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FAU Honors 2022 Hall of Fame Inductee Along With Distinguished Alumni The Florida Atlantic University Alumni Association (FAUAA) hosted its annual Hall of Fame and Distinguished Alumni ceremony and reception recently. The event brought together alumni to celebrate the accomplishments of their most outstanding peers. Alumni from eight of FAU’s colleges were honored for their career accomplishments, and Seth L. Siegel, B.S. ‘96, a graduate of the College of Business was introduced as the 2022 Hall of Fame inductee. Siegel is the chief executive officer-elect of Grant Thornton LLP and will assume the role on Aug. 1. He previously served as Grant Thornton’s office managing partner for South Florida, which includes offices in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. He also served on the Grant Thornton partnership board as one of 10 members elected by the firm’s partners and principals to govern the partnership and oversee the work of the firm’s chief executive officer. Siegel joined Grant Thornton in 1996 and became a partner in 2006 after having briefly left the firm in the late 1990s to work as a controller and a registered representative in the financial services sector. He served as Grant Thornton’s Florida Audit practice leader from 2012 to 2019, with operational responsibility for the five offices in the state. In the role, he
expanded the practice area and seeded exceptional growth in revenue and profitability, while maintaining excellent quality. Siegel previously led Grant Thornton’s Florida real estate, construction and hospitality industry group. The presenting sponsor of the event was Grant Thornton, and the event sponsors included Geico and Cynthia C. Spray AIA in memory of Philip Koch. Representing eight of FAU’s colleges are the following distinguished alumni: > Charles L. Bender III, B.A. ‘93, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters > Cheryl Shields Proctor, Ph.D. ‘17, College of Education > Danielle T. Dzung, B.S. ‘87, College of Engineering and Computer Science > Cara Capp, MURP ‘10, B.A. ‘08, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College > Jodi-Ann S. Edwards, M.D. ‘17, B.S. ‘11, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine > Taren J. O’Brien, R.N. ‘03, M.S.N. ‘07, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing > Rik J. Deitsch, B.S. ‘97, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science > Belcida N. Encinosa, M.S.W. ‘08, B.S.W. ‘05, College of Social Work and Criminal Justice
Hadassah Advocacy Team Shares Legislative Views with Congresswomen Lois Frankel Members of the Hadassah Florida Atlantic advocacy team had the opportunity to share the organization’s views on a variety of legislative issues with Congresswoman Lois Frankel and members of her staff at a virtual Day in the District session on April 21. Guided by Susan Wakshul, Florida Atlantic Vice President of Education and Advocacy and Joy Parks, Region Advocacy Chair, Susan Shulman, Evalyn Katz, Joanna Rothstein, Adrianne Bendich, Debby Gershon, Marlene Gart, Fran Romer, and supported by team colleagues spoke with the Congresswoman and her Congressional staff about specific legislation. The group addressed Standing with Israel and support of the Commission of Inquiry Act of 2022 (H.R. 7223); expansion of the US-Israel Medical Partnership; combatting Antisemitism; women’s health with a focus on access to and the high cost of infertility treatments and promoting insurance coverage, reproductive health and women’s health equity. Congresswoman Frankel told the group that “they can count on her on Israel and that everyone should have full access to health care.” The Congresswoman is a co-lead of the Housepassed Women’s Health Protection Act, which would protect access to abortion care regardless of income-level or zip code. She also shared that May 13 - May 19, 2022
she is presently working on legislation to address disparities in research funding and knowledge on women’s health issues. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, she is a consistent advocate for strengthening the US-Israel relationship, and played a critical role in providing billions of dollars to our friend and ally to bolster Israel’s security and replenish the Iron Dome missile defense system. The Hadassah Florida Atlantic Region office can be reached at 877-949-1818 or florida@ hadassah.org. The Region is home to 50 chapters and 23,000 members in Palm Beach, Martin & St. Lucie Counties and is part of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA). HWZOA is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With nearly 300,000 members, Associates and supporters, Hadassah brings women together to effect change and advocate on such critical issues as ensuring the security of Israel, combating antisemitism and promoting women’s health. Through the Hadassah Medical Organization’s (HMO) two hospitals in Jerusalem, Hadassah delivers exemplary patient care to over a million people every year and supports world-renowned medical research. HMO serves without regard to race, religion or nationality.For more information, visit www.hadassah.org.
MHCommercial Real Estate Fund II Acquires Boca Raton Office Complex, Yamato Office Center, for $45.9 Million
West Palm Beach, FL – MHCommercial Real Estate Fund II (“MHCREFII”), a discretionary real estate private equity fund formed by Dung Lam, Neil E. Merin and Jordan Paul, has closed on the purchase of Yamato Office Center in Boca Raton for $45,925,000 ($267/SF) in a joint venture partnership with an institutional real estate fund based out of New York. Yamato Office Center is a 171,724-square-foot office complex comprising two Class-A office buildings located at 999 and 1001 Yamato Road, Boca Raton, Florida. Yamato Office Center was approximately 71% leased at the time of the sale. Christian Lee, Marcos Minaya, and Sean Kelly with CBRE Capital Markets represented the seller, Adler Real Estate Partners (“Adler Partners”). 999 Yamato Road, built in 2000, is a three-story, 82,974-square-foot office building. 1001 Yamato Road, built in 1986, is a four-story, 88,750-square-foot office building. The complex is located near the entrance of the Park at Broken Sound and is situated on approximately 10 acres of prime Yamato Road frontage lending a generous parking ratio which includes covered parking. The Park of Broken Sound has recently benefited from a renaissance through the development of over 1,900 multi-family units and over 554,000 square feet of retail. Yamato Office Center’s prime location is a short drive to a large variety of nearby upscale amenities and 15 minutes away from transportation infrastructures including I-95, the Boca Raton Airport, Tri-Rail and the future Boca Raton Brightline Florida station. MHCREFII is the second real estate fund for Neil Merin, Dung Lam and Jordan Paul after closing and fully deploying their first fund in December 2021 acquiring approximately $125 million in commercial real estate. MHCREFII launched
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in January 2022 and closed on its first acquisition in April 2022 with the $32.5 million purchase of EcoPlex® Office Center in West Palm Beach. Yamato Office Center is the second acquisition for MHCREFII with a target to acquire a total of $250 million of commercial real estate throughout the Southeastern United States over the next 12 to 18 months MHCREF and MHCREFII principals Neil E. Merin, Dung Lam and Jordan Paul stated, “We are very excited with the acquisition of Yamato Office Center at a purchase price well below replacement cost while also providing a tremendous opportunity to create value. Our plan is to reposition the asset as a premier Class-A office center primarily through capital improvements allowing Yamato Office Center to capture the robust demand for Class-A office space in Boca Raton. Boca Raton is one of the nation’s most attractive communities for wealthy decision makers and Yamato Office Center is specifically located in one of Boca Raton’s most rapidly urbanizing micro-markets.” Corey Winsett, Director of Acquisitions for MHCREF oversaw the acquisition and due diligence process on behalf of MHCRFII’s JV partnership. Financing for the transaction was provided by LoanCore Capital a leading institutional lender that has financed over $25 billion in commercial real estate loans since 2008 Steve Kay, Managing Director and JP Kost, Vice President structured the financing transaction on behalf of LoanCore Capital. Elizabeth Jones and John Strickroot of the Shutts & Bowen law firm represented the purchaser on the transaction. NAI/ Merin Hunter Codman will manage and lease the property. For leasing opportunities please reach out to Managing Director, Richard Brockey at 561-471-8000. Community
