NYC 2019 Forecast

Mr. Evans is a Partner of Normandy and is responsible for co-directing the firm’s real estate investment activities. Prior to Normandy, Mr. Evans served as a Director for Westbrook Partners in New York City, where he was an integral member of the acquisitions team that completed numerous transactions in the United States and Europe. Prior to joining Westbrook, Mr. Evans worked for two years as a Financial Analyst at First Union, where he worked in the corporate banking and capital markets groups. At First Union, he was involved in a variety of debt financings, distressed credit workouts, mergers, acquisitions, and private placements. Mr. Evans received a Bachelor of Science degree from Pennsylvania State University.

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.

Mr. Fineman has more than 20 years of experience in the commercial real estate business. At ACORE, Mr. Fineman is responsible for originating, underwriting, structuring and closing commercial real estate financing opportunities, and for managing originations for the Eastern Region. Prior to joining ACORE, Mr. Fineman was an Executive Vice President with Brickman and a principal at Hillcrest Finance, where he was responsible for originating, underwriting, structuring and closing equity and debt investment opportunities, and financing new and existing equity investments. Prior to Brickman, Mr. Fineman held various positions in commercial real estate finance including a senior role with Wachovia Bank, where he managed, structured and closed more than $25 billion of complex commercial real estate finance transactions often involving multiple lenders and tranches of debt, and a role as a banker with Nomura Securities in the mid to late 1990s. In addition to his finance experience, Mr. Fineman has also spent a significant amount of time on the equity side of the commercial real estate business where he was involved in the development, ownership, management and operation of commercial real estate, including in senior roles with Centres Inc. and Terranova Corporation, and in his time with Brickman. Mr. Fineman began his career in commercial real estate as an attorney representing institutional and private clients in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions, including finance, acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, development and land use. After college and prior to law school, Mr. Fineman spent several years at IBM Corporation as a marketing representative. Mr. Fineman received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University and a J.D. from the University of Florida. Mr. Fineman serves on the board of enCourage Kids Foundation. Mr. Fineman is married to Lori and they have two children, Mia and Rocky.

Kevin Hoo is the Managing Partner of Cove Property Group. Mr. Hoo has developed significant joint venture and capital partner relationships throughout his career and is responsible for the acquisition, financing and asset management of Cove's portfolio. Mr. Hoo has overseen in excess of $3 billion of direct real estate transactions, as well as development and capital projects throughout his career and has negotiated over one million square feet of leases across 90 separate transactions. Prior to Cove, Mr. Hoo was a Managing Director at Savanna. While at Savanna, Mr. Hoo oversaw the acquisition, financing and asset management of nearly 1.8 million square feet through to successful investment exits, including 100 Wall Street, 245 & 249 West 17th Street, 21 Penn Plaza and 31 Penn Plaza. Before Savanna, Mr. Hoo was a Director at Tishman Speyer. Based in New York City, Mr. Hoo began in the Emerging Markets group (focused on China and India), initially managing acquisition and development opportunities and was subsequently granted oversight of design and construction elements in that role. Mr. Hoo later transitioned into the New York Acquisitions and Development group and finally the Commercial Leasing and Sales group, with a specific focus on Rockefeller Center and 200 Park Avenue. Prior to Tishman Speyer, Mr. Hoo was an Associate Director in the Real Estate Investment Banking Group at UBS AG in Sydney, Australia, where he was responsible for M&A and capital market transactions for REIT clients. Mr. Hoo is a Vice Chair of the board of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce (with honors) and Bachelor of Law (with honors) from the University of Queensland, Australia.

Roy Stillman worked in his family’s development business for approximately 15 years before starting his own firm, Stillman Development International, LLC. The firm’s mission is to design and build structures of superior architectural and artistic merit. In fulfilling that mission, Stillman Development International has worked with some of the world’s leading architectural firms, including two Pritzker Prize winning architects. Roy’s academic background was similarly channeled to benefit his aspiration of becoming a real estate developer. Having earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University in 1985, Roy subsequently received his Juris Doctor from Duke University’s School of Law. While at Duke, Roy audited all of Duke’s Faqua School of Business real estate classes as a non-matriculated student, continuing to pursue his passion as a post-graduate student. After completing his studies at Duke in 1988, Roy passed the Bar exams for both the state of New York and Connecticut.

Matthew is widely known for closing major deals in New York City and helping clients build real estate portfolios across the United States and beyond. A powerful negotiator who understands the legal and business issues on both sides of a transaction, Matt is respected by his clients, opposing counsel and other parties alike for his result-driven approach. This ability to shepherd complex transactions to a successful conclusion is evidenced by his impressive client list. As a partner in the firm’s capital finance and real estate practice, Matt cuts a wide swath across the real estate industry by advising owners, developers, investors and lenders, among them REITS, private equity funds and family offices, on a variety of transactions. These include construction and real estate finance, acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, real estate developments, preferred equity investments, mezzanine loan originations, and secondary market purchases, leasing, and loan workouts and restructurings. Well-connected in the real estate world, Matt looks to generate business for his clients by introducing them to potential partners and new deals. He is active in pro bono work and leads the coordination of the annual NALP/Street Law Legal Diversity Pipeline Program in New York, which brings high school seniors from The Urban Assembly School for Law & Justice into the firm to teach them about the law and legal careers, encourage them to enter the field and support them in their pursuits.

Ms. Bicknell joined Tishman Speyer in 2021 to lead the development of the Enterprise Research Campus across from the Harvard Business School in Boston. Prior to joining Tishman Speyer, Ms. Bicknell was Vice President and Head of New York Development for Oxford Properties Group where she was responsible for the development of St. John’s Terminal, the anchor of Google’s new Hudson Square campus in NYC. Ms. Bicknell also spent 13 years at Forest City New York where she led the development of Cornell Tech, and played a leading role in the development of Pacific Park Brooklyn and Barclays Center where she was responsible for the negotiations with the City, State & MTA. She also worked as a Legislative Aide for the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and was the Federal Policy Director for Smart Growth America. Ms. Bicknell was a 2017 Rockefeller Fellow and is a member of WX and ULI, including the University Development & Innovation Council. She holds her BS in Urban Studies from Cornell University, where she is the Vice Chair of the Cornell Alumni Trustee Nominating Committee and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council. Ms. Bicknell holds her MBA from the Wharton School.

Ken McCarthy has been with Cushman & Wakefield since August 2006. As Principal Economist, he works with the Chief Economist on C&W’s U.S. economic position and presents it to the public. As the Applied Research Lead, Ken is responsible for preparing cutting edge research about the outlook for commercial real estate in the Americas. Before becoming Principal Economist with Cushman & Wakefield, Ken served as Chief Economist of The Center for Innovative Entrepreneurship. Prior to this role he was the Chief Economist for vFinance, Inc. where he oversaw all of the company’s economic analysis and research. He’s headed the Economic Intelligence Company (EIC) that provided economic analysis and advice to Fortune 500 firms and also served as Vice President of Rinfret Associates, Inc. for 14 years. Professional Experience: Before becoming a Principal Economist with Cushman & Wakefield, Ken served as Chief Economist of The Center for Innovative Entrepreneurship. Prior to this role he was the Chief Economist for vFinance, Inc. where he oversaw all of the company’s economic analysis and research. He’s headed the Economic Intelligence Company (EIC) that provided economic analysis and advice to Fortune 500 firms and also served as Vice President of Rinfret Associates, Inc. for 14 years. Professional Recognition: Ken’s market information and studies have been published in several business publications and annual almanacs including: The New York Times, Crain’s New York, New York Real Estate Journal, Real Estate New York and Real Estate Weekly. Professional Affiliations · Member of the Research Roundtable of the Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute of Baruch College. · Member of the advisory panel of the New York City Office of Management and Budget. Education: · Master of Arts degree from Fordham University · Bachelors of Arts degree in Economics from St. Anselm College in New Hampshire.

Cristin Burtis has a rich history in government, serving under three NYC Mayors, including current Mayor Bill De Blasio. Most recently, Cristin served as the Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management, where she was responsible for advising and assisting the Mayor and Deputy Mayors in Logistics and Operations, including special operations such as the Five Borough commodities distribution plan during Hurricane Sandy and assisting in the creation of the operation plan for visitor access to the 9/11 Memorial. During her tenure, Cristin also served as the Mayor’s liaison for Super Bowl XLVIII as well as other notable major events such as 2013/2008 Major League Baseball AllStar Games; Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; New Year’s Eve in Times Square; 9/11 Memorial Ceremony’s; various Central Park concerts; Military Events – Fleet Week, Air Force Week, Army Week and Tatzu Nishi at Columbus Circle. Cristin has a proven track record of being able to navigate the city agencies and has built her success on a direct approach to problem solving. As such, Cristin was recognized by being named to City & State’s Third Annual “Influential’s” in 2012, which recognizes New York’s most influential people in the fields of business, journalism, politics and government. In addition, she was also the 2013 Recipient of the Macy’s Legend Award. Prior to her appointment, Cristin served as CECM’s Deputy Executive Director (2007 to 2010), as well as the Deputy Director of the NYC Department of Transportation’s Office of Special Events (2001-2005) where she served as the agency’s liaison for several high-profile events including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Republican National Convention, and the 2004 Athens Olympic Torch Relay. From 2005-2007, Cristin was President of multi-faceted event company CDB Productions, where she liaised between clients and City agencies in all areas of proposal review and advisement; permit expediting and logistics and operations to successfully plan and execute New York City based event productions including The Next Food Network Star, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the New Year’s Eve Celebration in Times Square and various CBS commercial shoots. From 1999 to 2001, Cristin served as event manager in the Mayor’s Office for the Millennium (NYC2000) where she was implemented the NYC2000 banner campaign as well as several unique events including the NYC2000 Fashion Show in Times Square. Ms. Burtis is a graduate of St. John’s University and holds both a Masters and Bachelors of Science Degree in Secondary Education and Athletic Administration

Eran Polack is CEO-NY and Co-Founder of HAP Investments, a New York-based real estate investment group that specializes in the development of residential and commercial properties including 500 Summit Avenue in Jersey City. He is also CEO of HAP Construction, a full-service construction management company. As CEO of HAP Investments, Mr. Polack oversees a diverse portfolio of residential and commercial real estate that is renowned for its location, proximity to mass transit, and innovative construction and design. He is an established entrepreneur with a long history of successful real estate ventures in Eastern Europe, Israel, and the United States. In the U.S., Mr. Polack has overseen the construction and development of 12 residential properties totaling over 2 million square feet. His strengths include the early identification of emerging regions, and the development of projects tailored for those markets. He also has a deep understanding of the budget, schedule, and quality necessary to achieve success for any real estate project. Mr. Polack was one of the first developers to identify East Harlem as well as the Journal Square neighborhood of Jersey City as areas in preliminary stages of urban revitalization. He was also an early leader in the revival of Neve Tzedek, a highly coveted neighborhood in the heart of Tel Aviv.

Robert Gilman, CPA, CGMA, is an accounting and audit partner at Anchin and Co-Practice Leader of the Firm's Real Estate Industry Group. His practice covers a wide range of services for his clients who are mainly involved in the commercial, residential and development of real estate. These services include due diligence on acquisitions, tax structuring on deals, securing financing, and assisting with client investor relations for both domestic and international investors. Rob also advises clients with financial and estate planning, budgeting, tax planning, and cash flow strategies. Rob is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) and the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY). He is involved with a number of Real Estate industry organizations and is actively involved with the Long Island Chapter of the March of Dimes, which he was recently honored for.

Pravina, Executive Vice President, Division of Small Business and Technology Development for Empire State Development, has 20+ years of experience in providing advisory services to businesses in the start-up, growth, expansion and maturity phases of development. Prior to joining ESD, Pravina was the Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Deputy Associate Administrator of Investment and Innovation at the U.S. Small Business Administration and District Director for SBA’s New York District Office. Before joining the federal government, Pravina was a Vice President with MTV and BET Networks, owner of a strategic advisory firm and Business Development Director for Misys PLC, one of the world’s largest banking software companies. She also has been an associate at Broadview International, a London investment bank, and worked at AT&T in several roles, including M&A Director for Europe. Pravina has an MBA in Finance from Seton Hall University and a B.S. in Finance from Pennsylvania State University

Bryan Woo is an Executive Vice President at Youngwoo & Associates (YWA) a real estate development company based in New York and leads the company's acquisition strategy. The company has developed more than 8 million square feet of property in niche markets and property types. Previously, Bryan lived in Seoul and worked in the Principal Investment Division at Mirae Asset Securities. Earlier in his career he was an analyst in the securities team at Northstar Realty Finance Corporation (NRFC). Bryan received his B.A. in Economics and Psychology from Amherst College.

James Nelson is a Principal and Head of Tri-State Investment Sales in Avison Young’s New York City office where he leads a group of 30 professionals in the sale of multifamily, office, development and retail properties.    Nelson most recently served as Vice Chairman of Cushman & Wakefield, where his team marketed over $1 billion in listings, ranking him as the number one Investment Sales broker nationwide in 2016. Prior, Nelson was a partner and top producer for Massey Knakal for six of their last eight years and was named the company’s youngest partner in 2004. Throughout his 20-year career, Nelson has been involved in the sale of over 400 properties and loans with an aggregate value of over $4 billion.   Nelson is the Chairman of REBNY’s Commercial Board of Directors, a Board Member of both the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and the Catalog for Giving, and Founder of the Real Estate Services Alliance and the Colgate Real Estate Council. He has received numerous distinctions including being #1 Top NYC Deal Maker by LoopNet, Real Estate Forum’s 40 Under 40, Top 35 and Under NYC Real Estate Players by The Real Deal, and REBNY’s Most Promising Commercial Sales Person of the Year Award.

Adam R. Sanders is a Member with the Rosenberg & Estis, P.C. Transactions Department. His practice focuses on representing clients in a wide variety of commercial real estate and business transactions and entertainment matters, including acquisitions and sales, financing, leasing, construction, portfolio structuring, Local Law 97, Opportunity Zones, 1031 transactions and general corporate and contractual representation in the real estate, entertainment, and other entrepreneurial industries. Sanders is the firm’s go-to expert for all matters concerning Opportunity Zones. Investors and real estate developers exclusively rely on him for program updates and comprehensive legal analyses, keeping them on the cutting edge of the program even before regulations are released. Prior to joining Rosenberg & Estis, Sanders was Founder and Principal of Sanders Legal Group, PLLC. Before becoming an attorney, Sanders participated in Agent Training Program at William Morris Agency (Endeavor) and worked at SNL Studios (the feature film division of Saturday Night Live). Sanders received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania