Harlem's Investment & Development Boom!

Ryan Serhant is an American real estate mogul, producer and TV personality. He is best known as the star of Bravo's two time Emmy-nominated "Million Dollar Listing New York" and as the founder of The Serhant Team. His team at Nest Seekers International sold over $630 million in real estate in 2015 and is the #1 sales team in New York and the #5 sales team in the U.S. by Wall Street Journal. Ryan is also the producer and star of his new show "Sell It Like Serhant" coming to Bravo in early 2018. As a real estate expert he is a frequent contributor to 20/20, CNN, CNBC, The Today Show and Bloomberg TV, and is often quoted in The New York Times, Forbes, Wall Street Journal and Wall Street Journal China.

David, a Principal of the Blumenfeld Development Group and has been the driving force behind many of the company’s high profile projects, including the acquisition and development of East River Plaza in Manhattan and The Arches at Deer Park. East River Plaza is an innovative, vertical, urban power-center that is often cited as being the spark that ignited the revitalization of upper Manhattan. The Arches is an 800,000-square foot, hybrid/lifestyle center and Long Island’s first green retail development that combines discount and outlet shopping with entertainment and restaurant uses. In addition to this role, David also serves as president of BDG Construction Corp., with annual revenues exceeding $20 million, where he actively manages the construction process on a majority of BDG’s projects. David, who studied at the University of Michigan, spent three years as a Project Manager at RC Dolner Construction Corp. before joining BDG. David is also active in community activities, serving as a Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Children’s Medical Fund of New York and as a Trustee for the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, Northwell Health (formerly North Shore-LIJ) and The NYC Police Museum.

Allison Berman is the Managing Director and General Counsel of Greystone EB-5 Holdings Corp. She is responsible for structuring and administering EB-5 compliant project investments. Ms. Berman is also responsible for working on general business matters for Greystone’s EB-5 program and preparing legal agreements, offering and loan documents in connection with each of Greystone’s EB-5 projects. Ms. Berman joined Greystone in 2006 as Deputy General Counsel and has been involved in all aspects of legal representation of the Greystone affiliated companies. Prior to joining Greystone, Ms. Berman was a partner in Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP’s New York real estate practice where she focused on financings including structured, syndicated, securitized and construction; senior/mezz intercreditor issues; and acquisitions and dispositions of assets and portfolios for both private and public companies in the real estate sector. She earned a J.D. cum laude from Boston University School of Law and an A.B. from Duke University.

Mr. Auster joined Grid Properties in 2009 as a Managing Director responsible for sourcing acquisitions and new development projects as well as overseeing the leasing of Urban Strategic Partners’ new projects and existing retail portfolio. Prior to joining Grid Properties Mr. Auster was a partner in the New York City office of Ripco Real Estate Corp. – a boutique commercial brokerage company specializing in retail real estate leasing throughout the New York metropolitan area. During his 11 years with Ripco he specialized in representing landlords and developers in the leasing of the retail space in their properties throughout New York City. His clients included building owners and developers such as Archstone, Kimco Realty Corporation, RREFF Alternative Investments, The Apple Bank for Savings and The Argo Corporation. Mr. Auster completed transactions with many prominent tenants including Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, Best Buy, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Darden Restaurants, Bank of America and Staples. He continues to maintain close ties with major national and regional retailers. In addition to his many leasing assignments throughout New York City, Mr. Auster specialized in existing properties and retail developments along the 125th Street corridor and throughout other parts of Harlem where he oversaw the completion of more than 20 significant leasing transactions. Prior to joining Ripco, Mr. Auster was a senior analyst with BRT Realty Trust where he focused primarily on analyzing equity and debt investments for the company. In addition, he was asset manager for a portfolio of internally held commercial properties and was responsible for the organization’s relationship with the capital markets. Mr. Auster began his career in real estate in Washington D.C. working as a lobbyist for the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland and New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate, where he received a Master’s of Science in Real Estate Development and Investment. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers where he is a board member for the Next Generation Committee, The Real Estate Board of New York and both The NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate and University of Maryland Alumni Associations. Mr. Auster is a licensed real estate broker in the State of New York.

Lauren Wolf is a Vice President in the Real Estate Transaction Services division of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). In this capacity, she leads transaction structuring and negotiation of public-private partnerships throughout New York City with a focus on East Harlem, the St. George Waterfront and office/industrial assets ranging from Midtown Manhattan to emerging New York City office markets. She joined NYCEDC in 2012. Prior to NYCEDC, she worked in the acquisitions division of The Hampshire Companies, a Morristown, NJ based real estate private equity firm with approximately $3 billion in real estate assets. She began her career as an investment banker with Cowen and Company focusing on the technology and alternative energy sectors. Lauren received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and her MBA from the Tuck School of Business. She has served on the board of the Friends of Governors Island since 2014.

Curtis LeRoy Archer was born and raised in New York City, attending the prestigious Stuyvesant High School. Curtis received a scholarship to Mercy College, where he double majored in Sociology and Criminal Justice. After graduation from Mercy, Curtis attended Columbia University in the City of New York as a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science. Curtis began his career in community development as a manager in the Neighborhood Development and Commercial Revitalization Program of the New York City Office of Business Development. After supervising the Queens office of New York City’s Business Assistance Program, Curtis became the director of economic development and liaison to the African American community within the Queens Borough President’s office. Since January 2006, Curtis has been president of the Harlem Community Development Corporation. He has successfully rejuvenated the agency’s role in promoting New York State’s economic policy north of 96th Street in Manhattan and enhanced the economic climate for both businesses and residents in the Greater Harlem community.

James ‘JT’ Thompson is the Founder, CEO of The Hip Hop Hall of Fame Museum & Hotel Entertainment Complex coming to Harlem, NYC. The Producer, Entrepreneur, Developer, and Community Advocate is a Brooklyn Born, Queens, and Harlem raised Hip Hop Connoisseur whose uncle also played with Harlem Legends Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and later Benny Goodman which gives him a unique perspective on the Harlem Renaissance Legacy and Hip Hop History. He is a US Army Veteran, and former College and Free Agent basketball player that played throughout Europe, Balkans, Ukraine, and Russia for USA Jr Team. In 1992 He was a founding partner of the nationally publicized LA Gang Truce Alliance during the LA Riots that was highlighted in the films ‘NWA: Straight Outta Compton’ produced by Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, and in ‘Redemption’ starring Jamie Foxx. He was a Rebuild LA Committee Member who formed Public and Private Partnerships for Socio-Economic Empowerment for Urban Areas that later became a model utilized for the ‘Empowerment Zones’ in Urban USA centers. He also created and executive produced the first ever Hip Hop Hall of Fame Awards ‘Induction Ceremony & Concert’ TV show taped in Harlem at the Victoria 5 Theater which premiered on the BET Cable Network and its National Syndication arm Baruch Television in 1995-1997 to be the fundraising vehicle to build the HHHOF Museum, but that was cut short due to the tragedies of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious BIG. The televised show returns in fall 2018. Today he has re-established the first and only Hip Hop Hall of Fame as a Chartered non-profit Museum and Educational Institution whose mission is to Preserve, Archive, Exhibit, Educate, and Showcase Hip Hop Music & Culture from around the world. To also conduct Research and Studies documenting hip-hop's historical influence on American Pop Culture and its Socio-Economic Impact on Societies and Trends around the world. The Hip Hop Hall of Fame Museum & Hotel Mega-Entertainment Retail Complex design concept features the Hall of Fame, Museum, a Five Star Hotel, Retail Mall & Gift Shop, Arcade, TV Studios, Sports Bar, Restaurant & Concert Lounge producing over 100 live events a year with a goal of serving up to 1,000,000 music and culture fans, tourists, students, visitors, and families annually on educational & entertainment excursion tours. The HHHOF envisions a state of the art 'Green Technology & Energy Conservation' model and is estimated to contribute approximately a $350M socio-economic impact to New York City and the Tri-State region annually. The Hip Hop Hall of Fame in Harlem opens Youth Arts & Media Education Academy with Thrive Collective & HUB partners in 2018, and the Hip Hop Hall of Fame Museum & Hotel is scheduled to open in late 2020-21. The CEO/Chairman, has independently worked with major Artists, Celebrities, Executives, and Corporations in every facet of Entertainment including Music, Film, Sports, and Television by creating, promoting, and producing Awards Shows, Step Shows, Fashion Shows & Concerts, Billboard Charting Records/Albums, College Sports Classics, Films, Talent Casting, Public Relations, Marketing & Promotions, Advertising Sales, Distribution, Retail Management, and is the architect of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame “Co-Branding” Business Investment and Expansion Strategy. Thompson International Professionals, LLC is a holding company he formed to specialize in Global Real Estate & Land Development, Tele-Communications, Entertainment, and Special Project Management. The Company owns and manages its own real estate properties, and has numerous commercial, residential, and retail projects in various stages of rehabilitation and development around the country. His companies and the HHHOF has organized, produced, and participated in numerous events over the years with Harlem Week, NFL, NBA, MLB, Jesse Jackson, NAACP, President Bill Clinton, Danny Bakewell, Bishop Charles Blake, HBCU’s, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Russell Simmons, Pebbles, LA Reid, Babyface, Ice T, Master P, Sean P-Diddy Combs, Ice Cube, John Singleton, Yo-Yo, Mark Pitts, Lil Kim, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Shaquille O’neal, Rakim, Slick Rick, Grandmaster Flash, Kool Herc, Rob Base, DJ Lord Yoda X, Uncle Ralph McDaniels, Roxanne Shante, OutKast, Goodie Mob, Sugar Hill Gang, E40, EPMD, Das Efx, Eazy E, WBLS, Radio 103, Hot 97, KMEL, 92 The Beat, Sprite, Kraft, Kool-Aid, Universal, Warner, Sony, BMG, Interscope, Priority and many more.

Louis Katsos has over 40 years of major project experience in the Real Estate and Construction Management market. He is a known and recognized leader in the development, design and construction industry, with over 35 years of executive corporate experience with major national New York Construction Management and General Contracting firms, like Tishman Construction where he was the E.V.P./COO, as well as being President of his own firm Jekmar Associates Inc., a construction/ development consulting firm to New York Developers and Owners. Jekmar Associates Inc. is currently involved in numerous residential, mixed use and hotel projects of over 2.5 million square feet. As Project Manager / Executive he has built, ground up, over 10 million square feet of various high rise building types, Institutional and landmark buildings in New York and had corporate oversight of millions more. He is also a Member and Executive Managing Director of the New York Immigration Fund which raises EB-5 foreign investment funds for various New York City development projects currently being built. Lou is the President / Founder of EMBCA, Inc. (East Mediterranean Business Culture Alliance); Executive Board Member of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Chair of its International Relations Committee and Co- Chair of Development and Construction Committee; President of the American Hellenic Institute New York Business Network; and AHEPA District 6 (N.Y.) Director of Hellenism. He was the former EVP of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce. A noted educator and lecturer Lou has taught for over 30 years combined as an Adjunct Assit. Professor both at New York University and at the Chanin School of Architecture at Cooper Union. He moderates the highly popular NY Development, Design and Construction Panel Series and hosts a COSMOS FM 91.5 Public Radio program. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering and an M.B.A. , both from New York University.

An expert in trend-spotting, neighborhood transformations, sales and leasing and all things fashion, Faith Hope Consolo is far more than the Chairman of the Retail Leasing and Sales Division at Douglas Elliman in New York. She’s also a powerful voice in the global community. It’s no wonder smart investors, entrepreneurs, developers and top-tier fashion icons – such as Cartier, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani, Versace, and Saint Laurent – rely on Consolo’s comprehensive expertise for their strategic business positioning, retail planning and prime visibility for the highest reward. With a far-reaching proficiency as an author, advisor, roundtable leader and speaker, mentor and dealmaker, the Queen of Retail, as Consolo is known, has a keen insight on fashion’s retail landscape, from regional trends and influences, to global shifts and the revitalization of retail corridors domestically and abroad. A trusted mentor, Consolo is a board member of the national Commercial Real Estate Women’s Network (CREW), for whose New York chapter (CREW New York) she serves as chairman emeritus. Her guiding voice has been embraced by real estate, specialty, economic and service-based organizations, and myriad causes have benefitted from the Faith Hope Consolo Foundation. Consolo also has shared her insights as a guest instructor at colleges, lecturer for professional organizations and keynote speaker at far-ranging conferences, as well as through her self-authored quarterly compendium on New York City’s real estate industry, The Faith Report, and her popular blog, The Faithful Shopper. Her columns regularly appear in a multitude of publications, and she’s often quoted by, and on-air with, media news front-runners near and far. Crain’s New York Business rates Consolo as one of New York's 100 Most Influential Women in Business and she’s been profiled by Real Estate Forum as a Woman of Influence annually since 2008. Like no other, Consolo is the go-to source for industry notables and neophytes. Who needs Faith? We all do.

Under Karim’s stewardship, Genesis has fostered community advancement through high-quality multifamily development in urban centers. Prior to founding Genesis, Karim was an investment banker with Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs and an investor with General Atlantic, a private equity firm in Greenwich, Connecticut. Karim earned a BA in Economics and Philosophy from Amherst College. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master’s degree in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. A resident of Harlem, Karim serves as Treasurer of the Trustee Board of the First Corinthian Baptist Church, Trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission, Trustee of the Randall’s Island Park Alliance Board, Board Member of the Citizens Housing Planning Council, the New York State Association for Affordable Housing and a Member of the Leadership Council for Habitat for Humanity NYC. He is married to Luz Elena and has two daughters.

Michael A. Tortorici is one of the Founding Members of Ariel Property Advisors. Serving the company as Executive Vice President in the Investment Sales Group, Mr. Tortorici is responsible for originating and executing the sale of commercial real estate transactions throughout the five boroughs. Since beginning his career in commercial real estate in 2004, Mr. Tortorici has participated in the sale of over 600 transactions worth more than $2 billion in gross consideration. Mr. Tortorici has represented many institutional and non-profit clients, including The Catholic Archdiocese of New York, The Watchtower, L+M Partners and Two Trees. He serves as a regular source for various publications, such as The New York Times, The Commercial Observer, The Real Deal, Real Estate Weekly and the New York Daily News. The Commercial Observer named Mr. Tortorici one of Commercial Observer’s 30 Under 30, which recognizes emerging commercial real estate professionals, and the Real Estate Forum has identified him as one of Tomorrow’s Leaders: New York, as well as naming him and his partners Top NY Brokers in 2013 and 2014. Mr. Tortorici is involved in various non-profit initiatives, including The Inner City Scholarship Fund and The Futures in Education Program, both of which support educational measures for K-12 students throughout New York City. He is an active member of industry organizations such as the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors (BMAR). Prior to forming Ariel Property Advisors, Mr. Tortorici spent seven years at Massey Knakal Realty Services, now Cushman & Wakefield. Mr. Tortorici graduated with honors from New York University’s Stern School of Business, where he earned a B.S. in economics and management. Originally from Franklin Square, New York, he currently resides in Brooklyn. He can be reached at 212.544.9500 ext. 13 or via email at mtortorici@arielpa.com.

Jay Solomon is the Chief Creative Officer and Sustainability Director of Sugar Hill Capital Partners, a New York-based real estate investment, management and operations firm. In his role, Jay drives company growth and returns through creative initiatives that promote productive social and environmental changes throughout the firm’s residential and commercial portfolios. He also oversees the firm’s marketing, digital communications, public relations, branding and sustainability initiatives. Additionally, Jay co-founded New Amsterdam Design Associates, Sugar Hill’s vertically integrated design and development firm, which provides low-cost architectural design and interior solutions to residential and retail establishments. Prior to joining Sugar Hill Capital Partners, Jay was an architectural designer for Studios GO, where he curated residential, hospitality and sustainability projects for celebrity clientele. Jay is a graduate of Tufts University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies and Entrepreneurship.

Rick Gropper has over a decade of experience in real estate development throughout the 5 boroughs of NYC. At CPG, Rick focuses on sourcing and structuring transactions using his deep relationships with various partners including investors, lenders, the community and government. Prior to co-founding CPG, Rick was Development Director at L+M Development Partners, one of the largest and most prolific developers of multifamily housing in NYC. At L+M, Rick was responsible for the development and preservation of more than 5,000 units of housing totaling over $1 billion in total capitalization. Prior to joining L+M, Rick worked for a boutique adaptive reuse development firm based in New Haven, CT. He has an undergraduate degree from Connecticut College and an MS in Real Estate Development from Columbia University. Rick serves on the boards of New Yorkers for Parks, NYSAFAH 2G and the CHPC Strategic Impact Fund.