Global Uncertainty Doesn’t Dampen Spirits At REBNY’s 120th Annual Banquet
Although they are faced with the 421a tax break expiration, global economic uncertainty and a throng of protesters, many of the 2,300 attendees at REBNY’s 120th Annual Banquet last night seemed fairly optimistic over what’s in store as New York City progresses into the new year.
Most of the industry’s superstars were in attendance last night, milling about the likes of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio (left), City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and other local politicians during the cocktail hour. This was also the first banquet with John Banks (right) at the helm of the organization, taking over crowd-shushing duties from former president Steve Spinola, who was also spotted in the crowd.
The dinner and awards ceremony opened with a solemn tribute to John Zuccotti, who passed away in November. He had served not only as REBNY chairman from 2004 from 2006, but as First Deputy Mayor under Mayor Abe Beame and he chaired the City Planning Commission under Mayor John Lindsay. John Banks lauded his career accomplishments, which included positions at Brookfield and Olympia & York, as well as his civic leadership. "John loved New York City and understood that, more than any other sector, the real estate industry is intrinsically connected to the success of our city,” he said. “He was a central player in helping New York recover from the brink of financial collapse in the 1970s and from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He is missed by a grateful city.”
For the first time in REBNY’s history, the Bernard H. Mendik Lifetime Leadership in Real Estate Award was presented to a family. Receiving the award were Cushman & Wakefield executive vice chairman Tara Stacom and CBRE vice chairman Darcy Stacom (above), who were honored along with their late father, Matt Stacom, for their exceptional accomplishments, leadership and service to the industry.
The Brodsky Org senior managing partner Daniel Brodsky (pictured above with the mayor) received the Harry B. Helmsley Distinguished New Yorker Award for his invaluable contributions to New York’s civic welfare and the real estate community, while Douglaston Development chairman Jeffrey Levine received the Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award for his meritorious service to the community. Savills Studley senior managing director Bill Montana took home the Louis Smadbeck Broker Recognition Award for his exceptional personal and professional integrity, leadership and prominence in the brokerage community. SL Green EVP Ed Piccinich received the George M. Brooker Management Executive of the Year Award for his superior accomplishment in property management, and Olmstead Properties partner Steven Marvin nabbed the Young Real Estate Man of the Year Award for his strong integrity, professionalism and personal ethics.
Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen was on hand, pulling just as much clout as her very tall boss.
We also snapped Rudin Managment CEO Bill Rudin and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito during cocktail hour.
NGKF Chairman Jeffrey Gural was sharp in his three-piece suit.
CREW New York had a strong showing; among its attendees were (standing) Wilk Auslander's Hillary Jury, Marcus & Millichap's Karen Dome, JLC Environmental Consultants' Jennifer Carey, Douglas Elliman's Faith Hope Consolo, ABS Partners' Nancy Wood, HLW International's Debra Cole, Jaros Baum & Bolles' Lina Telese, (seated) KTR Real Estate Advisors' Theresa Nygard, H.J. Kalikow & Co's Dorothy Vermeer, Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co's Theresa Garelli (CREW New York's 2016 president), and Kenne Shepherd Interior Design Architecture's Kenne Shepherd.
John Goodkind, Adam Rosen and David Koeppel of the newly formed Koeppel Rosen, a commercial real estate firm that will be handling the leasing and management of the Rosen family's 2.5M SF Manhattan office portfolio (among its many buildings are 443 Park Ave South and 902 Broadway). Also joining them at the firm is Joseph D'Orio.
RXR Realty CEO Scott Rechler and Kushner Cos CEO Jared Kushner were only two of the many luminaries in attendance. View the rest of Bisnow's photos from the evening on our Facebook page.
We snapped Kempner Organization founder Peter Kempner and Paragon Realty's David Weinreb flanking Ackman-Ziff president Simon Ziff, who told us he saw "many old friends at the REBNY dinner who wanted to get together next week due to the recent volatility in the capital markets. It's tough out there, but people need us more."
That's Lend Lease's executive general manager, New York, for the Americas business development business, Melissa Burch looking glamorous next to Silvercup Studios co-founder Stuart Suna.
