New York Healthcare Real Estate Conference

Emil leads the design and construction efforts at Weill Cornell, overseeing the college's portfolio of 75+ projects in design & construction, as well as the department's technical project management staff. He brings a well-balanced understanding of design and construction experience to Weill Cornell and helps further the institution's initiatives through efficient, innovative and well managed project delivery methods. Prior to joining Weill Cornell, Emil was an Executive Vice President at the New York City Economic Development Corporation where he oversaw the Capital Program Division. He received a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Louisiana State University and is a licensed architect in New York and New Jersey.

Andrew is Head of Healthcare at Nuveen Real Estate, responsible for managing the firms investments across medical office and senior housing. Since joining the firm in 2013, Andrew has held multiples roles at the firm including; head of office/industrial transactions in the north & southwest, portfolio management, international transactions, and a member of the commercial mortgage team. Prior to joining the company, Andrew worked as an equity research associate at Stifel Nicolaus, covering Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). Andrew graduated with a B.S.B.A. from the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and holds the CFA designation.

Joseph Rigazio is the CEO of Talisen Construction Corporation. Talisen is a commercial construction firm founded in the New York Metro marketplace in 2009. Focusing on the Healthcare and Education markets over the last eight years has brought Talisen success in the ambulatory centers, medical office buildings, charter schools, private universities, and special projects areas. Trained in both Electrical Engineering, Business Economics, and Construction Management, Joseph entered the professional world with a strong vision. After a 23-year-long career in technology, in which he managed Fortune 100 company relationships in sales management, ran marketing organizations, and ultimately, lead a major business unit at Texas Instruments, Joseph chose to utilize his expertise and leadership skills to start Talisen. Concentrating on growing a team bonded by a common vision, Talisen has become a trailblazer in the New York construction field. Focused investments on employees, processes, and the NY Metro subcontractor ecosystem, along with an innovative approach to project management, differentiates Talisen from the competition. Founded on the key tenants of safety and collaboration, Talisen has grown into a premier New York construction firm that truly partners with their clients to provide a new precedent for client advocacy in today’s market.

R.P. Brennan, General Contractors/Construction Managers 2021-Present Executive Vice-President, Corporate Strategy & Business Development  Lead the design and execution of major business transformation initiatives to develop the company’s long and short-term objectives, elevate business performance, strengthen the company’s operational model, profit optimization, and growth opportunities.  Identify trends and opportunities in the various construction sectors which the company serves, and seek out new sectors which the company can enter and scale the company’s business.  Provide strategic thinking and execution in business development, sales and marketing, and operations management. Madison Advisory Group LLC 2005-Present Principal  Strategic consultant to real estate owners including the workout and restructuring of debt/equity structures of small and large scale office and multi-family residential projects, and the construction industry.  Built over 2,500 residential units in multiple rental and condominium development and conversion projects in New York City.  Lead coordinator of all aspects of the multi-family rental and condominium development process including acquisition and financing, preparation of condominium offering plans, architecture/design/engineering matters, construction of the property, and marketing and sales of the apartment units. Swig Equities, LLC / Helmsley Spear, LLC, New York, NY 2006-2018 Executive Vice-President, Chief Operating Officer  With Swig Equities, directed the day-to-day business of this real estate investment, development, and property management company, coordinating capital and operating expenditures in the development, ownership, management strategies of a 4+ million square foot portfolio of office buildings.  Led all aspects of the development of 1,000 apartments in 2 large-scale projects with End-to-End experience in the acquisition, financing, architecture/engineering, reconstruction/renovation, and marketing and sales of large-scale condominium conversion projects.  With Helmsley Spear, LLC, lead the day-to-day operations of a 30 broker team, human capital management, and tracking deal pipeline. Metro Loft Management, LLC, New York, NY 2003-2006 Chief Operating Officer; General Counsel  Metro Loft Management, LLC is a diversified real estate development company principally involved in the ownership, development, and conversion from office to residential use.  Led the end-to-end acquisition, financing, architectural, construction, marketing and leasing components of 3 multi-family development projects totaling over 1.5 million square feet of multi-the construction of over 1,300 apartments. EDUCATION: Legal: University of Toledo College of Law Brooklyn Law School Toledo, Ohio Brooklyn, New York Juris Doctor Visiting Student College: Syracuse University Syracuse, New York

Jack works for Gil-Bar Health and Life Sciences where he is the Vice President of their healthcare division. Jack specializes in modular operating room construction to improve constructability and quality. Currently, Jack works with hospital design and construction teams to assist in creating a better operating room environment. By applying modular cleanroom technologies, improving air quality and utilizing safe hospital construction practices he is able to help hospitals manage infection prevention and control.

As Senior Vice President and Chief Real Estate Officer (CREO) at New Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe), Vaughn oversees the organization’s 75 asset portfolio that spans 15 states and includes laboratory, office, logistics, and warehouse facilities, as well as retail locations for fixed-site donor centers. As CREO, Vaughn provides leadership in real estate strategy, site selection/growth, renewal and relocation decisions, and lease negotiations/acquisitions as well as oversees major development projects. Before joining NYBCe, Vaughn previously served as Executive Vice President and head of Asset Management at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) where he oversaw the organization’s 65M square foot real estate portfolio which included office, retail, entertainment, industrial, life science and port assets as well as industrial and commercial campuses. Prior to NYCEDC, Vaughn has held positions with the Related Companies and Starwood Hotels & Resorts in asset management, business operations, finance, and business analytics roles. Earlier in his career, he held positions in non-profit and government organizations including the City University of New York’s (CUNY) Office of Facilities Planning, Construction & Management (FPCM) and the NYS Division of the Budget (NYS DOB) where he specialized in capital planning and public finance. Vaughn received his B.S. in Economics and B.S. in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and M.S. in Real Estate from New York University.

Jonathan C. Hernandez has designed new construction work as well as renovations and rehabilitations. He is the lead partner of the GMS Hospitals and Healthcare initiative. Jonathan’s projects include the infrastructure and facility upgrades at Lenox Hill Hospital and MEETH on the Upper East Side, a new Central Utility Plant and Mother Baby Hospital Wing at Staten Island University Hospital and repurposing of existing big box retail space into new Medical Facilities. Recently completed projects include a new orthopedic practice in Tarrytown New York, a new Ambulatory Care Facility in Union Turnpike, Queens and a new Orthopedic – PT Facility in Scarsdale NY. Jonathan is the President of the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY) and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA). He is certified by the Structural Engineering Certification Board (SECB), and a member of the American Concrete Institute (ACI), CoreNet Global, The Architectural League of New York, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and SEAoNY.

As Managing Director – Buildings, Jenny Freeman is responsible for leading the growth and technical direction of the firm’s market comprising the healthcare, life sciences, higher ed, cultural, corporate/commercial, and government sectors. Possessing more than 30 years of professional experience, she is known throughout the industry as a builder with expertise in pre-construction, planning, and construction of major overbuild, modernization, renovation, and ground-up new construction projects. In recent years, her work has primarily been concentrated in the healthcare sector, where she has led more than 60 projects for many of the NY area and the nation’s premier healthcare organizations, including Northwell Health, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, NYU Langone Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the Mount Sinai Health System. Ms. Freeman is an active industry leader and serves on the Board of Professional Women in Construction.

Patrick O’Sullivan is a partner in Herrick's Real Estate Department where he represents owners, developers, investors, governmental entities and not-for-profit institutions on a range of real estate matters with a focus on development issues, particularly those that arise in public-private transactions. He has represented clients on a range of complex transactions for properties across the U.S., including acquisitions and dispositions, large-scale developments, joint ventures, construction projects, ground leases, and public and private financings. Patrick also navigates clients through the multi-step process of applying for and utilizing tax incentive programs at the local and federal level. He advises clients on the tax incentives available for investors in Qualified Opportunity Zones and on how to structure those investments given the evolving regulatory framework. Patrick is a former Executive Vice President and Head of the Real Estate Transactions Group at the New York City Economic Development Corporation. While at NYCEDC, Patrick worked with leading real estate developers to successfully executing complex public-private transactions throughout the City.

As a Design Director for Page, David has extensive experience on a full range of project types, including educational, multi-family, healthcare, research and corporate office buildings. As an award-winning designer, David has an extremely collaborative approach to design, balancing the client’s programmatic needs with innovative and inspirational design. His leadership on the team reflects his dedication to listening to the client, understanding the problem, and responding with smart solutions. David always strives to address important project issues such as planning, programming, scheduling, and budget, while simultaneously embracing the client’s culture, history and work environment. David has also taught at the School of Architecture at the University of Houston.

Mark guides teams in the design of large-scale academic, acute care, and ambulatory healthcare facilities. His passion for healing and sustainability is evident in his career of 30+ years. Dedicated to the success of patients, caregivers, and clients, he addresses industry challenges with innovative design solutions that improve people’s lives.