University. She is a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in the state of New York, and a member of International Council of Shopping Centers and Real Estate Board of New York.
Rachel Belsky
Langan
Rachel Belsky is a land use planner with 25 years of experience in environmental impact analysis, historic preservation planning, public reviews, and agency coordination. Rachel has worked in public, private, and non-profit sectors, overseeing City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) for large-scale developments throughout New York City. Her professional achievements include securing land use and zoning approvals for the Coney Island Rezoning, Alexandria Science Center, and full block development sites along East 125th Street in Harlem.
Prior to joining Langan, Rachel worked at New York University (NYU). While there, she mapped parkland and developed public space on the periphery of NYU-owned faculty housing blocks; obtained Landmarks Preservation Commission approval for a variety of NYU initiatives including an urban farm/teaching garden at University Village; and helped secure land use and zoning approvals for NYU’s 1.5 million SF expansion in Greenwich Village.
Rachel currently leads Langan’s land use planning practice, managing a fast-track environmental impact assessment for the Flushing waterfront rezoning, an office development in Long Island City, and concept planning for Sunnyside Yards. She is also responsible for client services related to federal, state, and city environmental reviews (NEPA, SEQRA, CEQR) and Uniform Land Use Review Procedure applications.
Most recent achievement: process for a large, multi-owner site along Flushing Creek, Queens. The CEQR assessment requires deft ownership, agency, and consultant coordination under tight deadlines and with several project variables. Rachel is meeting milestones and moving the project forward.
Jessica Berkey
JLL
Recruited in 2015 to join JLL, Jessica Berkey has been instrumental in spearheading the creation and expansion of the firm’s New York Consulting/Advisory Group.
Under her leadership, the team, which provides new business development, strategy development, financial structuring and transaction execution services, has gained both local and national recognition. The team has grown to 18 professionals, while the revenue has multiplied. She continues to oversee recruiting, training and expansion efforts.
Berkey also has been involved in some major iconic Manhattan leasing transactions, including BlackRock’s move to 50 Hudson Yards; Deutsche Bank’s relocation to 1 Columbus Circle; HSBC’s renewal in Midtown, and The Carlyle Group’s relocation to One Vanderbilt. She is currently helping Condé Nast in its consolidation and subleasing efforts at 1 World Trade Center.
Last year, she received SL Green’s “Green Deal” award for The Carlyle Group lease deal. Berkey also was invited in 2018 to attend JLL’s Women’s Summit, an annual workshop investing in the firm’s top talent female leaders.
Berkey started her career in Boston with CBRE. She graduated from Bowdoin College and lives in New York with her wife, a principal of a Bronx charter high school.
Ali Betts
Procida Funding
Ali Betts joined Procida Funding in May 2011 as Controller. In her capacity, she is responsible for managing all aspects of the company’s accounting functions and, is an integral part of our investor relations function. Ali directly supports Mr. Procida with program and investor initiatives.
Prior to joining Procida, Ali served as Controller and Investor Relations for Palisades Financial reporting directly to the partners of the firm. In her 7 years working with Palisades Financial, her main focus was working closely with investors, accountants, banks, and auditors, managing two investment Funds (Palisades Regional Investment Funds [PRIF and PRIF II]. Ali’s diverse background is an asset in providing the personalized attemtion for our investors.
Sarah Bigos
Montroy DeMarco Architecture, LLP
Sarah Bigos holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Rogers Williams University. She joined Montroy DeMarco Architecture (MDALLP) in 2007 and has since become one of her firm’s leading designers of commercial facilities, in particular cutting-edge offices for technology, advertising, media, and information technology (TAMI) clients. She has also developed an expertise in designing pre-built office spaces for some of the largest commercial landlords in New York City, including CBRE, Colliers International, Cushman & Wakefield, Capital Properties, and EQ Office.
Sarah is currently leading design efforts for several complex commercial building upgrades in Manhattan, including the 30 Broad Street tower in the Wall Street area for Tribeca Associates. This project includes designing multiple pre-built offices targeted at TAMI tenants, a lobby renovation, and building upgrades. In addition, she is also leading the architectural team developing a new design standard for ProHEALTH Care’s ambulatory surgical centers.
Most recent achievements: Over her 12-year career at Montroy DeMarco Architecture LLP (MDALLP), Sarah has worked in every design and project support position, which has equipped her with an extraordinary level of expertise and experience in the commercial design field. She leads and manages MDALLP’s entirely female project team in charge of Landlord and Agency Services portfolio.
Sarah is currently completing a series of very successful, upscale pre-built office suites at 747 Third Avenue, between East 46th and East 47th Streets, for the owner, The William Kaufman Organization, and property manager, Sage Realty. Sarah designed these pre-built offices as a part of the overall building upgrade that also includes renovations to public spaces and building infrastructure improvements.
Carole Bloom
Halstead Development Marketing
Carole’s impressive career has spanned over two decades of experience in the real estate industry. Working with some of the biggest icons in Manhattan management and development, Bloom has sold and leased over $2 billion in residential properties and has directed the leasing of over 30,000 rental units.
Bloom’s expertise encompasses pre-development sales, design consultation, marketing and branding strategies, repositioning for value add, residential leasing, development, and repositioning of existing rental properties.
Throughout her career, Bloom has cultivated relationships with the major players in real estate to work on high-profile properties, including Henry Hall, Riverwalk Court, the Apthorp, Love Lane Mews and The Corner. In her role as Senior Consultant with Imperial Companies, Bloom worked on the luxury rental building Henry Hall in Hudson Yards, which achieved over 90% leased in less than ten months, and the Watermark building in Long Island City, which achieved 95% leased in less than eight months.
Michelle Bodick
The Instant Group
Michelle Bodick is Managing Director of Sales and Marketing (Americas) for The Instant Group. She focuses on strategy, planning, sales and marketing across the Americas business. Michelle is a highly experienced marketing and business development executive and who has worked across outsourcing, technology and real estate industries. Michelle has applied her cross industry learnings to driven rapid growth of the Instant Group’s US business platform. Instant is now the largest listing site for flexible workspace providers globally.
In addition to the digital business, Michelle leads the business development teams responsible for market and client development. With teams across the US, Canada and Latin America she has helped clients from startup technology businesses to fortune 500 to navigate and acquire flexible workspaces globally. Michelle has also led a number of consulting projects, leveraging the depth of Instant’s flexible market data, to support landlords who are considering adopting flexible offerings into buildings and providing them with the confidence in their partner choice , data and commercial models.
Most recent achievement: Michelle has helped The Instant Group’s U.S. team complete over 2,700 transactions in the last year.
Amanda Bokman
JLL
Amanda Bokman’s unique insider knowledge of Manhattan’s retail and apparel sectors has propelled her success as Managing Director in new business development and tenant representation at JLL’s New York Midtown office.
Boosted by her 15 years as a CFO at J.Crew, Jones Apparel Group-Moderate Division and McNaughton Apparel Group, Bokman provides an understanding of the business and financial drivers of retailing that only someone who was once on the other side could offer.
She recently completed 300,000 square feet of dispositions for Nine West Holdings; a 52,000-square-foot acquisition for Adidas; a 44,000-square-foot acquisition for Levi’s, and a 34,000-square-foot disposition for Tapestry, which owns Coach.
She also is adept at working with companies from other industries, such as financial services, telecom, pharmaceutical, publishing and education. For example, she completed a 150,000-square-foot lease for consolidation of Touro College campuses.
Over her 30-plus year career, she has completed more than 10 million square feet of real estate transactions. Prior to joining JLL, Bokman was a senior vice president at CBRE. A certified public accountant, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from New York University, where she graduated as class valedictorian.
Laura Brady
Concierge Auctions
As the president and founder of international luxury real estate auction firm Concierge Auctions, Laura Brady is responsible for leading the company and its aggressive growth since its inception in 2008. In eleven years, she has driven the firm to over $2 billion dollars in sales and placement on Inc.Magazine’s list of the fastest-growing companies in America. She has been named “One of the 100 most influential people in real estate” by Inman News for the past four years.
Brady was originally a top corporate recruit to the Neiman Marcus Group when she was only 20 years old. But inevitably, a lifelong love of real estate drew her in. After rising to be one of the top-selling luxury agents in the country, Laura was one of few who foresaw the pending market decline and wasn’t afraid to take action. Other credentials include being a wife and mother to three daughters.
Most recent achievement: Laura’s most recent achievement is being named “One of 25 Women to Watch in Global Luxury” by Luxury Daily.
Hope Brodsky
Newmark Knight Frank
Hope Brodsky became a real estate broker and joined Newmark Knight Frank in June of 2000. Prior to joining NKF, she was admitted to practice law in both New York and New Jersey. She started as a commercial litigation associate in NYC and subsequently worked in NJ with Alan Wasserman, Esq., concentrating on real estate and brokerage commission disputes before transitioning into real estate brokerage. Working with many interesting parties and clients at Wasserman & Cooke prompted her to make the career change from law to real estate, where she has family including her mother, Seena Stein, a founding member of ICREW and her brother, Neil Goldmacher, who is a Chairman of National Tenant Representation at Newmark Knight Frank in New York.
Ms. Brodsky specializes in office leasing and her preferred markets include the Hudson Waterfront, downtown Newark and Metro Park, where she has represented both landlords and tenants. Notable tenants have included Citibank, JP Morgan Chase, Marsh McLennan, Fresh, Pashman Stein and Nukk-Freeman & Cerra. She has represented various landlords including Goldman Sachs, Dividend Capital, Onyx Equities, Lefrak Organization, Spear Street Capital and Matrix Development.
Ms. Brodsky is currently on the Executive Committee of IOREBA and a member of ICREW NJ. She resides in Monmouth County with her husband of 30 years, Rick Brodsky, and her cockapoo, Magic. She has two sons, Jake and Sam, both of whom live in New York City (one of whom is also in real estate, not surprisingly).
Most recent achievement: Over the past five years, Hope Brodsky has transacted over 1.3 million SF. Ms. Brodsky recently closed her 21st transaction in the Hudson Waterfront market which has been an area that she focuses on and specializes in.
Heidi Burkart
Dane Real Estate
As one of the only women brokers and developers in the region, Heidi has become a staple in New York City’s affordable housing industry.
Over the course of her 11-year career at Dane, she has facilitated the closings of 15,000 affordable housing units and has generated more than $2 billion in transactions. In 2019 alone, Heidi has closed 15 deals.
Valerie Campbell
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Valerie Campbell advises residential and commercial developers, property owners and non-profit, cultural, religious and educational institutions in land use, zoning, historic preservation and environmental matters in connection with major projects throughout New York City. Valerie’s work includes new developments, expansions and enlargements, and adaptive reuse and alterations in historic districts or areas adjacent to individual landmarks.
Previously general counsel to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and deputy counsel to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Valerie brings extensive practical knowledge and experience, from both the private and public perspectives, to her work. She guides clients through the complex regulatory processes at the Department of City Planning, the Board of Standards and Appeals, and the Landmarks Preservation Commission, helping shape applications that win project approvals and avoid costly and delaying public hearings. Her work also includes advising clients on compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and negotiating and drafting complex development rights transfer agreements.
Campbell earned her B.A. from Bryn Mawr College, her Master’s of Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her J.D., with honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law.
Valerie Campbell is a leading member of Kramer Levin’s elite Land Use practice in New York City and has represented some of the city’s major developers and institutions. She has a particular expertise in dealing with the complexities of New York City landmarks designation and regulation.
Abbie Cheng
TerraCRG
Abbie Cheng joined TerraCRG in February 2017 as a leasing associate on the retail leasing team lead by Peter Schubert. Abbie focuses on landlord and tenant representation assignments throughout Brooklyn. Prior to joining TerraCRG, she previously worked in construction management for a Manhattan-based general contractor, and also as a retail sales associate at UNIQLO. A mentor at the general contracting company guided and encouraged Cheng to pursue a career in real estate and get her broker license.
Abbie completed her BBA in Finance and Investments with a 4.0 GPA at Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business, where she continues to work as a teaching assistant, workshop leader, and calculus tutor. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Delta, the oldest honor society at Baruch College.
Abbie likes to run, bike, and write calligraphy during her spare time. Her favorite event in the borough is the Brooklyn Flea in Dumbo – a place where you can find vintage and old-school crafts while enjoying the best view of the Brooklyn Bridge. She is a Brooklyn resident and speaks Mandarin and Cantonese.
Most recent achievement: Abbie has closed several exciting Brooklyn deals this year including [PH7], a high-end nail salon in Fort Greene, Kitsby, a café and baked-goods kit concept on Grand Street in Williamsburg, Hana Makgeoli, a Korean rice wine brewing company in Greenpoint, and several more.
Vanessa Connelly,
Halstead Development Marketing
Vanessa brings over a decade of highly effective on-site experience to new development. Having learned firsthand what makes for a successful project at esteemed developments, Vanessa understands how to create a team that brings an unparalleled level of service, skilled negotiations, product knowledge and neighborhood expertise to market.
Overseeing operations, client relations, pre-development sales planning and the management of on-site teams, Vanessa brings creativity and a love of learning to all stages of development. Lending proven expertise on what really works in the field, she is committed to supporting a seamless sales experience that outperforms the competition. Vanessa enjoys establishing strong relationships with clients and the brokerage community and has a reputation for working hard and bringing results, while maintaining composure and compassion.
A graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Vanessa has found her background in theater an asset in her work. Vanessa is proud to call Brooklyn home, where she resides with her husband and two sons. She is honored to serve on the Board of Directors for Extreme Kids and Crew, a non-profit community center for children with disabilities with play spaces.
Rosemarie Console
UC Funds
Rosemarie Console is Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at UC Funds, overseeing marketing, sales, and business development and specializing in brand launches, new market entry work, and product repositioning. She brings over 20 years of marketing and sales experience, including more than 10 years in commercial real estate across the multifamily, retail, hospitality, and mixed-use sectors. Prior to joining UC Funds in 2017, Rosemarie served as the New Product Launch Sales and Marketing Executive at O’Neill Properties Group, where she led new business sales and revenue for more than $100 million luxury residences.
Rosemarie is also General Manager at UC Funds-owned ONE CLUB Gulf Shores, a coastal Alabama resort community. Upon the property’s 2016 acquisition Rosemarie co-led a two-year, over $10 million capital improvement program, successfully rebranding ONE CLUB as a top southern destination for renters and leisure travelers.
Rosemarie graduated from University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree. In 2017 she received a Master Certificate in Business Intelligence from Villanova University. She is a Certified Property Manager (CPM) and serves as a volunteer track and field, cross country, and field hockey coach for Villa Maria Academy and Philadelphia’s Catholic Youth Organization (CYO).
Most recent achievement: Rosemarie worked side by side with UC Funds’ CEO Dan Palmier to complete a two-year capital improvement program for ONE CLUB Gulf Shores, a newly renovated golf resort destination located at 4000 Gulf Shores Parkway in Gulf Shores, Alabama. UC Funds invested over $10 million in the project after acquiring the asset in 2016, setting out to improve the grounds, golf course, service levels, and amenities.
Emilie Cooper
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Emilie Cooper is an accomplished commercial litigator who has repeatedly been named a Rising Star by SuperLawyers. After practicing for over a decade at a litigation-focused firm, in July 2018, Emilie joined Haynes and Boone to complement the firm’s substantial transactional real estate practice and expand its litigation presence in New York.
Among her notable representations, Emilie has been involved in litigations surrounding iconic New York properties (including 111 West 57th Street, the Seagram Building, and Hudson Yards), defended the owner of the Aman Resorts, and obtained a preliminary injunction for the manager of a 600-room hotel in Times Square. Her in-depth knowledge of all aspects the real estate industry has proven invaluable to her clients, and her understanding of their operational environment empowers her to implement a practical, solution-oriented approach in all of her cases.
In addition to litigating on behalf of lenders, developers, owners, and operators in high stakes litigations and arbitrations, Emilie plays a unique role on the transactional side, providing advice on agreements, provisions and structures from a litigator’s point of view.
Most recent achievement: Emilie recently joined Haynes and Boone, LLP to complement the firm’s substantial transactional real estate practice and help grow its litigation platform, particularly in the real estate and hospitality industries.
Aysha Cox
Case Real Estate Capital, LLC
Aysha Cox joined Case Real Estate Capital, LLC as a Financial and Investment Analyst in late 2017. The following year, she earned a promotion to Vice President, originating loans for Case. Her deep industry knowledge, experience and exceptional client and company commitment, continue to play an essential role in Case’s expansion.
Aysha has taken a leadership role in sourcing and originating loans, and underwriting and managing Case’s diverse portfolio. Her streamlined focus on finding value in flourishing real estate markets and loan collateral, her candid honesty, and focus on profitable deals for the company, make her a great team leader. Prior to joining Case, Aysha was a Supervisor in asset management at Hudson Realty Capital, where she managed large portfolios of assets consisting of REO and NPL loans throughout the United States, as well as evaluating potential assets, and keeping investors appropriately engaged with timely regular reporting. She also serviced complex performing and non-performing loans as a Loan Servicer at Hudson, prior to moving up to an asset management. Aysha earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Florida Gulf Coast University.
Most recent achievement: As Case’s Vice President, Aysha Cox is highly involved in each of the firm’s transactions. Most recently, the commercial real estate investment firm funded a $4,175,000 first mortgage bridge loan with an extension option, secured by a 1,875 square-foot lot and in-progress townhome in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Case’s funding will enable the sponsor, who was over budget on the construction project, to pay down the first and second mortgages on the property and finish construction of the 5,782 square-foot, five-story, ground-up luxury project. It is slated to be completed and listed for sale in the mid-summer. This is the first ground-up construction project for the borrower, who possesses extensive investment analysis expertise and has completed numerous smaller scale renovations in the metro New York area during the last 20 years. This deal illustrates the expertise of Aysha and the Case team in solving problems for developers, enabling them to achieve their business objectives.
Lauryn Donnelly
Procida Funding & Advisors
Lauryn Donnelly joined our team in February 2018. Lauryn attended West Virginia University where she majored in Fashion Merchandising and minored in Business. Prior to working at Procida, Lauryn was an intern for Nordstrom and then a full time “All Star” Employee, where she assisted in managing the stores social media account as well as a being a part of the Stylist Team.
Lauryn has brought her social media, organizational and interpersonal skills to the Marketing Team here at Procida. Lauryn is also the gate-keeper for Billy and works full time on his schedule and task management for the entire office. Since joining Procida, Lauryn has taken on the role as the Marketing Director where she manages all things social media, PR, and advertisements for the company.
Robin Fisher
Newmark Knight Frank
Robin Fisher is a Senior Managing Director at Newmark Knight Frank specializing in the tenant representation of technology, financial services, legal, consumer, and business consulting firms, as well as non-profit organizations. Ms. Fisher also advises retailers and corporate portfolio operators on asset optimization and site selection strategies.
Shortly after joining NKF in 2004, Ms. Fisher completed a record number of transactions in the Manhattan and tri-state area in her first two years at the firm. Most recently, she represented asset-based lending platform The Credit Junction in their lease of 14,525 SF at 31 Penn Plaza; the tech retail service platform CaaStle in their lease of approximately 30,000 SF at 5 Penn Plaza; and investment management firm Bridgewater Advisors in their full floor lease at 600 Fifth Ave in Rockefeller Center.
In the 2017-18 year, Ms. Fisher served as President of the Executives’ Association of New York, where she was the second female president in the association’s history. She is a recipient of the 2013 Association of Real Estate Women’s Founder’s Award and the 2008 Real Estate Board of New York’s Most Promising Commercial Salesperson of the Year Award. Ms. Fisher sits on the Board of the Association of Real Estate Women (AREW). She volunteers her time to the American Liver Foundation and the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center.
Most recent achievement: Robin Fisher is a Senior Managing Director at Newmark Knight Frank and has been with the firm for 15 years. A highly successful tenant representation broker, she helps companies grow throughout Manhattan and major markets throughout the US. Ms. Fisher’s diverse client base spans numerous sectors, with a focus on financial technology and professional consulting firms. Her notable clients include Sesame Workshop, theSkimm, Wolford North America, BankUnited, Ford Harrison and CommonBond, among others.
Eugenia C. Foxworth
Foxworth Realty, Inc.
Eugenia C. Foxworth, Owner/Broker of Foxworth Realty, opened this unique real estate boutique real estate brokerage company in September 2008 in New York City. During this time, she grew as others closed. Foxworth Realty is local, national and global, specializing in exceptional residential and properties for sale and rent in Manhattan, Riverdale, NY, Brooklyn and leisure properties internationally. Known for being out of the box, not having borders and getting the deal done. The office is located in the New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the NYWCC Board of Directors.
Foxworth Realty is a member of NAR, REBNY, NYSAR, HGAR.
Ms Foxworth is a CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist), certified NYRS (New York Residential Specialist), FIREC (International Real Estate Consultant) and is certified as an MWBE (Minority Woman Owned Business) with NYC and NYS.
She became an active member of FIABCI-USA (International Federation of Real Estate) in 2003. FIABCI is in 65 countries and the organization has a non-governmental affiliation with the United Nations and he is celebrating its 70th Anniversary. It is Global, Local and Connected! In 2005 she was the first African-American elected in the history of FIABCI as the FIABCI-USA’s Local Council president for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and served for 18 months.
She was also the first African-American to be elected in 65 years as a Vice-President of the Americas with FIABCI-ORG. In May 2019 she began her term as the first Vice President of the Executive Board of Directors for FIABCI-USA. She has received three medals of honor from FIABCI and several Certificates of Appreciation.
In the April of 2019 she was recognized as a “Woman of Courage” and received an award from the Harlem Community News and Health First. She also received a Citation from the New York State Assembly District 70th, Assembly Member, Inez E. Dickens and a Certificate of Appreciation from Gale A. Brewer, the Manhattan Borough President in Recognition for her dedication and service to the Harlem community.
She has established a reputation throughout for her leadership, giving back to the community, fighting for affordable housing and her empathy for her clients.
Louisa Gillen
The Simple Real Estate Co.
Louisa Gillen is a trusted, real estate industry expert with over 17 years of experience closing more than 250 transaction totaling over $350M. As a natural problem solver with both an analytical and intuitive mind, real estate was a clear career choice for Louisa. She is an effective broker, marketer and negotiator with a genuine sense of high touch service. Louisa launched The SIMPLE Real Estate Co. in 2018 as a solution to the outdated brokerage model offered by traditional firms. Specializing in re-sale properties from $2M-$6M in Manhattan, SIMPLE is the only financially smart, modern and fully transparent brokerage designed specifically Sellers.
Born and raised in New York City, Louisa attended The Chapin School and Deerfield Academy, and received her bachelor’s degree in math from Vanderbilt University. She currently resides in Greenwich Village with her husband and daughter.
Melissa Gliatta
Thor Equities
Melissa Gliatta is the Chief Operating Officer at Thor Equities Group. She oversees asset management, leasing, human resources, development and construction, as well as marketing and property management. Her strong leadership and operational skills, which she developed during her time at Ashley Stewart, have enabled her to attract a team of experienced and dedicated professionals to Thor Equities. They have also helped her to grow the company into a full-service real estate firm with offices in New York, London, and Mexico City.
Ms. Gliatta has been with Thor for over two decades and has held various positions. She was named Vice President of Thor in 2003, focusing on operations and management of the company’s growing commercial real estate portfolios. She was promoted to Executive Vice President in 2010. In 2016, Ms. Gliatta was named COO, where she works closely with Mr. Sitt, CEO, to expand the company’s global business activities.
Ms. Gliatta’s most recent achievements include the leasing and development of major projects across the US. In New York City, she oversaw the successful leasing of the retail portion of the esteemed Carlton House that is now at full occupancy with tenants including Tom Ford, Brioni, Morgenthal Frederics, Missoni, and Sergio Rossi. In Chicago, she is currently managing the development of two properties in the bustling Fulton Market District; 905 W. Fulton and 800 W. Fulton. Perhaps the most exciting of her latest achievements is the completion of a mixed-use development, Kirby Collection, in Houston, Texas. Beyond the US, Melissa manages teams in London and Paris as Thor continues to acquire properties in competitive markets around Europe.
Laurie A. Grasso
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Laurie is an accomplished real estate lawyer, consistently closing multi-million dollar complex real estate deals for her clients. In the past 12 months alone, she has closed 18 deals worth nearly $2 billion. Having spent the last 20 years assembling an enviable book of business, Laurie’s client list reads like a who’s who of real estate. Her clients entrust her with their most important deals, relying on her counsel as they pursue opportunities nationwide.
One of the main reasons Laurie is such a trusted member of her clients’ teams is because she is constantly striving to stay up-to-date on the latest rules and regulations affecting the industry. In 2018, Laurie formed Hunton’s Opportunity Zone “task force”, gathering tax and fund lawyers from around the firm who were best able to handle deals in this new area. She and her team recently hosted several Lunch & Learns on the topic and wrote a bylined article for Practical Law. Best of all, Laurie has been thrilled to successfully assist several of her key clients with Opportunity Zone deals.
Most recent achievement: Most recently, Laurie advised Aria Development Group and its joint venture partner AQARAT in their $76 million construction loan from Bank OZK for the development of YotelPad Miami, a hotel and condominium project in Downtown Miami.
Shari Gurkin
Fairstead
Graduating with a master’s in engineering in 2013, Shari has taken the real estate industry on with force. Starting out in the commercial sector, her focus was addressing and improving global and local building portfolio’s impact on climate change. Starting her career off in Energy and Sustainability at JLL, Shari took on a leading role in the development and implementation of over 15 fortune-500 companies’ energy efficiency programs. Since joining Fairstead’s Energy and Sustainability division, Shari has centralized her focus on driving Fairstead’s mission of innovating the approach to affordable and multifamily housing. Shari has leveraged federal, state, municipal and utility sustainability programs to improve environmental performance and conditions in affordable housing. By fostering these relationships, Fairstead has taken on a myriad of projects, and is working with agencies to develop pilot programs aimed at improving our tenant’s quality of life and reducing energy and water use.
Working in conjunction with Fairstead Construction during the renovation process, we are able to reduce building greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption, install solar energy systems, and modernize building systems that provide better heating, cooling, and cleaner air. Shari is propelling Fairstead’s mission to improve the tenant experience in the built environment.
Shari is partnered with Ohio Partners of Affordable Energy toprovide new energy efficient refrigerators to over 1,000 low-income tenants, reducing energy consumption and decreasing utility expenses by about 6% per year.
Jutta Ishii
Gerner Kronick + Valcarel
As Associate Principal of Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel, Architects, Jutta Ishii portrays her creativity and expertise through her designs and leadership on all projects she is involved in.
For the past 19 years, she has completed a variety of high-end interior projects, such as offices for WestLB and the union headquarters of 32BJ SEIU. In both designs, she successfully demonstrated the essence of creative modern office architecture while capturing a more traditional sophistication. As Project Architect, she also led the design team in the design for the union headquarters of 32BJ SEIU.
Prior to joining GKV Architects, Jutta worked at one of the leading architecture firms in Germany, providing her with a unique point of view for each project that she leads.
Along with other accomplishments, Jutta volunteers with its Women in Need (WIN) program. Sharing her love of architecture and design, Jutta’s strong leadership skills resonate throughout all of her project teams, ultimately leading to project success.
Helene Jacobson
Newmark Knight Frank
Helene Jacobson is an Executive Managing Director and US Co-Lead of Newmark Knight Frank Valuation & Advisory practice. Since joining the firm as one of the first members of the Valuation & Advisory practice in 2017, she has driven the development of the new practice, pushing the boundaries of innovation in the industry to leverage technology along with best-in-class valuation practice.
In her role, Ms. Jacobson is responsible for the management of the practice’s market leaders, working closely with each market to ensure the growth and success of NKF’s valuation operations. Ms. Jacobson’s relentless dedication continues to expand NKF’s core real estate businesses and services, as well as the firm’s emerging specialty practice groups. She is involved in all aspects of the firm’s day-to-day operations, including bidding, structuring and engaging appraisal assignments, and managing and co-leading NKF’s V&A Portfolio Valuation team.
Most recent achievement: Helene Jacobson’s strong leadership as US Co-Lead of Newmark Knight Frank Valuation & Advisory has been integral to the stellar growth of its international practice. Since joining the firm in 2017, Ms. Jacobson has worked with Valuation & Advisory President John Busi and alongside US V&A Co-Lead Stephen DuPlantis to build a robust valuation practice, which has added around 100 employees in the past year alone. The practice now boasts more than 470 professionals across the Americas and continues to grow rapidly. In addition to her business development responsibilities, she also manages the V&A market leaders nationwide. Ms. Jacobson’s dedication and strategic leadership continues to ensure the growth and success of V&A offices across the US.
Caroline Katz Zelniker
Duval & Stachenfeld LLP
Caroline Katz Zelniker joined the Firm in 2005 and is a member of the Real Estate Practice Group and Leasing Group.
Ms. Zelniker’s practice focuses on all aspects of real estate including acquisitions, sales, leasing (representing both landlords and tenants), financings (representing both borrowers and lenders) and joint ventures (representing both money partners and operating partners).
Ms. Zelniker graduated from American University, Washington College of Law, cum laude.
Most recent achievement: Represented bridge financing lender in connection with a loan secured by 21 properties located in the U.S.
Gayle Kennedy
Broad Street Development
Gayle Kennedy joined Broad Street Development in 2012 and currently serves as Director.
In her role, Ms. Kennedy is responsible for handling leasing of the commercial properties.
Since closing on 370 Lexington Ave in December of 2018, she has closed 17 deals totaling in an excess of 45,000 square feet.
Previously, Gayle served as Property Manager for the residential portfolio at BSD. She was the on-site decision maker in all aspects of leasing, building renovations and tenant relations for over 400 units, generating a revenue of over $16M annually.
In addition, Ms. Kennedy plays an integral role as a member of the acquisition/disposition team. Her efforts have helped the team in their transactions of 80 Broad Street, 370 Lexington Avenue, 298 Mulberry Street, 304 Mulberry Street, 210 East 22nd Street, and 220 East 22nd Street.
Margie Kern
Sotheby’s International Realty
As one of Greater Boston’s top real estate agents, and Principal and Broker at Unlimited Sotheby’s International Realty in Newton, MA, Margie has participated in over 825 transactions, totaling in excess of $500,000,000.
In addition to being recently profiled in Boston Agent Magazine, Margie is consistently ranked in Boston’s Top 20, an official monthly ranking of Boston’s top realtors.
Margie’s powerful “Thanks Margie” campaign, which combines commercials on MSNBC, CNN, and HGTV with ongoing social media campaigns increases Unlimited Sotheby’s presence while aggressively marketing her clients’ properties.
Margie’s work-ethic, sterling reputation, and unrivaled knowledge of Newton and beyond have solidified her stake in the industry. Her sunny personality, sense of humor, and candor continue to turn her clients into good friends.
Most recent achievement: In early 2017, as its sole female partner, Margie played a leading role in opening USIR’s highly visible and successful office in the heart of bustling Newton Centre.
Lisa Kiell
JLL
In her 23-year career at JLL, Vice Chair Lisa Kiell has worked with a range of leading corporate clients — with a focus on the legal, financial and technology sectors — to offer planning and implementation of complex real estate transaction strategies.
Kiell has distinguished herself among the top commercial real estate professionals in New York City, and led the recent 63,000-square-foot Microsoft leasing transaction at 300 Lafayette Street and the 100,000-square-foot Medidata office expansion at 350 Hudson Street. Her clients include Citi, American Express, Kirkland & Ellis, and BBC.
Kiell currently leads JLL’s New York Women’s Group, which focuses on the retention and advancement of future female leaders. She joined JLL in 1995 following a merger with the Galbreath Company, and previously worked in real estate development leasing for LCOR in Jersey City and as an auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Kiell earned a Master of Science in real estate development from NYU, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Emory University. She is a licensed CPA in New York, as well as a licensed broker in New York and a salesperson in New Jersey. She serves on the board of the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan and is an executive board member of the Greater New York Councils of the Boy Scouts of America.
Gabrielle Klein
Jack Jaffa & Associates
Gabrielle is a leading force in the company’s expansion as New York City’s leading real estate compliance consulting firm. Gabrielle began her career as a business development specialist and over the past decade has been a leader in every division within Jaffa until her promotion to her current role. Her knowledge of every aspect of NYC compliance law has helped her offer guidance to the most prominent names in real estate in navigating the complexities of NYC’s compliance regulations.
Gabrielle’s interpersonal acumen has been a major factor in the smooth internal operations of Jaffa. Her qualities have majorly impacted the firms continued growth as well as it’s doubling in size over the past three years to almost 20 million in revenue in 2018. Gabrielle is unique in her ability to balance the tenacity of her business development days with the emotional intelligence that makes her the incredible leading and supportive figure within the office.
Besides for her professional accomplishments, Gabrielle is a proud mother of two, is an active and influential member of several New York City charities and organizations. and was instrumental in the expansion of multiple community education centers and has regular involvement in a family services center.
Stacey Kleinberg
MKDA
Stacey Kleinberg is a Senior Interior Designer and Studio Director in the New York office of MKDA. A highly creative and purpose-driven designer of corporate offices and showrooms, she is currently working on complex, fast-tracked assignments for Cogency Global, Fareportal and Collection XIIX, among others.
Stacey leverages her background in marketing and graphic design to create visual environments that are strategically aligned with her clients’ brands. She also assists clients with their corporate rebranding and often contributes to MKDA’s brand assets.
As Studio Director, Stacey leads a dynamic, lively and collaborative workplace design studio to ensure a positive and productive culture that aligns with the firm’s core values. She also monitors design quality and ensures operational efficiency of the studio.
Prior to joining MKDA, Stacey was Creative Design Director at CDA, an architecture affiliate of real estate development firm RAL Companies. While there, she developed interior concepts for prominent hospitality, residential and corporate clients.
Stacey is an artist who brings a high level of creative talent to each assignment. She employs a big picture approach coupled with an eye for detail that results in new and innovative designs that are developed in a responsive and collaborative environment.
Stacey is a graduate of SUNY Buffalo where she dual-majored in Studio Art & Art History. She holds a certificate of Graphic Design from Parsons the New School for Design.
Evi Kokalari-Angelakis
Golden Key Realty Group
Evi Kokalari – Angelakis is the Founder of Golden Key Realty Group, a company she started a few years ago, with a focus on Multi-Family Properties, Shopping Centers, Office Buildings and Development Sites. Evi Angelakis has almost two decades of experience in new development, closely collaborating with developers in the planning, marketing, and sales of new residential buildings throughout the city. She is very familiar with all the phases of development as she served as the controller for a large construction company focusing on DEP, Port Authority, MTA and SCA projects.That experience, intertwined with her property management skills and 20 years of investment sales record, sets her aside from the competition.
Evi Angelakis has established an excellent reputation as a creative thinker. Solving problems with patience and professionalism, makes her a valuable asset to her clients. Being an investor herself, she understands all the facets of buying wisely, building smart and flipping when appropriate. Having managed residential and commercial properties for the past 15 years, has given her a detailed knowledge of the pros and cons of owning and managing a building. She advises her clients continuously well beyond a transaction is completed as she has extensive knowledge of dealing with City’s and State’s agency like DHCR, HPD, DOB, DOF.
She is an expert on negotiating complicated deals and has proven to be very effective problem solver in the commercial market. No deal is ever big enough to satisfy her appetite for great challenges. It is through these challenges that she truly thrives. Evi Angelakis is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York and ICSC. She is also a member of REBNY’s Queens Commercial Committee.
Robin Kramer
Duval & Stachenfeld LLP
Ms. Kramer is the chair of our Land Use Practice and has over 30 years of experience in all aspects of land use and real estate development in both New York City and throughout the country. Her practice encompasses a broad range of land use matters for developers, investors, not -profits, and institutional clients. Ms. Kramer advises clients on site acquisition and assembly, development feasibility, and zoning related matters, including the purchase and sale of air rights, High Line and theater district air rights transfers, and purchase of inclusionary housing rights
Robin’s practice focuses on advising clients about development and uses of New York City properties; taking projects through ULURP and obtaining discretionary and non-discretionary approvals, including special permits, certifications and amendments to the Zoning Resolution, from the New York City Planning Commission; and obtaining approvals from the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals. Her work also includes assistance in obtaining zoning determinations and permits from the Department of Buildings.
Whitney Kraus
Halstead Development Marketing
Whitney is responsible for guiding the design vision and execution for all developments. Combining architecture and design insights with project management expertise, she works directly with developers and their design teams to offer project specific recommendations and advise throughout the design and marketing phases.
In her role, Whitney recommends potential collaborations with architects and designers, assists in feasibility, zoning, and massing studies; and helps guide direction on unit mix, floorplan layouts, finishes, amenity programming and sales gallery layouts. As a liaison between the sales and development teams, Whitney helps translate real-time sales data into design strategies for a competitive marketplace. She believes that product differentiation and attention to detail are the keys to adding value and accelerating market absorption. During the marketing phase, Whitney ensures that the design team’s vision is accurately translated into the project branding, renderings and creative assets.
Whitney is a registered architect in New York and holds a U.S. Green Building Council LEED-AP certification. She joined the BHSDM team after serving as Project Architect at Selldorf Architects, where she worked on residential developments, high-end private residences, retail, and commercial buildings. She oversaw projects for the William Macklowe Company, CBSK Ironstate, Gagosian Gallery, The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, Hauser & Wirth, Yves Saint Lauren, and Aman Resorts.
Whitney has a Master of Architecture from Yale University and Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Michigan. Originally from North Carolina, Whitney currently resides in Gramercy Park.
Rebecca Landau
Haynes & Boone LLP
Rebecca Landau is a partner in the Real Estate Practice Group in the New York office of Haynes and Boone. Becky represents institutional lenders in the financing of commercial and multifamily properties and the sale of those loans on the secondary market. She also represents loan servicers in a variety of post-closing matters and has broad experience in residential real estate transactions and financing.
Most recent achievement: Co-Chair of the LGBTQ committee. Represented a private equity fund borrower connection with obtaining a $114,500,000 mortgage loan secured by a property in CA. Represented mortgage lender in connection with a $70,000,000 mortgage loan secured by a multi-family property in the mid-west. Represented mortgage lender in connection with a $112,756,800 construction loan secured by an office property in Silicon Valley. Represented mortgage lender in connection with a $113,850,000 construction loan secured by hotel in TN.
C. Kim Le
Duval & Stachenfeld LLP
Ms. Le is a top partner is our Real Estate Practice Group and has been practicing real estate law for over fifteen years.
Ms. Le’s practice focuses on complex joint ventures for a variety of asset types, including retail centers, hotels, office, multi-family residential, industrial spaces, student housing, and manufactured homes, in which she represents all types of players, including money partners, operating partners, developers, and preferred equity. She is a well-respected and skilled negotiator and draftsperson and is consistently sought after in this space.
Her practice also spans many other key areas of commercial real estate law, including domestic and international acquisitions, sales, ground leases (representing both ground lessors and ground lessees), space leasing (representing both landlords and tenants), and financings.
She spearheads the Firm’s special events committee and is actively involved in the Firm’s women’s initiative.
Most recent achievement: Represented a major real estate opportunity fund in the formation of a programmatic joint venture to undertake the acquisition of a continuing pipeline of industrial assets and developments across the United States.
Risa Letowsky
Duval & Stachenfeld LLP
Risa Letowsky is the co-chair of the leasing practice group. Ms. Letowsky counsels and represents landlords and tenants in large-scale office, retail, shopping center, industrial and ground lease transactions. Among the notable matters Ms. Letowsky has handled in her career, she was an integral part of the team that represented Millennium Partners in the long-term lease by Millennium to Equinox of all of the Sports Club/LA and Reebok Sports Club/NY health and fitness clubs located in Boston, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. as part of the transaction in which Millennium sold its health and fitness club business and certain assets to Equinox.
Ms. Letowsky is currently handling the retail leasing for Area15, an immersive entertainment complex, in Las Vegas, Nevada being developed by Fisher Brothers, and in addition, is part of the team handling the leasing for Industry City, a 6,000,000 square foot development in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
Most recent achievement: Representation of Wynn Resorts in its retail leasing efforts, including the completion of Wynn Plaza in Las Vegas, an approximately 80,000 square foot shopping complex comprised of luxury fashion, dining and fitness.
Alison Lewis
Newmark Knight Frank
Alison Lewis joined Newmark Knight Frank in 2013 and serves as Chief Administrative Officer. As a member of NKF’s executive operating committee and the firm’s leadership team, Ms. Lewis provides guidance and oversight of NKF’s business lines, support services and office operations. She also focuses on national recruiting and strategic acquisitions for the firm. In addition, Ms. Lewis supervises the business operations managers across NKF’s national offices.
Previously, Ms. Lewis spent five years at CBRE as the Senior Managing Director of New York Tri-State Region brokerage. In this role, she was responsible for the development, management, recruitment and training of the firm’s New York brokerage staff, as well as all activities relating to the region’s national and global urban retail initiative.
Ms. Lewis earned a bachelor’s degree in international business/foreign careers from Lehigh University.
Most recent achievement: As Chief Administrative Officer of Newmark Knight Frank, Alison Lewis has played a key role in steering the firm’s explosive growth. She is a member of NKF’s executive operating committee, and oversees corporate departments including marketing, research, human resources, operations and financial services. In addition, she has been integral to the company’s national recruiting efforts and strategic acquisitions. Ms. Lewis provides relentless support to equip NKF’s brokers with the enhanced technology, operational efficiencies, and best-in-class marketing, presentations, research and financial analysis resources to better serve their clients.
Julia Lindth
MKDA
Julia Lindh, NCARB, is an executive managing director and director of design in the Stamford studio of New York-based architecture and interior design brand MKDA.
Since establishing the design studio in 2006, Julia has grown MKDA into a leading area studio known for design that is both creative and technical, and for a talented team that serves diverse corporate clients in multiple markets nationwide.
Julia most recently began to expand and grow the studio’s services to include Healthcare, Residential and Architecture. As Architect-of-Record—through Julia Lindh Architects—she is leading the design of a luxury residence and a medical facility.
Julia’s corporate interior design work is recognized for integrating her clients’ unique corporate culture and character into environments that are functional and visually impactful. She has designed workplaces for Eagle Point, Guggenheim Partners, Design Within Reach, Bank of Ireland, Tradition Energy, Workpoint, Eldridge and Arbour Lane Capital Management.
Julia has completed numerous assignments in the states where she is licensed: Connecticut, New York and Alabama. As a National Council of Architecture Review Board (NCARB) certificate holder, she has also worked in Florida, California and Texas.
She is a member of NAIOP, and has been recognized as a “Women Making an Impact” for her commitment to the local community. She holds a B.Arch. from Pratt Institute.
Vivian Martinez
Marks Paneth LLP
Vivian Martinez, CPA, is a Partner in the Real Estate Group at Marks Paneth LLP, where she focuses on serving commercial and residential real estate clients as well low-income housing units. In addition to advising her clients on all facets of accounting and tax issues, Vivian plans and supervises audit engagements and assists her clients with a variety of real estate transaction types, including acquisitions and dispositions.
Vivian is deeply committed to the accounting profession and the real estate industry in New York, with a focus on Long Island. Her 20 years of dedicated experience in public accounting led to her recent appointment as Vice President of the Nassau Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA).
As a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese, Vivian also provides international services to foreign real estate investors and is a Board Member of the Asian Real Estate Professionals Association (AREPA), representing Marks Paneth at their New York-based events.
Most recent achievement: Vivian’s 20 years of dedicated experience in public accounting led to her recent appointment as Vice President of the Nassau Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA).
Caroline McDonald
Halstead Development Marketing
With over twenty years of experience in positioning luxury brands, Caroline’s experience spans brand management, marketing and communications strategy, public relations and agency management. Growing up in Washington D.C with a former New Yorker/interior designer mother – Caroline always knew she wanted a career working with brand story-telling. A graduate of the University of Virginia with a B.S. in English, Caroline first worked at luxury publications including American Express Publishing, Esquire and Conde Nast (at CN Traveler and Vogue) building marketing and event strategies. There she partnered with countless luxury brands from Cartier, to Ferragamo, BMW and Range Rover to Rosewood Resorts, Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton to create unique marketing experiences.
She is a lover of the English language, passionate about creative thinking and creating the ever important emotional connection between a brand and it’s buyer. Caroline is an avid tennis player, life-long equestrian and lover of the outdoors. She lives with her daughter, husband and animal menagerie in Bronxville, NY.
Most recent achievement: Caroline has brought her marketing and branding expertise in fashion retail, luxury and media to new development marketing. She has concepted and overseen the rollout of unique brands and complex partnership opportunities for Halstead Development Marketing and Brown Harris Stevens Development Marketing developments with cultural and lifestyle brands.
Mary Beth McGill
Modern Spaces
Voted “Most Trusted Broker in NYC,” as seen in Time Out NY Magazine, Mary Beth McGill is passionate about the development of Long Island City. As an LIC condo owner, she teamed up with Modern Spaces ten years ago, bringing with her many years of experience in producing honest, five-star customer service for all her clients. Her experience in interpreting her client’s needs within all budgets, having been a very successful photo stylist and producer, has gained her a highly-regarded reputation. Mary Beth looks forward to working with clients and finding them their perfect new home whether it be a rental, purchase or investment. Mary Beth is also experienced in commercial real estate and air rights.
Most recent achievement: Mary Beth has been with Modern Spaces for 10 years and is a consistent member of the Multi-Million Dollar Sales Club.
Jessica Millett
Duval & Stachenfeld LLP
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 Fund investments, real estate acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings and refinancing arrangements, including inbound and outbound investments, and structures involving REITs.
Most recently, Ms. Millett has been at the forefront of structuring investments into Opportunity Zones along with the D&S real estate team. Opportunity Zones are a game changer for the real estate industry and Ms. Millett is a leader in this space on the tax side. To date, she has been quoted in Bloomberg, Real Estate Weekly, 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.
Most recent achievement: Listed as one of the Top 25 people shaping the future of Opportunity Zones in Opportunity Zone Magazine.
Tamar Moy
Newmark Knight Frank
Tamar Moy is a Senior Managing Director and the Director of Workplace Strategy and Human Experience for the New York/Tri-State Region. As a strategist specializing in design and human experience for over 22 years, Ms. Moy has conducted strategy engagements of varying scope and size for clients in financial services, technology, media, insurance, legal and nonprofit sectors, enhancing both the broker’s and client’s understanding of future workplace aspiration and needs.
Most recently, Ms. Moy worked with NKF brokers Benjamin Birnbaum and Ben Shapiro to advise Peloton on the 313,000-square-foot lease of its new headquarters at 441 Ninth Avenue in Hudson yards. Ms. Moy played an integral role in working with Peloton to develop their future workplace vision and advising them on how much space they will need in their new headquarters.
Ms. Moy joined NKF in 2017 and established the New York Workplace Strategy team, a client-centric and modernized practice that provides a unique offering for tenants who are on the search for the ideal space and overall real estate strategy to suit their needs. Under Ms. Moy’s leadership, the Workplace Strategy practice has grown significantly in both capabilities and head count.
Most recent achievement: At Newmark Knight Frank, Tamar Moy established and leads the firm’s New York/Tri-State Region Workplace Strategy and Human Experience group – a nimble team of strategists who provide clients with unparalleled strategic advice in understanding future workplace aspirations and needs. Ms. Moy was the recipient of Connect Media’s Top Women in Real Estate Award in 2018 and a speaker at the 2018 CoreNet Global Summit, where she discussed the activity-based settings workplace with her mentor and founder of the concept, Robert Luchetti.
Cathy Oniffrey
UC Funds
Cathy Oniffrey has over 30 years of experience in commercial banking, finance, and investment at major institutions including Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group, and Centennial Bank. Prior to joining UC Funds in 2018, she served as Managing Director at Centennial Property Finance. In her current role as Head of Capital Markets, Oniffrey oversees UC Funds’ core business development and strategic initiatives to further its funding strategy. She executes and manages financial transactions and drives new sponsor development. Most recently Oniffrey oversaw UC Funds’ financing for the acquisition and renovation of Residence Inn by Marriott Stamford Downtown, Stamford, Connecticut’s first extended-stay offering. The completed project further positions Stamford as a top Northeastern bedroom community for Manhattan.
Oniffrey has a strong skill set with a deep understanding of end-to-end processes including credit, work-outs, asset resolution, transaction management, closing and execution, portfolio monitoring, and servicing. She holds an MBA from St. Thomas University.
Most recent achievement: Managed financing for UC Funds’ 2016 acquisition and large-scale renovation of Residence Inn Marriott Stamford Downtown, located at 5 Atlantic Street in Stamford, Connecticut. The asset debuted in November 2018 as the area’s first extended-stay lodging and Downtown Stamford’s only all-suite property. In less than seven months the eight-story, 156-key Marriott-franchised hotel has exceeded 10,000 visitors, driving new foot traffic and revenue for local businesses and boosting Stamford’s growing economy.
Catherine O’Toole
Lee & Associates
Catherine O’Toole is an Executive Managing Director and Principal in the New York office of Lee & Associates.
Catherine O’Toole has over two decades of commercial real estate experience, and has closed over three million square feet of transactions in that time. Known for her extensive market knowledge and company branding, Mrs. O’Toole has worked with a variety of prominent clients over the course of her career with a particular focus on both office and retail companies.
Mrs. O’Toole spent the first 12 years of her career at Federated Department Stores, where she developed the key relationships that launched her successful commercial real estate career. She currently services properties throughout Manhattan with a particular focus on Times Square South, North of Canal Street, and Madison Avenue West. Mrs. O’Toole has been the recipient of numerous awards throughout her career and actively participates in several charity events.
Mrs. O’Toole came to Lee & Associates from Advisors Commercial Real Estate where she served as a partner, and prior to that was a principal and partner with the former Tarter Stats O’Toole firm.
Eileen O’Toole
The Habitat Group
Eileen O’Toole is the author of The 2019 New York Rent Regulation Checklist, a comprehensive guidebook on rent control and rent stabilization in New York State, published by The Habitat Group. She also writes The Habitat Group’s New York Landlord v. Tenant monthly case digest and the annual NYC Apartment Management Checklist, Habitat’s building and housing maintenance code guidebook.
O’Toole joined Borah, Goldstein, Altschuler, Nahins & Goidel, P.C. in 2014 as a partner in the firm’s Administrative Law practice area. At Borah Goldstein, she has continued her law practice focus on counseling owners, lenders, and prospective purchasers of residential properties on rent regulatory and other landlord-tenant issues.
A graduate of NYU and Boston University School of Law, O’Toole is a frequent speaker at legal education seminars. She is a past member of the NYC Civil Court’s Advisory Council for the Housing Part.
Most recent achievement: Ms. O’Toole, an attorney in the field of rent regulation, conceptualized and wrote the premier edition of The New York Rent Regulation Checklist, a comprehensive, plain-English guidebook for owners and managers of rent-regulated apartments in the State of New York. The book was published in January 2019 by The Habitat Group. A further edition is anticipated for 2020.
Allie Papp
Montroy DeMarco Architecture, LLP
Allie Papp, AIA holds a Master of Architecture from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She joined Montroy DeMarco Architecture (MDALLP) in 2016 and has since worked on some of the firm’s most significant commercial projects. These include office fit-outs for Novantas, Sumitomo, Jupiter Entertainment, and TravelClick, all in Manhattan; a 2,800 SF restaurant at the Dazzler Hotel in Brooklyn, NY; and building repositioning and upgrades of 111-115 Broadway, 360 Park Avenue South, 2 Gansevoort Street, and 100 William Street in New York, NY. Her recent international work includes TravelClick’s office in Ottawa, Canada.
Allie’s responsibilities include design and project administration work as well as coordination with outside project teams. Her design and project management expertise spans several segments of the commercial real estate industry, including commercial and office interiors, retail facilities, base building upgrades and renovations, and commercial landlord services.
Prior to joining MDALLP, Papp worked in design capacities at The Office of Charles F. Bloszies, FAIA, in San Francisco, CA and at 2 Point Perspective Inc. in Chicago, IL.
Most recent achievements: Allie has recently become a member of the American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter, and has passed the Supplemental Examination required by the California Architects Board. She volunteers for charitable causes, including preparing and serving food to people with severe, long-term illnesses at God’s Love We Deliver charity. She also completed the latest Five Boro Bike Tour.
YuhTyng Patka
Duval & Stachenfeld LLP
YuhTyng (“Tyng”) Patka joined the Firm in 2019 as chair of the NYC Real Estate Tax and Incentives Practice Group. Ms. Patka represents NYC real estate owners and developers on all aspects relating to real estate taxes. Ms. Patka represents owners in challenging their property taxes (certiorari), developers in NYC tax incentive programs (421-a, ICAP, FRESH), and not-for-profits in obtaining real estate tax exemptions.
Ms. Patka’s practice also includes representing developers in the acquisition/disposition of Inclusionary Air Rights and handles Voluntary and Mandatory Inclusionary Housing applications. Additionally, Ms. Patka works closely with the Firm’s industry leading Opportunity Zone Practice Group and NYC Climate Mobilization Task Force.
Ms. Patka is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. She is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Most recent achievement: Chairing and helping to form the Firm’s recent Climate Mobilization Task Force – aimed at helping our clients learn and understand the new Climate Mobilization Act
Phyllis Pezenik
DJK Residential
Phyllis Pezenik currently functions as the Vice President of Brokerage Services and leader of DJK Residential, a leading real estate and relocation firm committed to service excellence, unyielding integrity, and delivering results through hard work and innovation. In 2011, Phyllis proudly led the Manhattan Association of REALTORS® (MANAR) as its President. She formerly served on the board of MANAR, now known as Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR), and was recognized as MANAR’s “Realtor of the Year” in 2011.
Phyllis’ accomplishments include: developing and growing a highly successful architectural design firm; serving as the chairman of the Old Westbury Board o fAppeals; and rising to the top of her profession as a multi-million dollar producing sales agent at a top Manhattan brokerage firm. She tirelessly continues to build her portfolio of real estate skills and certifications as a member of the Real Estate Board of NewYork (REBNY); the New York State Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors. Her expertise has been showcased in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, industry periodicals and international business journals She has also been asked to offer her expert industry in sight on NY1, Fox5NY, and HGTV.
Danielle Pisano
Haves, Pine & Seligman
Danielle Pisano is Executive Vice President at Haves, Pine & Seligman, a commercial mortgage brokerage and real estate investment firm formed in 1987. Danielle manages and tracks all the firms outstanding portfolio of private loans, which currently stands at over 60. She is in charge of all financial reporting to the firm’s accountants, investors and partners.
In addition, Danielle monitors the company’s ownership position in numerous properties owned nationwide. Until recently, she was responsible for managing a 90-person office, which required excellent managerial skills. After the company sold off one of its ancillary businesses, she now runs an office of 15 people. She was responsible for moving our company three times in ten years and always made it a seamless transition.
Danielle has also closed numerous financing transactions, including a $61,000,000 construction loan in Brooklyn.
She has devoted 25 years of her career to HPS and is a major reason for the company’s success.
Silke Rapelius
Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel
Silke Rapelius is a Design Principal at Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel, Architects, DPC where she demonstrates her exceptional architectural expertise and deep knowledge through leading the design of several projects of multi-million square feet.
Her expertise ranges from multifamily residential base building projects to high-end commercial interior design projects. Some of her most noteworthy accomplishments include the 5000-seat ‘state of the art’ Ford Amphitheater in Coney Island, large scale interior fit outs for investment and law firms and several distinguished luxury residential towers throughout New York City.
Prior to joining GKV Architects, Silke was a Principal of an architecture firm in Germany, where she developed her leadership ability as well as her distinct design perspective that she brings to every project that she manages. Silke is the recipient of numerous prizes for her design submissions to architecture competitions.
Throughout her accomplished career, Silke is also an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and she is a Registered Architect in the state of NY.
Alexis Riordan
Duval & Stachenfeld LLP
Ms. Riordan joined the firm in 2014, and is a member of the firm’s Corporate and Real Estate Practice Groups. Ms. Riordan’s practice focuses on complex joint ventures and corporate real estate transactions.
She regularly represents public companies, private equity funds, REITs, institutional investors, sponsors, managers and operators in connection with sophisticated joint venture arrangements, platform investments, the creation of new real estate platforms, as well as acquisitions, dispositions and financings.
Ms. Riordan’s recent transactions include: (i) a preferred and common equity investment of up to $300M in a vertically integrated operating company that owns, develops, leases and manages single tenant industrial and office properties throughout Texas, (ii) acquisition and financing of the fee interest in a hotel in Manhattan involving a ground lease and condominium structure; (iii) a debt and equity investment of up to $125 million in a privately held, vertically integrated developer and owner of student housing in the United States, (iii) a preferred and common equity investment of up to $200M in connection with the launch of a senior living/health-care REIT.
Elyse Robertson
TerraCRG
Elyse Robertson specializes in in graphic design, branding and digital marketing at TerraCRG. Elyse joined the company in September 2018, and has brought a new, fresh perspective to marketing collateral and client outreach.
Elyse was previously in the fashion industry where she most recently worked for a women’s fashion start-up producing clothing in Industry City.
Originally from Virginia, Elyse is a Brooklyn-lover and resident with her husband and two Jack Russells.
Nina Roket
Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP
Nina Roket is a Co-Administrative Partner at the firm, a partner in the Real Estate Department and Leader of the Commercial Leasing Practice of the firm. Nina specializes in commercial real estate law, with a focus on office and retail leasing, conveyancing and finance transactions. She provides counsel to, and represents, owners of numerous office buildings in New York City, and represents owners and tenants in co-working space leases. Nina also represents hedge funds, sports and entertainment companies, technology companies, start- ups and finance companies in leasing space for their headquarters. Further, Nina manages complex retail leasing projects across the nation for owners and has a specialty in food and restaurant leases, representing both owners and food operators. Nina is founder and chair of the firm’s women’s committee, a networking, business development and mentoring platform for the firm’s female lawyers.
Most recent achievement: Over the past twelve months Nina has been busy advising landlords and tenants in co-working space leases. With co-working space seeing explosive growth and dominating the office leasing market, Nina is at the forefront of this new age of office leasing. She understands the unique issues that arise in these leases and how best to advocate on behalf of her clients. Further, Nina’s creative yet practical approach and true understanding of the co-working space business model position her to effectively negotiate these leases and consistently achieve desired results.
Nina continues to work as lead counsel to Susan Fine in the leasing, financing and development of TurnStyle, and in representing JEMB Realty Corporation at its leasing site for the development of a 500,000-square-foot office tower located in Downtown Brooklyn known as One Willoughby Square. A project that is a significant piece of the Downtown Brooklyn Redevelopment Plan, it is slated to “celebrate the workplace of the future” as the first ground-up office tower built in Brooklyn since the 1980s.
Nina also represents Himmel+Meringoff in its leasing matters in New York City, and represents Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in its significant real estate transactions. Nina recently represented the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets in its lease for new corporate headquarters in Industry City, in Sunset Park in downtown Brooklyn. The new headquarters occupies approximately 85,000 square feet in Building 19, which is also where the Nets’ training facility is located.
Nancy J. Ruddy
CetraRuddy Architecture
Nancy J. Ruddy is a Founding Principal at CetraRuddy Architecture, an award winning global architecture and interior design firm, founded in 1987 on the principle that architecture and design must engage the urban fabric while enriching the human spirit. Nancy has guided the planning, programming and design for the firm’s architectural and interior design work, resulting in highly creative, custom solutions for residential, hospitality, commercial, cultural and educational clients.
Nancy is actively engaged in design education and is an industry spokesperson on design innovation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural History from New York University and has studied architecture at City College of New York. Nancy serves on the Board of Trustees for Baruch College’s Newman Real Estate Institute, is a member of the New York Public Library’s Real Estate Council and has served as a Board Member for the National Association of Women Business Owners.
Her honors include “100 Women Leaders for the 21st Century” by Real Estate Weekly and the Association of Real Estate Women; the Career Achievement Award of the School.
Most Recent Achievement: An influential design signature and innovation leader of her 100-person firm, Nancy J. Ruddy commands respect among top names in real estate and architecture by consistently creating iconic, market-leading buildings and interiors from New York to London to Toronto. Towers from CetraRuddy’s iconic One Madison, to ARO, a 62-story, 426 unit tower that creates vertical communities within a dense urban setting, to 45 Broad rising near Wall Street have debuted creative, citymaking ideas from Ruddy, partner John Cetra, and their inventive studio.
Karen Scanna
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan
Karen Scanna has worked on several of the most complex and high-profile real estate transactions in New York City’s history. Private developers acquiring City-owned property for redevelopment, by deed or ground lease, often seek her guidance in navigating the City’s competitive bid process. With a focus on acquisition, development, and financing—including mortgage, mezzanine and preferred equity, and construction-to-permanent loans—several of Karen’s transactions have involved high-profile public-private partnerships. For example, she represented Delancey Street Associates LLC in its winning bid for the Essex Crossing development, a delicate and complex negotiation that leveraged Karen’s considerable clout and experience.
Described in Chambers USA as “a very strong lawyer with a very good developer representation practice,” She’s been ranked multiple times in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers.
Most recent achievement: Karen Scanna led the deal team that helped Taconic Investment Partners, L&M Development Partners and BFC Partners in all aspects of the acquisition, financing and development of Essex Crossing. The nine-site, 1.9 million-square-foot project is an unprecedented development in the Lower East Side, to be comprised of 1,000 new residences, 450,000 square feet of retail space, 400,000 square feet of office space, community attractions and green spaces. The International Center of Photography, one of New York’s leading institutions, will serve as cultural anchor.
Jaime Schultz
Lee & Associates
Jaime Schultz is an Executive Managing Director in the New York office of Lee & Associates. She specializes in retail leasing.
There’s no shortage of brokers working in the Brooklyn market right now, but Ms. Schultz has the experience and knowledge to set her apart from the crowd.
Ms. Schultz originally moved to Williamsburg as an artist, eventually transitioning into real estate in 2006. In that time, she has closed nearly 100 deals in the North Brooklyn market, working with many prominent landlords in the area. Ms. Schultz has worked with Park Tower, Forest City Ratner,
RedSky Capital, Rubenstein Partners, Heritage Equities, The Vorea Group, and SL Green. She is currently leading the team representing the 25 Kent leasing project which totals over 150,000 SF of retail space.
Along with landlord representation, Ms. Schultz works with many great next generation Brooklyn tenants. She recently leased 11 new stores for Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, and is spearheading the brand’s expansion with more locations slated to come. Ms. Schultz also represented UVA Wines in their lease of 7,000 SF of space at the RedSky building. She also represents Roberta’s Pizza and Mekelbergs, two legendary Brooklyn retailers also in expansion mode.
Ms. Schultz and her team currently represent over 400,000 SF of retail space in Brooklyn and Queens.
Caroline Smyth
Procida Funding & Advisors
Caroline Smyth joined Procida Funding and Advisors in May of 2016.
Caroline facilitates in maintaining accurate and well organized financial data for the company.
She supports colleagues Ali Bets in investor relations for all 100 Mile Fund Shareholders.
Caroline also provides support for her colleagues by helping them with situations involving the company financially.
Before joining Procida, Caroline worked in both the accounting and hospitality fields giving her a versatile set of skills to bring to the Procida team.
Roslyn Spiegel
HUB International Northeast
Roslyn Spiegel currently serves as Senior Vice President at HUB International Northeast. Based out of the Woodbury, NY office, Roslyn is the team leader of the Long Island Risk Management unit. During her career she has been instrumental in designing property and casualty insurance programs for a wide range of industries, including commercial and habitational real estate properties, construction projects, hospitality and much more.
With over 37 years of experience in the insurance industry, Roslyn began her career with HUB International Northeast, then known as Kaye Insurance Associates, Inc., in 1982 as an administrative assistant and today is recognized as well as one of the most well-regarded and respected individuals throughout the company. She was recognized in 2005 by a leading local business publication, Long Island Business News, as one of the region’s top 50 most influential women in business.
As team leader of the Risk Management unit, she is responsible for the management and administration for large commercial lines of business and continues to thrive in servicing, managing a multi-million dollar book of accounts and overseeing a large group of customer service personnel.
One of Roslyn’s most notable accomplishments was her role as a leading force in building HUB Northeast’s presence on Long Island. She was responsible for opening and managing the company’s first Long Island office, then-located in Floral Park, running it for several years. HUB now operates three offices throughout Long Island, located in Woodbury and Hauppauge.
She is an active participant in HUB’s philanthropic efforts for the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), particularly the annual Week of Giving initiative.
Roslyn holds a Bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Patti Stone
Rosenberg & Estis, P.C.
Patti Stone joined Rosenberg & Estis, P.C. in 1988 and is a member with the firm’s Administrative Law Department. Ms. Stone has more than 30 years experience in New York City real estate. Her in-depth understanding of the day-to-day business needs of owners in New York City started with her work in real estate management for a major real estate owner and developer.
Ms. Stone joined Rosenberg & Estis in 1988 as an intern while attending law school. After graduation, she became an associate and six years later was made a member.
As a key member of the firm’s Administrative Law department, Ms. Stone has successfully handled all types of cases before the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal, from the administrative level through appeals to the Supreme Court and the Appellate Division. Ms. stone specializes in demolition applications, luxury deregulation, harassment proceedings and overcharge cases. Ms. Stone also handles applications before the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development for Certificates of No Harassment and provides advice and consultation regarding rent regulatory compliance with the Rent Stabilization Law to prospective purchasers of residential real estate.
Most recent achievement: In April 2019, Patti Stone was appointed as an owner representative on the New York City Rent Guidelines Board. In this position, she will play a critical role in the annual effort to determine rent adjustments in the approximately one million rent-stabilized apartments in New York City. Ms. Stone will participate in public hearings and meetings to analyze research and stakeholder testimony on the issue. Her appointment to the New York City Rent Guidelines Board demonstrates not just her expertise, but also her longstanding tenacity in fighting for her clients.
Carolyn E. Sullivan
Haynes and Boone
Ms. Sullivan has over 20 years experience working on commercial real estate matters.
She joined Haynes and Boone’s New York office as a partner in 2010. Recent transactions she has worked on include financing transactions (mortgage and mezzanine) involving one or more properties located in various jurisdictions.
Ms. Sullivan serves on Firm committees and participates in Firm mentoring and training programs.
Melony Swasey
Unlimited Sotheby’s International Realty
With Unlimited Sotheby’s International Realty, Melony Swasey leads the Good Boston Living team.
Melony thrives on forging genuine, lasting relationships. Since 2010, she’s worked closely with home buyers and sellers of all stages of life, guiding them to intelligent, winning decisions.
Consistently 85percent of her business comes from referrals or repeat clients.
Melony helps clients clearly define their needs in the context of the Boston area’s fast-moving markets. Always thinking ahead, she loves to champion a clever, nimble plan.
Her stats tell the story: in a competitive landscape, more than four out of five of Melony’s buyers have their first and only offer accepted. For her sellers, the average sale price is 7% above listing price.
Having closed over $100 million in sales in nine years, Melony’s team has evolved to five team members, including a marketing and business manager.
With a degree in urban studies from Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning, Melony settled in Boston’s Jamaica Plain in 2004.
Engaged in the community, Melony co-chairs the board of The Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts, a nearly 350-year-old institution that teaches woodworking, painting and other manual arts to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Having closed over $100 million in sales in nine years, Melony’s team Good Boston Living has evolved to include five team members, including a marketing business manager.
Lauren Tabaksblat
Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP
Lauren Tabaksblat is one of the few powerful female real estate litigators in New York handling high-stakes, complex disputes. She has been recognized on Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under Hot List and by Super Lawyers as a leading litigator, and named a “Women Worth Watching” by Diversity Journal.
Lauren has successfully handled multi-million dollar real estate cases including:
- • 325 Fifth Avenue Condominium in recovering over $20 million in damages from the building’s defective design and construction.
- • The Related Companies, a real estate firm, in defense of a lawsuit brought by a joint venture partner involving the façade work for 750,000-square-foot multi-level shopping center at Hudson Yards.
As a member of Kasowitz’s Women’s Initiative Committee, Lauren mentors junior women attorneys at Kasowitz.
Most recent achievement: Lauren and the Kasowitz team represent 325 Fifth Avenue Condominium, a luxury residential condominium located on Fifth Avenue across from the Empire State Building in Manhattan, in an ongoing lawsuit against the Sponsor who developed the building, and the Sponsor appointed managing agent, project manager and general counsel, arising from the defective design and construction of the building and the coordinated scheme to conceal those known defects. Since 2018, Lauren and the Kasowitz team have successfully recovered over $20 million in damages for the Condominium through settlements with the Sponsor and the building’s former general counsel. The litigation against the remaining defendants is ongoing.
Debra Thompson, Esq.
Advantage Title
Debra Thompson serves as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Advantage Title, the flagship of the Advantage Group of affiliated companies. Debra has extensive experience in all aspects of title insurance related to complex commercial and residential real estate transactions and works closely with and counsels attorneys, developers, lenders and governmental agencies. She has been responsible for handling transactions involving major shopping centers, industrial and office complexes, hotels, hospitals, multi-family communities and high end residential properties.
Prior to joining Advantage in 2004, Debra practiced law in the areas of commercial litigation and real estate with the firm Fogel & Wachs, P.C. and began her legal career working at a national title insurance underwriter.
Debra received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Rutgers University and her Juris Doctor degree from New England School of Law. She is active in a number of community and professional service organizations, including President of the Women Economic Developers of Long Island (WEDLI), Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association, and the Long Island Real Estate Group (LIREG). Debra resides in Northport with her husband.
Most recent achievement: Led the closings for a $116,000,000 purchase by a major developer of a multi-site corporate park and on $98,000,000 in financing for the construction of a private, luxury, residential community.
Jackie Totolo
Newmark Knight Frank Retail
Jackie is a Senior Managing Director with Newmark Knight Frank Retail, concentrating on both landlord and tenant representation. She helps retailers to expand in New York City and assists landlords in curating and securing the best merchandising at their properties. Jackie has a decade of hands-on expertise in the retail industry and has grown into one of Newmark Knight Frank Retail’s most active brokers.
Jackie started her career at RKF in 2007 and has excelled in the time since. Jackie has accomplished significant transactions, representing high profile retail projects as well as assisting retailers in their expansions.
Some of her most notable transactions include 40 locations for Pret A Manger, the repositioning and lease up of 935 Madison Avenue where she leased “14,300 SF of newly-created retail space to luxury brands Aquazurra, Moynat, Nespresso and Golden Goose Deluxe Brand. Jackie is currently working on the “173,000-SF multi level retail component at One Wall Street in the Financial District, curating a mix of retail offerings over six floors and has to date secured Whole Foods Market and Life Time Fitness to anchor the project for a combined 117,000 SF.
Jackie received a Bachelor of Science in Management with a minor in Real Estate from W.P. Carey School of Business. She is a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in the state of New York and is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Most recent achievement: On behalf of Macklowe Properties, Jackie recently arranged leases with Whole Foods Market and Life Time Fitness for a combined 117,000 SF to serve as anchors to not only Macklowe Properties’ One Wall Street but also the broader Financial District trade area.
Beth Turtz
Duval & Stachenfeld LLP
Beth Turtz is a member of the Firm’s Real Estate Practice Group. Ms. Turtz has over 20 years of extensive experience in all principal areas of real estate law, including acquisition, disposition, finance and leasing of buildings and shopping centers; transfers of undeveloped land; exchange transactions; commercial property management; and conversion and sale of cooperatives and condominiums (including bulk transfers of units).
Ms. Turtz also specializes in high end residential transactions in what we call BT High End Residential. Ms. Turtz routinely represents high net worth individuals in residential transactions in New York City. Ms. Turtz recently closed three separate purchases of condominium units for high-net worth individuals, having an aggregate value in excess of $62,000,000.
Most recent achievement: Recently closed three separate purchases of condominium units for high-net worth individuals, having an aggregate value in excess of $62,000,000.
Elise Wagner
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Elise Wagner is one of New York City’s leading land use attorneys. She continues to represent clients in some of the most high-profile and complex land use matters in New York City.
Wagner is leading the team representing Plaxall in connection with the rezoning of Anable Basin in Long Island City to create a new live-work district that would accommodate light manufacturing, commercial and residential development along the waterfront. The plan includes market rate and affordable housing units, arts and cultural uses, commercial and light manufacturing space, and a resilient waterfront esplanade.
Wagner worked with Plaxall on Amazon’s proposal to create a second headquarters on the Plaxall property and adjacent properties in Long Island City.
Wagner is advising the Gotham Organization on the public approvals required for a mixed-use development containing market rate, senior and affordable housing, the headquarters for the Chinese American Planning Council and space for the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Synagoge at on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Wagner is also working the City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development to obtain approvals for HELP I to develop and operate a City-owned site in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn with a homeless shelter for 195 families and four buildings with approximately 324 affordable units.
Wagner is also Board Member of the New York Building Congress, and a Board Member and is Co-Chair of the Programming Committee of WX Women Executives in Real Estate.
Wagner earned her B.A. from Wesleyan University and her J.D. from the New York University School of Law.
Cynthia Wasserberger
JLL
Cynthia Wasserberger is one of New York’s leading commercial office leasing experts. During her 22-year career, she has completed more than 10 million square feet of transactions in the region.
As managing director, Wasserberger oversees agency leasing and tenant representation client services, and leads JLL’s alternative investment practice group.
Recent standout transactions include Discovery Communications’ 362,000-square-foot lease at 230 Park Avenue South and Syska Hennessy Group’s 55,000-square-foot lease at 1185 Avenue of the Americas. She also shepherded the representation of RXR Realty at 237 Park Avenue in the leasing of 500,000 square feet to New York Presbyterian Hospital, as well as SL Green in its lease up of 10 East 53rd Street.
Additionally, Wasserberger spearheads agency assignments for a number of Manhattan’s prominent owners such as Boston Properties, William Kaufman Organization, Edward J. Minskoff Equities and Fisher Brothers, among others. She has been actively involved in providing real estate services to financial service corporate clients such as Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, State Street Bank, and Computer Associates.
Wasserberger graduated from the University of Florida and earned a master’s degree in real estate finance from New York University. She sits on the board of directors of The Real Estate Board of New York and is active in the New York University Real Estate Alumni Association.
Amy Weissberger
Morgan Properties
Amy Weissberger is an ambitious businesswoman with over 25 years of operational experience in property management, training, instructional design, and organization development. She started her career at the site-level and climbed to the top of the corporate ladder at Morgan Properties — the nation’s 19th largest apartment owner and operator. Amy joined Morgan in 1994 as a young, motivated, and committed leasing professional when the company employed less than 200 people. Since then, her strategic skills and ability to streamline operations company-wide have propelled Morgan to own and manage 167 apartment communities in 11 states. Amy’s development of skill-enhancing initiatives, including Morgan’s 18-month Management Trainee program, has enabled the company to add and deploy talent faster than any competitor of its size. Her work has supported internal growth and landed her multiple promotions – including her current role as Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy.
Amy graduated summa cum laude from Gwynedd University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Organizational Management. In December 2018, she received a master’s degree in Training and Development from Roosevelt University. She is currently a member of the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI) and the Pennsylvania Apartment Association East (PAA East) Education Committee.
Most recent achievement: Amy Weissberger was recently promoted to Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy at the time Morgan Properties hit a major milestone of eclipsing 52,000 apartment units. In fact, Amy’s 25 years at Morgan Properties include working with stakeholders to create procedures to streamline operations.
Benita Welch
Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel, Architects, DPC
Benita Welch has been a Design Principal at Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel, Architects, DPC since 2009. With over 27 years of experience, she has led a variety of projects from the firm’s comprehensive portfolio, ranging from commercial and residential interior design projects to new buildings, and from hospitality projects to adaptive re-use and preservations projects.
Most of her work can be found in Manhattan, such as Zuma Restaurant and 40 East End Avenue, a new luxury condominium residential building currently under construction. With extensive experience in restoration and adaptive re-use, Benita is noted for leading projects such as the restoration of the Bowery Savings Bank and The Beekman Hotel, both NYC landmarks.
Benita received her architectural license in 1995. She is a member of the AIA and is nationally certified with NCARB. As an active member of WX, New York Women Executives in Real Estate, she is on the scholarship committee and serves as a mentor. Along with her many accomplishments, she has been honored with the DeWitt Stern Local Hero Award from ART/NY for her dedication to the restoration of the non-profit’s Brooklyn office / studio building.
Aviva Yakren
Sidley Austin LLP
Aviva is a partner at Sidley Austin and in January was named head of the firm’s New York Real Estate Practice Group. She represents financial institutions in all aspects of real estate finance, including senior and subordinate facilities, construction loans, mezzanine loans, revolving facilities, credit-backed and private placement bond financings and community development financings. She also represents private equity investors and real estate developers in acquiring, developing and financing a broad range of real estate asset classes, including office buildings, multifamily housing, assisted living and independent living facilities, hotels and commercial and retail space.
Examples of mixed use, affordable housing projects she has closed have included Essex Crossing, a collection of over 1,000 new residences, 400,000 square feet of office space and 450,000 square feet of retail space; Hunters Point, a one-million-square-foot development with more than 1,000 residences, about 80 percent of which will be affordable housing; and the Bedford Armory, a 542,000-square-foot project with about 390 residences, about half of which will be affordable housing.
Most recent achievement: Among the nation’s most prominent experts in community development and affordable housing finance, Aviva represents most of the major financial institutions in this space. She has closed a remarkable number of significant community development financings throughout New York City and nation-wide in the past year and has been an influential leader in developing innovative public-private partnerships that are helping New York address some of its most challenging neighborhood development and housing issues.
Donna M. Zavattieri
Safe Harbour Real Estate Group, LLC
Ms. Zavattieri has overseen and has been responsible for all aspects of Management and Leasing, Brokerage and Sales for two major Real Estate companies in New York.
A native New Yorker, Ms. Zavattieri began her career in 1981 when she worked for Helmsley-Spear, Inc. in their Corporate Accounting Department. She then went on to learn management and leasing in the Garment Center under the direction of Irving Schneider. In order to take advantage of such a unique opportunity, “DZ” turned down a full scholarship to Baruch College. Instead, under the tutelage of Schneider she learned the business from the “bottom up”; from Administrative Leasing Assistant to Assistant Building Manager to Building Manager to Account Executive to Asset Manager, eventually selling the entire company on ownership’s behalf in Fall of 2007.
Ms. Zavattieri has successfully sold many properties with her team; both residential and commercial and crafted both purchases and sales of partnership interests within the portfolio of which she was Account Executive.
Today, alongside her partner Angelo Grima, Donna works as the Managing member of her new firm Safe Harbour Real Estate Group, LLC . SHRE Group is a full service Real Estate company specializing in Brokerage, Sales and Acquisitions, and Leasing.
Donna has been involved in the community and is particularly supportive of St. Francis Food Pantry and Shelters, the Gambino Medical & Science Foundation, Mercy Home for Children, and St. Jude’s Children’s Research.
