5th Annual Brooklyn State of the Market

Andrew Barrocas has enjoyed success as a dominant force and respected authority in the New York City real estate industry for many years. In his accomplished career, he has sold over $10-billion worth of property, and managed, trained, recruited and collaborated with the city's top agents and brokers. As CEO and Founder of MNS, Andrew currently oversees more than a billion dollars’ worth of real estate, as well as an exceptional team of talented agents and project managers focused on providing the utmost level of client service. Andrew entered the real estate field after graduating from the WP Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. He went on to achieve instant success and recognition as one of the "Top 30 Brokers Under 30", according to The Real Deal. Over the years, Andrew has been a continually sought-after expert on real estate who has been featured in The New York Times' "The 30-Minute Interview", quoted in all major New York publications, and spotlighted on The Stoler Report. Since founding MNS in 2006, Andrew has grown the company substantially in terms of its revenue and its team, which is now over 125 people. He also serves his industry as a licensed teacher through the State of New York, passing on his knowledge and array of professional experience of real estate sales to real estate brokers and salespersons. Andrew is also an active member of The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), The Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP), Young Jewish Professionals (YJP) and Young Presidents Organization (YPO). He and his wife Rachel are the proud parents of three beautiful girls – Cayden, Ella and Zoe.

Mr. Levine joined Meridian in 2004 and currently serves as a Senior Managing Director, overseeing a staff of originators and underwriters in the negotiation and placement of financing for construction, repositioning and transitional asset transactions. Prior to joining Meridian, Mr. Levine was a Senior Vice President at Westminster Capital, a division of Kushner Companies. His job responsibilities at Westminster included coordinating all aspects of financing for Kushner Companies, including debt and equity financing. Mr. Levine also previously worked as a financial analyst in the real estate investment banking group of CIBC World Markets. Mr. Levine holds an M.S. in Real Estate Finance from New York University and a B.A. in Finance from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business.

Ravi Kantha is a Real Estate Adviser who specializes in townhouse and building sales in Brooklyn Heights and Downtown Manhattan. Since joining Leslie J. Garfield & Co. in 2015, Ravi has sold or placed into contract over $200 million of real estate and is currently representing over $90 million in exclusive listings. Ravi joined the firm after spending several years as an attorney, first as a prosecutor and later in private practice focused on white collar defense, criminal defense, and securities litigation. Through his professional experience, Ravi has developed a reputation for his dedication to excellent client service, attention to detail, and professionalism. Together with his passion for New York City real estate, those skills enable him to ensure that his clients receive the very best real estate experience. Ravi is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law, Susquehanna University, and Fordham Preparatory School. At Susquehanna, Ravi received his B.A. in political science and was a four-year letter winner on the varsity football team, as well as a member of the varsity lacrosse team.

David J. Pfeffer is a partner, chair of Tarter Krinsky & Drogin’s Construction Practice, and a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. Mr. Pfeffer serves as a business partner to his clients – including real estate owners and developers, educational institutions, high-net-worth individuals, healthcare organizations, and cultural centers – and advises on all aspects of their construction, development, real estate, and business needs. His work has helped reshape skylines through some of the most significant construction and development projects in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Long Island City. Mr. Pfeffer leverages his keen insight into the business climate to provide clients with sophisticated guidance in order to mitigate risks and manage their complex issues. Combining his understanding of business-focused solutions with a legal perspective, Mr. Pfeffer focuses his practice on project delivery strategies and the preparation and negotiation of design, construction, and related contracts for private and public real estate development projects. He handles matters such as contract preparation, development, continuing operation, leasing and dispute resolution, and also maintains an active practice in business negotiation. David is a frequent speaker, published author, and quoted source who has been featured in Law360, The Real Deal, Crain’s New York Business, The New York Post, and Real Estate Weekly, among others. He has been ranked in Chambers as a leading construction lawyer in New York (2006–2021) and recognized as a 2020 New York Trailblazer by the New York Law Journal. Mr. Pfeffer serves on various boards including John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Kathe Kramer Chase has three decades of New York City centric commercial real estate experience and has played major roles in world renowned projects such as Chelsea Market, the Historic Falchi and Factory Buildings and now Industry City. Kathe received her undergraduate degree, with a concentration in business, from Northwestern University. After graduating, Kathe worked with developer Irwin Cohen after leaving Time Equities to assist in the renovation and leasing of 2mm square feet in Long Island City, and later in the purchase, redevelopment, and lease-up of what is now known as Chelsea Market. As an integral part of the Chelsea Market team, Kathe helped shape the identity of the Meat Packing District as an international destination. In 2014 Kathe left retirement to join Industry City as the Director. Over the course of her career Kathe has been on the forefront of real estate trends, and has pioneered development and leasing concepts that distinguish her in the industry, while leasing millions of square feet of commercial real estate in New York City, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Michael Rudin is the Co-CEO at Rudin Management Company. He has been with the firm since 2008, and together with his sister Samantha represents the fourth generation to work at the family business. Michael focuses on multiple areas within the company including new developments, capital markets, commercial and retail leasing, sustainability, and technology. Michael also helps lead the family’s venture capital business, Rudin Ventures, which focuses on early-stage startups in the real estate technology sector. Michael holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Design and Planning with an emphasis in Real Estate from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master’s of Science in Sustainable Real Estate Development from New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate. Michael is also Managing Partner of Rudin West Development, based in Aspen, Colorado. Rudin West Development has built two mixed-use projects totaling 50,000 square feet. Recent projects in New York include The Greenwich Lane and Dock72, a 675,000-square foot class A office building in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Michael is a member of a number of industry-related organizations that include The Real Estate Board of New York Real Estate Technology Committee, The Real Estate Round Table Sustainability Policy Advisory Committee, the WiredScore Advisory Board, the NYU Furman Center Advisory Board, and the Urban Land Institute. Michael serves on the board of the three Rudin Family foundations as well as The First Tee of Metropolitan New York, the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Friends of the BQX, and the Aspen Art Museum. Michael lives in Manhattan with his wife Sabrina, their sons Lukas and Dylan, and their dog Hoppy.

Sam Charney is a real estate professional whose project planning, design skills, construction management, and development experience make him one of New York City’s most respected and dynamic young developers. Sam is currently developing over 1.5 million mixed-use square feet in Long Island City, Gowanus and Williamsburg with Charney Companies. He has been featured and interviewed by several of the industry’s leading publications and is a guest lecturer at the Schack Institute of Real Estate at New York University. In addition, Sam sits on the boards of both The Brooklyn Public Library and Pursuit, a 501C3 based in Long Island City focused on adult education and job training. In 2012 Sam was awarded the prestigious NYU Bart Lawson Award for Humanitarianism for his work with blind athletes, and in 2017 his first solo Development “The Jackson” at 11-51 47th Avenue won the Queens Chamber of Commerce Award for Best New Multifamily Building. His most recent project “The Dime” was recently awarded the 2020 Urban Architecture and Design Award

Robert is a founding partner of Fogarty Finger Architecture responsible for the design of all corporate and residential interior projects. After finishing his architectural training, Robert further developed his passion for design as Studio Head and Senior Associate at SOM, leading a number of international projects. In his own practice, Robert has brought a unique approach to commercial interiors. Drawing on a breadth of experience designing luxury residences, Robert’s emphasis on scale and materials brings a high level of refinement and detail to the firm’s projects. He has been at the forefront of an evolving marketplace where his designs are prized for creating comfortable yet stimulating work environments. Robert’s client list includes some of the largest developers in the New York City area such as Boston Properties, Brookfield, and Vornado. Recent and ongoing projects include interior and amenity spaces at the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Dock 72 and boutique offices for local firms. He is a graduate of Syracuse University and a member of AIA New York.

Jason Davidson is a member of the firm's litigation department. He handles commercial and residential landlord-tenant matters, contract and lease disputes, and complex real estate and construction litigation in state and federal courts. He has litigated cases in Federal District Court and in New York State trial and appellate courts, including the New York State Court of Appeals. He has also represented clients before various New York City administrative agencies, including the New York City Loft Board, the Office of Administrative Trial and Hearings, the Environmental Control Board, and the Board of Standards and Appeals. Jason started his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in the trial division and in the special investigation bureau of the Manhattan District Attorney's office, prosecuting criminals and investigating international narcotics and money laundering organizations. Jason is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. He serves on the judicial screening committee of LeGal Law Association of Greater New York and on the Board of Directors of the Hetrick-Martin Institute. Originally from El Salvador, Jason is fluent in Spanish. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the State University of New York at Albany and a Juris Doctorate from the American University, Washington College of Law, where he was a participant in the International Human Rights Law Clinic and the international studies program at the University of Chile School of Law.

Marc Wieder, CPA, is an accounting and audit partner at Anchin with over 25 years of experience servicing the accounting, business, and financial needs of real estate companies and their owners. He has extensive experience in the area of federal, state, local, personal and business taxes. As Co-Practice Leader of the Real Estate Industry Group at Anchin, Marc routinely helps to shed new light into the complex world of taxation, particularly as it relates to selling and acquiring real estate. Marc has written numerous articles on various real estate topics published in Real Estate Weekly, Real Estate New York,Real Estate Journal, Shopping Center Business, and other publications. He frequently lectures for large groups and currently writes a monthly column for Real Estate Weekly. He served for 10 years on the advisory board to the University of Buffalo Department of Accounting and Law. Marc was named among the 2015 Top 10 Public Accounting Professionals in New York by NAPAP. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY). Marc is on the boards of The Fashion Center Business Improvement District and Variety the Children’s Charity.

MaryAnne Gilmartin is President and Chief Executive Officer of Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC), a New York-based real estate development company. Ms. Gilmartin has been point person in the development of some of the most high profile real estate projects in New York City. She led the efforts to build Barclays Center, the new state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue and the centerpiece of the $4.9 billion, 22-acre mixed-use Pacific Park Brooklyn development. Ms. Gilmartin oversaw the development of The New York Times Building, designed by world renowned architect Renzo Piano and New York by Gehry, the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere, designed by award winning architect Frank Gehry. In addition to these projects, Ms. Gilmartin has managed the commercial portfolio at MetroTech Center in Downtown Brooklyn, which consists of 6.7 million square feet of Class A office space. Ms. Gilmartin graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Fordham University, where she also completed her Masters Degree in 1990. Ms. Gilmartin began her real estate development career as a New York City Urban Fellow in 1986 at the Public Development Corporation. Ms. Gilmartin served proudly for over 7 years on the New York City Ballet Advisory Board. Currently, Ms. Gilmartin serves as a Board Trustee for the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM); a Member of the Executive Committee and Board of Governors of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY); and as a Member of the Industry Advisory Board of the MS Real Estate Development Program at Columbia University. Most recently, she was named Co-Chair of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, a member of the Board of Directors of the Jefferies Group LLC, a global investment banking firm, and a Member of the Board of Trustees of New York Public Radio. Ms. Gilmartin has been recognized as a top professional in her field by WX as its 2007 “Woman of the Year”, by Crain’s in 2007 as one of New York’s Most Influential Women and again, in 2011, 2013 and 2015, by Crain’s as one of New York’s 50 Most Powerful Women.

Mr. LiMandri joined Vidaris in 2014, bringing with him strategic leadership experience and innovation. Currently Mr. LiMandri oversees operations and the company’s Code Advisory division. The newly formed group can deliver comprehensive solutions based on a deep understanding of building code and NYC zoning. He also explores strategic service offerings that can bridge current gaps within the complex real estate and construction market in New York City and other metropolitan markets around the country. Mr. LiMandri also serves as a member of the Management Committee. Before joining Vidaris, Mr. LiMandri served as New York City Department of Buildings Commissioner. He is an operational executive with a history of leadership in commercial real estate, construction, development standards, and oversight—with a tenure punctuated by widespread changes in building safety standards, technology initiatives, green building innovation, and code updates. Drawing on his background in fiscal oversight and P&L management, he has managed budgets exceeding $200M, in addition to a team of 1,100 attorneys, engineers, inspectors, and architects. His leadership impact can be felt throughout the city’s real estate industry with enhanced safety awareness, stringent mandates for construction, and quality and advances in sustainability. In addition, his innovative approach to technology utilization has saved his customers millions in staff time, while boosting customer satisfaction with the launch of cutting-edge online collaboration tools such as the paperless virtual approval of plans at the HUB, 3D site safety review, and a smart phone app. Mr. LiMandri has also held positions at Realfoundations as a management consultant, Jones Lang LaSalle managing Class A office, Columbia University, and Honeywell Corporation.