News
LAST NIGHT'S STRONG WOMEN
March 10, 2009
| We were on hand last night as top women executives addressed 150 at "Strength in Numbers: Women in New York Real Estate," held at Marc Ecko Enterprises HQ on W. 23rd. |
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| Esteemed panelists: Bachrach Group's Alexandra Roth, Plaza Construction's Jennifer Murphy, and Savills' Meredith Oppenheim, with Asset Preservation's Pamela Michaels, who moderated. Jennifer notes that 100 construction sites have cancelled jobs in NYC, but speculates that as unions feel the crunch, they'll start offering concessions that will allow construction to go on at a more affordable price. "Development" may be a curse word in the lending community, Meredith adds, but some are able to get financing. Those looking for jobs need to develop soft skills, and set themselves apart, Alex says. |
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| What's needed for the market to move? Jennifer says that financial markets must stabilize and unions make concessions. Meredith says a better understanding is needed of where the Administration is going; and people need to have more confidence in a liquid market. And Alex (with a special appearance by Richard Bachrach) said we need more positivity and optimism. |
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| How about some tricks to help you stay positive? Career coach Dr. Sharon Melnick showed us "how to become a better deejay for your mental iPod," including a breathing exercise: touch your fingertips together, inhale for three seconds, hold for three seconds, exhale for three seconds, and repeat. Doing this three minutes per day will help you clear your mind and rewire your nervous system, she says. |
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| Considering all the angry e-mails she gets each day about the economy, Wall Street Journal's Constance Mitchell-Ford looked unruffled as she explained the bailout. Home price declines have been a root of many problems, so the government is trying to put a floor below. Some positives: the gap between incomes and home prices has narrowed, as have home and rental prices. The result? People are more likely to buy. |
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| Prudential Douglas Elliman retail maven Faith Hope Consolo set the tone of her discussion by tossing this pile of newspapers to the ground—she's tired off all the negative reports, and this is the most she's seen in the three downturns she's experienced. Even in the midst of the bad, we can find the positive, she points out. Rents are declining? That's good for retailers who haven't been able to break into the expensive market. |
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| Faith with host Louise Guido of The Westcoast Group. We're seeing certain retailers expand, especially budget fashion, affordable fast food, and concept stores. There is opportunity, Faith continues, noting that you can turn a bag of tricks into money. Everyone who is strong, smart, and creative in this market will do well. There will be a return of deals; we just have to "go back to working." It's going to take a lot of foreplay and more patience, she concludes. |
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| Sutton Alliance's Susan Iadarola, Fotopoulos Design's Daisy Fotopoulos, and Corcoran's Cathy Fuerth and Debra Duneier. Debra became a specialist in feng shui after a Chinese doctor told her she had a gift; since then, she has used it for staging residential showings and consulting (Cathy says that she is one happy client). Susan was recently named the Commercial Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island's '08 Associate Member of the Year, and Daisy has been working on interior design, notably for healthcare and a West Side brownstone. |
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| James "the wine guy" Gang of New York Wine Warehouse shows off a bottle of Duval-Leroy Champagne Brut, while Larew Doyle's Christine Wojcik and Citi Global Wealth Management's Susan Spelios enjoy a glass. Christine and Susan tell us they're planning to focus on distressed asset investments, but that's after Christine heads off to Ixtapa, Mexico for vacation in two weeks. |
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| The Bachrach Group crew: Brian Safchik, Alex Roth, Richard Bachrach, Eric Barker, and Paul Medaglia. Even though we ran into Alex and Richard a few weeks ago, they report that they're even busier with executive searches right now—these are the most clients they've seen in over a year and a half. They say there are indeed real estate companies looking for full- and part-timers, as well as consultants. |
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| Shearman & Sterling's Erin O' Callaghan and Laura Chirita with Sonnenschein Nath's Jennifer Haddad, who just tied the knot this past Saturday and is heading off to Costa Rica next week. Take us with you! |
