What's Next for Newark?

John Saraceno, Jr. is Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Onyx Equities, LLC, one of the most active commercial property investment, management and development firms in the New York Metro market. Since founding in 2004 with partner Jonathan Schultz, Onyx has acquired more than $2.2 billion worth of real estate assets throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut and executed over $230 million in asset repositioning projects across all property types. Serving as the firm’s Chief Investment Strategist, John directs the firm’s approach to investment and portfolio management. Since Onyx’s inception, he has successfully led its mission to partner with some of the country’s most significant institutional investment firms. In addition, he oversees Onyx’s investment fund arm, which has historically and continues to generate fund-level IRR’s in excess of 25%. The foundation for Onyx’s investment and portfolio management strategies was built upon John’s tenure as Founding Member and Chief Investment Officer at Ivy Equities, where he was responsible for all acquisition, disposition, and finance activities. John is an alum of Fordham University and holds a Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School. With children’s health and welfare as a major concern, he is an annual supporter of the March of Dimes of New Jersey, the United Way of Bergen County, and the Ridgewood Education Foundation. He serves on the Ridgewood Public Library Board of Trustees as well as on Valley Hospital’s President’s Advisory Council. Professionally, he is a spokesperson for the real estate development industry in the tri-state region. He is a member of the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce’s 2040 Council, and served on New Jersey’s Real Estate Advisory Board under Governor Corzine. Trade organization affiliation includes NAIOP and IOREBA.

Blake Goodman is an executive vice president in the brokerage services division of JLL’s New Jersey office. Mr. Goodman provides tenant and landlord representation services for corporate and institutional clients, with a core focus on the office market sector. Experience An experienced tenant and landlord representative, Mr. Goodman has serviced some of the most prominent corporations in the nation. Prior to joining JLL, Mr. Goodman was a senior managing director with Newmark Knight Frank in NJ. Goodman has been involved in over 400 lease transactions totaling more than 7 million square feet. Additionally, Mr. Goodman was the account manager and global transaction manager for Albemarle Corporation's global real estate portfolio at his prior firm. Achievements Mr. Goodman has been annually recognize as a Costar Power Broker since 2006 and was recognized by RE Forum Magazine as a “Top Broker” based on square footage leased, total number of transactions, and total value of leases.  Additionally, in 2013, he was recognized by Real Estate Forum Magazine as one of “Tomorrow’s Leaders of New Jersey.” He was also awarded “Rising Star of the Year” earlier in his career at his prior firm. Education and Affiliations Mr. Goodman graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in finance. He was a four-year member of Boston University's real estate club, where he explored many facets of the real estate market. Co-chair, Commercial Real Estate Steering Committee, United Way of Northern New Jersey Board member, ACG (Association for Corporate Growth) Board member, New Jersey Business Group Member, Newark Regional Business Partnership

Over the past 25 years, Bernel Hall has executed over $5 billion in real estate investment, lending, and disposition transactions for multifamily, retail, office, and hotel properties in 36 states throughout the United States. A former investment banker, public housing executive, and real estate finance professor, Mr. Hall is an expert in large, multi-faceted public-private real estate transactions and small business transactions and executive leadership. As New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC) President and CEO, Mr. Hall leads the largest Community Development Financial Institution in New Jersey with four business lines--Lending, Real Estate Development, Investment Ventures and Strategic Community Consulting--with approximately $700 million in assets under management. Loans and investments leveraged over $2.5 billion in capital to more than 120,000 business owners and residents in underserved and low- income communities in New Jersey, New York, and Florida. Additionally, Mr. Hall leads Community Asset Preservation Corporation (CAPC), a wholly owned subsidiary of NJCC, and the largest affordable housing development company in New Jersey with more than 600 units of housing and 500,000 square feet of commercial assets. CAPC’s capabilities include real estate development, property management, asset management, mortgage acquisition, and mortgage modification services in New Jersey, New York, and Florida. As President and CEO of Invest Newark, he established a proven track record of transformative leadership that resulted in wealth creation for underserved communities throughout New Jersey’s largest city. In partnership with his Board of Directors and Staff, Mr. Hall transformed Invest Newark into New Jersey’s premier economic development vehicle featuring the state’s only land bank, a municipally sponsored fiber optic company, an employee-owned industrial company, and an infrastructure investment fund. As CEO of Halltown Real Estate Advisors, Mr. Hall served as real estate investment advisor to some of the largest housing authorities in the country. As part of his tenure with the Atlanta Housing Authority (“AHA”), Mr. Hall established an $100 million co-investment vehicle between AHA, HUD, and the Atlanta Economic Development Authority (“Invest Atlanta”). During his tenure with the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”), he oversaw the execution of over $1.5 billion in real estate disposition, development, and joint venture transactions. Previously, Mr. Hall worked in Goldman Sachs’ Urban Investment Group where he was responsible for sourcing and evaluating urban-based multifamily, retail, and mixed-use real estate private equity investments. Prior to his work at Goldman Sachs, Mr. Hall executed $785 million in real estate acquisitions, loans, and joint ventures transactions for UBS Investment Bank. Mr. Hall began his career with Bank of America in the firm’s Construction Lending and Real Estate Investment Banking Groups. Mr. Hall is a licensed Uniform Investment Advisor (Series 7, 65) and possesses a Bachelor of Science from North Carolina State University and a M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School. He sits on the community development and new market tax credit advisory boards of PNC Financial and Goldman Sachs, respectively. He also holds a certification from the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Jonathan Cortell is a Managing Director at L+M Development Partners with a particular focus on extending the firm’s business beyond New York City. Since joining L+M in 2005, Jon has represented the firm on multiple transactions, and is working on mixed-income and mixed-use transactions in New Jersey, specifically in Downtown Newark and Jersey City. Prior to joining L+M, Jon was the Vice President and Director of Development at the New York State Housing Finance Agency (HFA). In 2015, Jon was the recipient of the Rising Star Award at the Multifamily Executive Awards. Jon has a BA and a MPA from Columbia University as well as a MBA from New York University’s Stern Business School.

Ron Beit is the CEO and founding partner of RBH Group, LLC, and RBH Management, LLC, as well as managing member of RBH-TRB Newark Holdings, LLC. Ron has acquired, developed, rehabilitated, and/or operated over 1 million square feet of commercial and residential real estate in numerous projects throughout the U.S. as well as over 6 million additional square feet in institutional-grade sites throughout downtown, Newark, NJ. Ron has been an active participant in helping Newark become New Jersey’s business and entertainment capital and a downtown 24 hour, 7-day-a-week attraction. RBH recently completed the groundbreaking Teachers Village project, and is completing the Makers Village Project in the Ironbound. In addition to developing the Rutgers-Newark Honors Living-Learning Community, RBH is initiating the Four Corners Millennium project in the historic core of the city as well. RBH is now expanding into a national marketplace, with Teachers Village projects under construction in Hartford and in design in Chicago, as well as in the planning stages in Miami, New York City, Atlanta, Boston and other cities across the country. RBH intends to invest its Teachers Village projects almost exclusively in designated Opportunity Zones, and has created a dedicated fund to assist in providing housing affordable to educators in the cities in which they live and work.

Karine helps her clients with their buying, selling and leasing needs by providing high-quality solutions to meet their objectives. Her specialties include multifamily units, acquisitions, dispositions, deal analysis, and market analysis. She has experience in commercial real estate marketing, business development, and economic and urban development. Karine has worked in various client-facing roles in the financial services industry and has a track record for building strong relationships throughout her career. She has worked in the marketing department for a commercial real estate fund, where she created presentations and wrote proposals for investors looking to invest in core and value-add real estate. Through her experience and knowledge, Karine has become the guru of multifamily for The Blau & Berg Company.

Mr. Wolfe is the Managing Partner in the Property Tax Department at Skoloff & Wolfe, PC, where he focuses his practice on representing taxpayers in significant real estate tax appeals and property tax related matters. He has extensive experience in all types of property tax appeals, including hotel, multi-family, retail, office, and industrial properties. Mr. Wolfe frequently counsels clients on the property tax implications of the development, acquisition, and disposition of significant assets. He also counsels clients with respect to property tax exemptions and PILOT agreements. Mr. Wolfe serves on the Board of the National Association of Property Tax Attorneys (NAPTA) and as the Co-Chair of the Real Property Tax Practice Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association. Mr. Wolfe has been featured or quoted in a wide variety of local and national publications, including Forbes.com, GlobeSt.com, Marketwatch.com, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Law.com, Law360.com, The New York Law Journal, and Commerce Magazine. Mr. Wolfe has a track record of obtaining significant assessment reductions on behalf of his clients. Examples of those assessment reductions include: • Reduced hotel assessment from $188 million to $131million; • Reduced multi-family assessment from $116 million to $67 million; • Reduced office assessment from $115.5 million to $90million; • Reduced supermarket anchored center from $66.9 million to $46 million; • Reduced nursing home assessment from $36 million to $10.1million; • Reduced big box retail assessment from $21.3 million to $13.4 million; • Reduced office assessment from $27.8 million to $6.5million. Mr. Wolfe began his career as an associate at the law firm of Davis Polk and Wardwell in New York. While at Davis Polk, he focused his practice on regulatory investigations, securities litigation and banking disputes. Mr. Wolfe is a member of the American Bar Association House of Delegates and is the Co-Chair of the ABA’s Diversity & Inclusion 360 Presidential Commission. As a young lawyer, Mr. Wolfe served as the Chair of the ABA Young Lawyers Division, the ABA’s largest entity with more than 130,000 members. Mr. Wolfe received his J.D. from New York University School of Law, and graduated from Cornell University with distinction in all subjects.

Aisha serves as the President & CEO of Newark Alliance, which plays a key role in leveraging the city's corporate and anchor communities' collective impact and helps carry out Mayor Ras J. Baraka's vision for inclusive economic growth. Ms. Glover has over 15 years of experience as a convener, champion and agent for economic empowerment and social justice. She most recently served as the President & CEO of the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation, where she led the city's bid to attract Amazon's second headquarters, strengthened the small business ecosystem, introduced innovative programs that provided resources to women and minority entrepreneurs, supported over $4B in real estate development and led the attraction of corporations and businesses to the city. Prior to joining the Newark team, Aisha served as the VP of External Affairs at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, the nonprofit organization that manages the city-owned Brooklyn Navy Yard, a national model for urban industrial development and job creation. There, she helped establish an exhibition and visitors center, oversaw strategic partnership development, community engagement, public affairs and fundraising and played a key role in supporting the Yard's growing economic development initiatives. Ms. Glover's impact there was informed by her tenure at the Center for the Urban Environment, New York City's largest provider of environmental education programs. There, she led a team that furthered the Center's environmental justice and education initiatives, helped create a local chapter of the nationally-recognized Small Business Alliance, and was instrumental in launching Green Brooklyn, the borough's first and largest sustainability event. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Hunter College of the City University of New York, a Masters of Public Administration from Baruch College of the City University of New York and an executive leadership certificate from the Columbia Business School, School of Social Enterprise.

Real Estate and Finance professional with 15+ years of progressive experience across Corporate Real Estate, Life Science Real Estate, Retail Real Estate, Strategy and Investment Banking. Results-driven leader with experience developing and executing global strategies.

Jeremy Neuer is the co-lead for CBRE’s Capital Markets group in New Jersey—focusing on office and industrial properties. After an 18-year leasing career, he transitioned to Capital Markets to leverage his unique experience with respect to the workplace and how buildings need to change to meet the needs of modern occupiers. His success in leasing, on both the occupier and landlord side, gives Mr. Neuer a distinct perspective to drive asset value and provide comprehensive advisory to owners and investors. Since joining the Capital Markets group, he has worked with Vice Chairman, Jeff Dunne on numerous successful assignments including the sale of 350-360 Mount Kemble Avenue in Morristown and CenterPointe in Bridgewater. Mr. Neuer previously represented five million square feet as exclusive broker to some of New Jersey’s top landlords and is widely recognized as one of the state’s leading landlord agents. His leasing assignments included several of New Jersey’s premier office buildings including: Two Tower Center in East Brunswick, 379, 399, and 499 Thornall Street in MetroPark, and River|Centre in Red Bank, to name a few. He also represented KABR in the sale of 200 Route 9 North in Manalapan to Ray Catena Motors and the acquisition of 3 & 5 ADP Boulevard in Roseland. Prior to joining CBRE, Mr. Neuer served as a Senior Director with Cushman & Wakefield. In 2009, he was the recipient of Cushman & Wakefield’s Service Excellence Award, awarded to the brokers/teams with the highest client survey scores. He is also an active blogger (www.NeuerSpace.com) and is considered a thought leader in the CRE Tech sector.

Jose is a senior managing director and co-office head in the New Jersey office of JLL Capital Markets, Americas. He joins JLL as part of the HFF acquisition and is a member of the firm’s leadership committee. Jose specializes in investment advisory throughout New Jersey, New York and Connecticut and also oversees the day-to-day operations of the firm’s New Jersey office. During the course of his more than 25-year commercial real estate career, he’s been involved in more than $62 billion of office, industrial, retail, multifamily and land sales. Jose started at HFF in March 2010. Before that, he was the executive director of Cushman & Wakefield’s New York area investment sales group where he spent more than 17 years. He began his real estate career as a real estate analyst at PaineWebber, UBS, Inc.

Francis J. Giantomasi, a Member with Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC, is widely recognized among New Jersey’s leading real estate and redevelopment attorneys, as well as a prominent leader in Newark’s business community. Over the course of his more than three decades in practice, he has become an authority and trusted advisor on real estate planning, zoning and development. Serving as chief development counsel, Frank played an integral role in many of Newark’s most defining development and redevelopment projects – including the 20-story Prudential Tower; Panasonic’s North American headquarters; the Courtyard by Marriott; the $35 million Market Street redevelopment, which made way for affordable housing units, as well as beloved community restaurants such as Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and Mercato Tomato Pie; and the 11-acre, mixed-use Springfield Avenue Marketplace, anchored by a 67,000-square-foot ShopRite supermarket. Frank has also worked closely with several county government bodies – previously serving as Essex County Counsel, counsel to the Essex County Board of Freeholders and special counsel to the Essex County Utilities Authority. Additionally, he serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and is a past member of the boards of the Newark Regional Business Partnership, Rutgers Business School’s Center for Real Estate and the Greater Newark Holiday Fund.