A Special Edition from Sokol Media
FALL 2016
2016
TOP WOMEN IN NYC REAL ESTATE GINA ESA CNC Construction Inc. LAURA GIUSTINIANI Justin Group Inc. ABBY HAMLIN Hamlin Ventures LAURIE KERR Urban Green Building Council VALERIE KITAY Savanna ERICA MILLER Cantor-Pecorella JENNIFER NOVACK Sheffield Haworth KENNE SHEPHERD Kenne Shepherd Interior Design Architecture PLLC DONNA WALCAVAGE Stantec
Howard Wechsler Photography
EILEEN WEINGARTEN Forest City Ratner Companies TOP Firms for Women: Hundred Stories CohnReznick LLP
Amanda Ryzowy L+M Development Partners Inc.
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Contents 2
PUBLISHER’S PAGE
6
COVER STORY TOP Woman in Real Estate 2016 Amanda Ryzowy of L+M Development Partners Inc.
7A
As an integral member of the firm’s Acquisitions and Investment team, Amanda Ryzowy has been able to do good, by doing well.
11 2016 HONOREES Gina Esa Erica Miller Laura Giustiniani Jennifer Novack Abby Hamlin Kenne Shepherd Laurie Kerr Eileen Weingarten Valerie Kitay 2A COVER STORY TOP Woman in Real Estate 2016 Donna Walcavage of Stantec Whether it be for parks, waterfronts or streetscapes, Donna Walcavage’s designs work for everyone.
7A TOP Organization for Women Hundred Stories Come learn how this all-women firm has enabled its clientele to achieve its highest returns on investments.
10A
TOP Organization for Women CohnReznick LLP This firm’s WomenCAN and Executive Women’s Forum are developing some of tomorrow’s best business leaders.
D’Agostino, Levine, Landesman & Lederman, LLP Attorneys at Law
would like to congratulate
ERICA MILLER & VALERIE KITAY 345 Seventh Avenue, 23rd Floor New York, NY 10001 Tel: 212.564.9800 Fax: 212.564.9802 www.dagll.com
www.sokolmediaonline.com • 1
Publisher’s Page 15 Years and Counting
For the past 15 years, our firm has been celebrating the accomplishments of women in the real estate industry and, each year, this celebration is somewhat bittersweet. Yes, we look forward to publishing each special edition of the magazine, honoring these outstanding women, and hosting its Awards Gala, but we also wonder when we will no longer need to celebrate the accomplishments of such successful professionals based upon their gender. The answer, it seems, will be when women are equal in numbers to men in the industry, and that can only happen when firms become increasingly dedicated to empowering women inside their walls. That is why, with this issue, we have taken this celebration a step further. You will note that two of this year’s honorees are actually firms as well...firms that have made a commitment to empower women professionals to establish a more equal corporate environment. By doing so, they know that it is not only women who benefit, but the entire firm as well, since it has been shown that when employees are supported by employers, their individual productivity and company loyalty increases substantially. So our hard hats are tipped to Hundred Stories and CohnReznick for spearheading initiatives that encourage women to perform at their very best, and for understanding that, by doing so, these firms are performing at their very best as well. It is also our hope that other firms will learn from their successes so that, in the future, all of our awards can be ‘genderless’. Enjoy the issue! Lori Sokol, Ph.D. Founder & Publisher
2 • www.sokolmediaonline.com
Sokol Media
FOUNDER & PUBLISHER Lori M. Sokol ART DIRECTOR Kerstin Vogdes Diehn PUBLISHING CONSULTANT James Janson COPYWRITER/ RESEARCH ASSISTANT Jason H. Greenberg WEB DESIGN Design Disegno ACCOUNTING Citrin Cooperman PRINTING AmericasPrinter Sokol Media, Inc. 75 West End Avenue, #P15F New York, NY 10023 Ph: 973-769-7012 www.sokolmediaonline.com
It is with great pleasure that we honor
Erica Miller
as a Top 10 Woman in Real Estate and
Hundred Stories PR as a Top Organization for Women.
We are proud to have worked with these accomplished honorees and look forward to working more with them in the future.
Ariel Property Advisors Proudly Congratulates Amanda Ryzowy of L+M Development Partners for being recognized as one of 2016’s Top Women in Real Estate
Building Results with Ariel Property Advisors Diligent execution and comprehensive market intelligence are at the heart of every successful transaction. Our firm is committed to providing clients with unmatched value through holistic real estate solutions.
arielpa.nyc | 212.544.9500
Investment Sales | Capital Services | Investment Research
CONGRATULATIONS AMANDA RYZOWY CONGRATULATIONS AND ALL OTHER 2016 AMANDA RYZOWY HONOREES AND ALL OTHER 2016 HONOREES Your Friends at Your Friends at
711 Third Avenue New York, New York 10017 212-880-1484 711 Third Avenue New York, New York 10017 212-880-1484
TOP 10 WOMEN in REAL ESTATE
AMANDA RYZOWY
L+M Development Partners For Amanda Ryzowy, being a member of L+M Development Partners’ Acquisitions and Investment team enables her to help the company succeed while also doing good in communities throughout New York City. “The work we do differs from traditional private equity since when we invest in low-and middle-income housing, we do so in a way that stabilizes the property, preserves affordability, and allows residents to stay in their homes,” she said. 6 • www.sokolmediaonline.com
Lafayette Boynton
“Amanda plays an integral role on our investment team and I appreciate the work she has done to further our mission to build and preserve affordable housing. Amanda can be counted on to provide unique insight and creativity, which is evident in everything that she does.” — Ron Moelis, Co-Founder and CEO, L+M Development Partners
L+M’s creativity and willingness to tackle complex development challenges is illustrated by the success of several of the company’s projects through its platforms for preserving and investing in multi-family housing: the New York Affordable Housing Preservation Fund (NYAH) with Citi Community Capital, and GSLM Capital Partners, a joint venture with the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group.
THE BRONX
Lafayette Boynton, a rental property located at 820 Colgate Avenue in the Soundview section of the Bronx, was purchased in 2011 by L+M’s NYAH Fund with Nelson Management Group as partners. The four, 19-story buildings are easily identified on the Bronx skyline by blue lights, which adorn the top of the towers, but they are even more notable as a source of stable, workforce housing for Bronxites. In the past five years, the owners have invested more than $17 million to complete transformative renovations to all common areas, individual apartments, and landscaping, while implementing significant energy efficiency upgrades to reduce the buildings’ carbon footprint. In 2013, the L+M’s NYAH Fund partnered with Nelson Management Group again to purchase Promenade Apartments, a 32-story, waterfront tower perched high above the historic Marble Hill/ Riverdale neighborhood in the Bronx. In line with the goals of the NYAH fund, the property has undergone a complete physical transformation while preserving all of the units as high-quality, affordable homes, the majority of which feature unobstructed views of the Hudson River and Manhattan skyline. www.sokolmediaonline.com • 7
Promenade Apartments
“As a newcomer to the industry Amanda brought a tenacious curiosity that challenged the way the most seasoned folks think about real estate investing. That coupled with her deal management skills made her an instant asset to our team.” – Gleb Lerman, V.P. Acquisitions and Investment, L+M Development Partners
275 South Street
Promenade Apartments
8 • www.sokolmediaonline.com
275 South Street at night
MANHATTAN
In the Two Bridges area of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, L+M’s NYAH Fund partnered with CIM Group to purchase two 26-story towers at 265-275 Cherry Street. The transaction allowed the complex’s 490 units of housing to remain covered by a HUD subsidized rental housing program for low- income individuals and families. It is conveniently located within blocks of subway and bus transportation, the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, and the FDR Drive. The surrounding area features many parks and is also near such popular attractions as East River Park, South Street Seaport, and Chinatown. The Lower East Side is a vibrant and diverse community that is rich in history and has attracted significant investment over the past several years. L+M’s NYAH Fund purchased another property in the area in 2015 located at 275
South Street. L+M is currently working to transform the 19-story, 256-unit mixed-income building. When complete, 275 South’s new rooftop deck will overlook the East River with expansive views of Downtown Brooklyn and the East River bridges. New amenity spaces will be added, including a ground floor community lounge with a chef ’s kitchen and state-of-the-art fitness center. “Building enough affordable housing to meet the growing need in our city is extremely complicated, which is why preservation is so important” Amanda says. “This work enables us to keep buildings income-restricted so that existing residents can stay in their homes and still experience living in a modernized, improved environment. That’s what I love most about the work that I do,” Amanda adds.
“Amanda does a tremendous job innovating within the evolving landscape of investing private capital in the preservation of affordable housing. She has an incredibly bright future in the business which we are fortunate enough to benefit from every day.” – Eben Ellertson, Director of Acquisitions, L+M Development Partners
www.sokolmediaonline.com • 9
Congratulation to
LAURA GIUSTINIANI and all the honorees for being recognized as the top women in Real Estate 2016.
Our goal at Justin Group Inc. is to furnish our clients with solutions for their environmental and sustainable concerns.
8 Bay 49th Street • Brooklyn, NY 11214 T: 718.449.9500 WBE Certified • NYC Fire Department Licensed WWW.JUSTINGROUPINC.COM
L+M Development Partners
Congratulations to
ERICA MILLER MASIELLO
is proud to congratulate Amanda Ryzowy on being honored as a Top Woman in Real Estate!
of CANTOR-PECORELLA & all the accomplished honorees
www.lmdevpartners.com
Congratulations to Erica Miller Masiello TOP Woman in Real Estate 2016 From Your Friends at MetroLoft
5 Hanover Street New York, NY 10004 212-706-3030 www.metroloftnyc.com
TOP WOMEN
in REAL ESTATE
GINA ESA
CNC Construction Inc.
R “I love what I do because it is tangible. I feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment seeing projects built from the foundation up with my expertise as a woman in a male dominated industry.”
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egina (Gina) Esa is President and Founder at CNC Construction, a position she has held since 1995. Prior to that, she worked at Phil Neto Construction Company in New Jersey starting as the Executive Administrative Assistant to the owner and eventually became the head Project Manager. Gina is no stranger to the world of construction – her grandfather immigrated to the United States from Portugal and began a small mason contracting company; her father founded his own company 1983 that he now runs along with her brother in New Jersey. Gina started her career learning the ropes working with those family companies in high school; over time, seeing the burgeoning demand for foundation, slab, curb and concrete work, she branched off independently and started CNC to focus on this niche. Since its formation in 1995, CNC has grown steadily, with participation in major projects including Brooklyn Bridge Park & Fulton Ferry Park with the scope of work being: foundations, footings, access ramps, curbs, playground walls, concrete walls, infills, metal rails, paving, storm system, demolition, subgrading, excavation and trench drains. CNC is currently a part of redesigning Cornell NYC Tech at Roosevelt Island installing steel faced curbs, concrete walks, pavers and detectible warning tiles. CNC Construction is proud to be a certified Woman Business Enterprise in New York and New Jersey, with headquarters in East Hanover, NJ. Regina resides in East Hanover, NJ with her two teenage daughters, Gabriella and Emily.
TOP WOMEN
in REAL ESTATE
LAURA GIUSTINIANI Justin Group Inc.
L “I am enthusiastic about making a positive impact on our environment by working within my industry to introduce new and innovative ways of reducing a building’s ecological footprint through sustainable construction.”
aura Giustiniani is the founder and President of Justin Group Inc., an environmental construction company that specializes in sustainable construction throughout the metropolitan area. Laura followed in the footsteps of her father, James Giustiniani, who established a successful petroleum installation company. While working as a Project Manager for her father’s company, Empire Environmental, Laura recognized the greater need to address both the environment and building sustainability on future work sites. She envisioned a similar company but tailoring to the needs of clients that sought after sustainability practices. She founded Justin Group, Inc. in 2008 to provide customers with innovative environmental building solutions regarding energy efficiency and soil and water remediation. Upon launching Justin Group, Inc. Laura received the honor of being the first woman in New York City to obtain a license from the New York City Fire Department as a certified underground tank installer and is a member of the New York Petroleum Trades Association. Additionally, Justin Group Inc. is certified as both a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and a Locally Based Enterprise (LBE). In an effort to expand the company’s environmental services, Laura obtained the LEED Green Associate credential which enables her to work closely with her team of architects and engineers to ensure energy efficiency efforts are met by Justin Group Inc. Laura received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from St. John’s University. She is a member of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. In her spare time, Laura is highly committed to working with the Good Dog Foundation whose mission is to ease human suffering and promote recovery from trauma and stress using animal-assisted therapy services. In addition, she is a staunch advocate of animal rescue services. Her dog Kenzie, a rescue dog, is a certified therapy dog.
www.sokolmediaonline.com • 13
TOP WOMEN
in REAL ESTATE
ABBY HAMLIN Hamlin Ventures, LLC
A “I care about urban and social issues, so I always try to see if there is some way to incorporate creative factors into my projects. My buildings are my canvas.”
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bby Hamlin is a New York City based real estate developer and civic thinker. She is the founder and President of Hamlin Ventures, a development company that focuses on select, designdriven projects that engage urban issues. Ms. Hamlin’s body of work can be found on the company website www.hamlinventures.com. Of particular note is the multi-phase Hoyt Schermerhorn project that encompassed an entire city block in Downtown Brooklyn and led to the creation of three award-winning development projects, 14 Townhouses, 9 Townhouses and the Schermerhorn, a 217-unit supportive housing residence that is also home to the Actors Fund Arts Center. Presently, Ms. Hamlin is redeveloping a landmark building at the corner of Prince and Mott Streets in Manhattan, turning the former Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral School into luxury condominiums and townhouses. In addition, Ms. Hamlin is managing the design and development of a 170,000 square foot industrial fabrication center to serve the needs of working artists. Located on a brownfield site in Gowanus, Brooklyn this project will contain state-of-the-art wood, metal, printing, ceramics and textiles workshops. Prior to forming Hamlin Ventures in 1997, Ms. Hamlin was President of Swig Weiler & Arnow Mgt. Co., Inc. a premiere Manhattan-based commercial real estate company that developed, owned and managed 8 million square feet of office properties in New York City and San Francisco, as well as the Fairmont Hotels. Ms. Hamlin was an executive with Swig Weiler & Arnow for almost fifteen years, during which time she spearheaded a number of large-scale development projects and managed the organization for its private owners. In 1995 she was appointed President of the company, ultimately leading it through the sale of its real estate portfolio and dissolution of the family partnership. Ms. Hamlin holds a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and a Masters of Urban Planning from Princeton University.
TOP WOMEN
in REAL ESTATE
LAURIE KERR Urban Green Council
A “From the front lines of energy efficiency policy, the climate crisis seems solvable technically, economically, and practically; what we need is the political will to make the effort.”
s an architect-turned-policy-wonk, Laurie Kerr sees the building sector as critical in stabilizing the Earth’s climate and creating a sustainable future. While Deputy Director of Mayor Bloomberg’s Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability, Laurie helped create PlaNYC, New York’s influential sustainability plan, and spearheaded the development of New York’s innovative green building and energy efficiency policies. These included the first comprehensive policies by any jurisdiction to address energy efficiency in existing buildings, the greening of New York’s codes and regulations, and programs by leading sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% in ten years, which currently impact over half a billion square feet of space. After leaving the NYC Mayor’s Office, Laurie was the Founding Director of the City Energy Project at the Natural Resources Defense Council, which is assisting ten major American cities – from Los Angeles to Philadelphia – in adopting large-scale efficiency policies similar to New York’s. She is now the Director of Policy at the Urban Green Council, where she is assisting New York City devise strategies to put it on course to achieve 80% carbon reductions by 2050. For her pioneering work, Laurie was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and was awarded the AIANY’s Public Architect Award. She has a BA in Engineering and Applied Science from Yale, an MS in Applied Physics from Cornell, and an M. Arch. from Harvard. She serves on the boards of the AIANY and the Global Cool Cities Alliance, and her articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Architecture Magazine, and Slate.
www.sokolmediaonline.com • 15
TOP WOMEN
in REAL ESTATE
VALERIE KITAY Savanna
“I am able to view potential transactions in a whole different way having been trained as an attorney.”
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M
s. Kitay joined Savanna as General Counsel in 2015. She is responsible for providing and/or supervising all of Savanna’s legal activities, including ensuring that all investment vehicles and transactions are structured and documented appropriately, with particular attention to business objectives. She also provides legal support and guidance with respect to fundraising, investor relations and corporate governance matters. Since joining Savanna, Valerie has been instrumental in Savanna’s purchase, sale, and financing of multiple properties including 106 West 56th Street, 1825 Park Avenue, 540 West 26th Street, and 543 West 122nd Street. Prior to joining Savanna, Ms. Kitay practiced law as an associate in the real estate departments of King & Spalding LLP and Goodwin Procter LLP, and most recently as counsel at Hunton & Williams LLP. Her practice focused on representing sponsors in the formation of private real estate debt and equity funds, including Savanna, and representing institutional investors, real estate investment managers, fund sponsors, REITs and other public and private real estate companies in a broad range of complex commercial real estate transactions, including purchases and sales, joint ventures, financings, restructurings, recapitalizations, and development projects. Ms. Kitay received her J.D. from Emory University School of Law and her B.A. from Trinity College.
TOP WOMEN
in REAL ESTATE
ERICA MILLER Cantor & Pecorella
“Every day brings something new and challenging. I’m dedicated to my family and profession 24/7.
C
antor & Pecorella is proud to honor Erica Miller as one of the Top Women in Real Estate. Erica has been an integral part of the Cantor & Pecorella team for over a decade. She has successfully completed over 15 major Manhattan condominium developments, totaling over 2 billion dollars in sales. Erica has worked closely with New Yorks’ most respected and major developers, such as: The El-Ad Group, MetroLoft, DHA Capital, Continental Properties, The Ascend Group, Magnum Real Estate, Toll Brothers and Kibel Companies, to name just a few. Her talent, professionalism, hard work and determination has earned her the title of Sales Director at Cantor & Pecorella. Erica has been a role model and inspiration to all and has earned the respect and admiration of the entire Cantor & Pecorella family. Aside from her ultimate performance as Sales Director, Erica’s keen sense of market focus, coupled with her ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, she has become an invaluable asset to the firm. Erica is passionate about her daughter, Mila, as well as her career and finds both incredibly rewarding. As Erica has said, “I’m so thankful for the incredible opportunities I’ve been given at Cantor & Pecorella and have accomplished more than I could ever have imagined.”
www.sokolmediaonline.com • 17
TOP WOMEN
in REAL ESTATE
JENNIFER NOVACK Sheffield Haworth
J
“Executive search is a field which many people don’t realize exists until about ten years into their career.”
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ennifer is the Head of the Global Real Estate practice at Sheffield Haworth, a financial services focused executive search and advisory firm with twelve offices globally across the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia. Jennifer partners with real estate investment groups and owner operators to achieve their vision and create value through hiring transformational talent. She has a track record of working with some of the world’s most interesting private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, REITs and developers. Jennifer notes, “real estate is a hyper-local asset class in many ways, where geographic expertise means an edge. At the same time, many of the most interesting investors and developers have expanded globally, whether American firms expanding to Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, or vice versa.” Jennifer is no stranger to a global perspective. She is halfAmerican, half-German and speaks Spanish, German and Mandarin. She is a native New Yorker who has worked abroad in London, Munich and Shanghai. After graduating from Harvard, she started her career with five years in Foreign Exchange at Goldman Sachs in London and New York. While she enjoyed advising institutional clients on global currencies and working on a trading floor, Real Estate is “hands-down” her favorite asset class. The interest runs in the family, with her brother and mother comprising The Novack Team at Sotheby’s International Realty. Jennifer entered real estate executive search 11 years ago. “Executive search is a field which many people don’t realize exists until about ten years into their career. I’m fortunate that a good friend suggested it five years into mine.” Throughout her career, Jennifer has been particularly grateful to what she calls “peer mentors” and especially a group she met through Mary Ann Tighe, former Chairman of REBNY and current CEO of the New York Tri-State Region for CBRE. Almost ten years ago, Mary Ann informally introduced a group of women of a similar “vintage”. The group meets regularly for dinners, site tours and simply to catch up as friends. “I don’t think any of us realized the bonds we’d build. In addition to being a legendary mentor, Mary Ann is the ultimate recruiter!”
TOP WOMEN
in REAL ESTATE
KENNE SHEPHERD Kenne Shepherd Interior Design Architecture, PLLC
K “We have great clients who deserve the best in luxury architecture and interior design. That is what we provide with every project.”
enne Shepherd is one of the leading designers of high-end retail, commercial and residential environments in the United States. Founder and Director of Kenne Shepherd Interior Design Architecture PLLC, a New York based, woman-owned Interior Architectural design firm, she has created a full-service firm for clients nationwide who rely on her finely-tuned contemporary aesthetic. Since she opened her firm in 1993, Ms. Shepherd has established a reputation as a highly skilled architect known for creating compelling spaces notable for their classic contemporary look, refined detailing and use of quality materials. Kenne Shepherd has demonstrated her ability time and again creating projects that are of the highest quality and integrity and that demonstrate sensitivity and respect for her clients’ budget. Her work has attracted world-wide clients such as Calvin Klein, Lancôme, Wolford, Salvatore Ferragamo, and numerous prestigious private clients. Working with Salvatore Ferragamo as their executive architect on the creation of more than 65 stores and shops across the county, Kenne Shepherd brought together a team of top lighting designers, engineers and contractors and successfully orchestrated Ferragamo’s expansion across the country. Kenne Shepherd is an architect and a LEED-accredited professional, licensed in the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Nevada. She is an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York Chapter, the U.S. Green Building Council, The Retail Marketing Society, and serves on the Board of Commercial Real Estate Women New York (CREW New York) as CREW Network and Member Recognition Chair and is Co-Chair of the 2016 Convention Marketing Committee. She also serves on CREW Network’s national Communication Committee.
www.sokolmediaonline.com • 19
TOP WOMEN
in REAL ESTATE
EILEEN WEINGARTEN Forest City Ratner Companies
E “As a young architect I always dreamed about changing the world. At Forest City we work on real estate projects that actually change the city and the lives of the people who live in it for the better. I am grateful to be able to work on some of the most transformative projects in New York City.”
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ileen Weingarten is a seasoned architect and owner’s representative with significant experience in commercial, institutional and infrastructure projects in the northeast. After graduating from Cornell University she joined Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, where she watched the firm grow from less than 15 employees in NY to hundreds in several cities. While at KPF, she realized she enjoyed being in the field more than in the office and used her talents to make sure the designers’ wishes were carried out. She worked at two small owners’ rep firms after leaving KPF and joined Forest City Ratner Companies in 1999. At Forest City the scope of her involvement in real estate grew from design and construction to the pre-development phase which can take years more than the design and construction put together, to postoccupancy and retrofit work. It also exposed her to aspects of development that are less visible but very important to the success of the project. She was instrumental in the clearing of the 23-acre Atlantic Yards and Barclays Center sites which involved not only demolition but environmental, social and economic issues as well, and the construction of more than a mile of infrastructure in in the surrounding streets, including a high pressure water main, gas, electric, phone, TV and traffic control cabling systems and coordination with the DOT, Parks, Transit Authority and MTA, all while ensuring the construction of Barclays Center was not interrupted and that roads would not be shut down in one of the busiest intersections in the city. She is also proud of her work on the construction of the food service aspects of Barclays Center, including the beer delivery system which is as complex and critical to the operation of the building as any utility one would find under the streets of NY. The Forest City projects under her leadership exceeded the already high MWBE goals set by the firm.
Congratulations Congratulations to
Gina Esa
on your recognition from Phil Neto Construction Co., Inc.
Phil Neto Construction Co., Inc. Main Office: 271 Route 46 West Suite H107 Fairfield, NJ 07004 Phone: (973) 808-4445
AMANDA You’re the Tops with Us Your friends at The Druker Company, Ltd. (including Julie) The Druker Company, Ltd. 50 Federal Street Suite 1000 Boston, MA 02110 617-357-5700
Law Practice Concentrating in Affordable Housing and Community Development Law
ALBANY
54 State Street • 5th Floor Albany, New York 12207 (518) 465-1500
BUFFALO
726 Exchange Street • Suite 500 Buffalo, New York 14210 (716) 856-1700
www.chwattys.com
© 2016 Cannon Heyman & Weiss, LLP Attorney Advertising
Try it, track it, evaluate success, repeat. That’s how CohnReznick re-invests in the precise programs that make the biggest differences to retaining and advancing women: backup child care, women’s networking events customized for each office, and top-level coaching for executive sponsors to amplify their results. A panel of women discuss the art of negotiation at a recent Executive Women’s Forum session
TOP
ORGANIZATION
for WOMEN
CohnReznick’s WomenCAN “CohnReznick leadership understands that advancing women is a business opportunity; not a business challenge. More women leaders/ partners give a voice to that demographic, and that diversity is critical to our Firm’s success and our clients’ success.” – Risa Lavine, CohnReznick Principal and Chief of Staff
10A • www.sokolmediaonline.com
To help retain and advance women and prepare them to be tomorrow’s business leaders, CohnReznick launched its women’s program in 2005. Today, WomenCAN: A Collaborative Advocacy Network for Women provides access to mentors, roundtable discussions with firm partners, leadership development courses and other professional growth opportunities.
Executive Women’s Forum
CohnReznick understands the strategic importance of building relationships by connecting women leaders in the markets they serve, so its Executive Women’s Forum (EWF) was created as a business development initiative to provide meaningful events and experiences offering women opportunities to build and deepen mutually beneficial relationships. By bringing like-minded executive women together through a range of local events and industry-related activities, EWF provides a platform for women to connect. Key benefits of EWF: Expansion of professional as well as personal networks Business development opportunities Broader access to industry associations and their members
“A gender-based diversity strategy has a permeating effect on our culture, leadership pipeline, and overall growth. WomenCAN’s approach is to provide tools and resources that help ensure our Firm is a best place for women to work and supports career development.” – Michelle Lifschitz, Manager, WomenCAN, CohnReznick
Attendees network at an Executive Women’s Forum event
Alignment with other firms with corporate values that include women’s leadership and diversity Increased visibility for participants/their firm among peer companies Opportunities to support not for profit organizations in communities where we work and live
WomenCAN’s Mission •
Recognition
CohnReznick has been recognized in its industry for the positive work environment it provides to women, including being named among the ten Best Accounting Firms for Women by the Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance and the American Woman’s Society of Certified Public Accountants for two consecutive years. In addition, CohnReznick received the 2015 American Women’s Society of Certified Public Accountants Innovation in Women’s Programming Award.
About CohnReznick
CohnReznick LLP is one of the top accounting, tax, and advisory firms in the United States, combining the resources and technical expertise of a national firm with the hands-on, entrepreneurial approach that today’s dynamic business environment demands. Headquartered in New York, NY, and with offices nationwide, CohnReznick serves a large number of diverse industries and offers specialized services for middle market and Fortune 1000 companies, private equity and financial services firms, government contractors, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations. The Firm, with origins dating back to 1919, has more than 2,700 employees including nearly 300 partners and is a member of Nexia International, a global network of independent accountancy, tax, and business advisors. The Firm’s dedicated industry practices, including a large Commercial Real Estate Industry Practice, provide businesses with not only technical accounting, tax, and advisory expertise, but specialized knowledge in the issues specific to the organization’s industry. It looks to align the efforts of WomenCAN with its industry practices, including involvement with organizations such as CREW and industryspecific Executive Women’s Forum events. Join the conversation: #CRWomenCAN #CR_EWF
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Providing women-centric coaching, professional development and skillbuilding opportunities Offering training regarding unconscious bias for executives and all HR Developing a metricsbased internal Annual Report to identify gaps and challenges Hosting partner panels to increase the exposure of women to female rolemodels Leveraging WomenCAN office liaisons, who are high potential women who help to implement the women’s initiative in their locations, designing and driving local/regional efforts and events, and leveraging their leadership and influence skills to engage in these activities.
“What began as a pilot program in 2005 has grown into a nationwide movement – engaging our clients, employees, referral sources, industry leaders, and members of the broader community who recognize the importance of relationship building for business success.” – Tracy Fink, Director, CohnReznick Executive Women’s Forum www.sokolmediaonline.com • 11A
Left to right: Dale Laplace, Rachel Rodgers, Lauren Hovey, Founder/President Robin Dolch, Cari Nogas, Clare Malnar, Alexa Zuroff, Charlotte Turner
TOP
ORGANIZATION
for WOMEN
I
HUNDRED
STORIES
On any given morning you might find Founder and President Robin Dolch on the phone with a client discussing his splashy cover story in The New York Times Real Estate section, and just as soon as she is off the line, it’s crunch time making final edits to a press release. She presses send and jets off to a quarterly board meeting to discuss her team’s creative platform that will bring to life a massive 3,000,000-square-foot mixed commercial and residential development in Manhattan. “We love it,” says Robin on her team’s minute-to-minute schedules, “and we wouldn’t have it any other way.” With a team comprised entirely of women who, she says, “provides a diligent and supportive work style unlike I have ever seen before,” it’s no wonder they have earned a reputation in the real estate industry as the “go-to” company for intricate, ambitious projects requiring out-of-the- box approaches. Now in its sixth year, Hundred Stories has grown out of the Public Relations “wheelhouse” from where it began, and it has since evolved into a full-service, integrated agency – meeting the demands of the market for a more “all-inone” service provider, offering multiple capabilities under one roof. To better reflect this transformation, the firm has changed its name from Hundred Stories PR to Hundred Stories – a subtle alteration that accurately highlights what
the company does differently: branding, marketing, content creation and strategic partnerships. “Real estate is an extremely dynamic and fast-paced industry,” Robin notes. “It demands us to constantly keep our fingers on the pulse of the city.” Hundred Stories’ secret? The team consistently looks beyond real estate at what is going on in tech, entertainment and political headlines to see how they can pull new learnings to better inform their strategies. The results? They pass highly inventive ideas along to clients, and in the process, Hundred Stories differentiates luxury New York City buildings (and those in Miami, Los Angeles, Boston, Tel Aviv, Toronto and beyond) and garners record-breaking prices per square foot. It’s no wonder the client roster is packed with a corral of loyal A-list clientele. www.sokolmediaonline.com • 7A
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92Y has collaborated with Hundred Stories PR on several events – from an architect panel presented in our 900-seat Kaufman Concert Hall to a panel of developers in our 200-seat venue, to an interior design program in our 100-seat venue. In every case, the women of Hundred Stories were wonderful program collaborators – managing and communicating with top talent, building the audience through extensive outreach, and following up with press. They are professional, detail oriented, and most of all a pleasure to work with and I look forward to our continued collaboration. –Christine Chen, Director of Programming, 92Y
The Schumacher
The Schumacher, located in the heart of NoHo, is a historic Romanesque Revival-style print atelier that was re-envisioned in a boutique address of 20 gallery-like loft residences. Stillman Development brought Hundred Stories on board in May 2016 to re-introduce the last remaining unit at the building, Penthouse A, to brokers, media and consumers. Through innovative, strategic events and numerous media placements over the course of the campaign, Hundred Stories built excitement for the residence among top New York City brokers and press. Most importantly, its efforts brought numerous potential buyers into the space, which resulted in two offers on the $20 million residence, one of which Stillman Development accepted.
One West End
Elad Group and Silverstein Properties retained Hundred Stories in mid-2014 to promote One West End, the preeminent residential tower rising at the corner of 59th Street and West End Avenue. The 42-story building is the first and tallest condominium to come to market within Christian de Portzamparc’s masterfully-designed Riverside Center, which will also include 3.2 acres of green space and a new K-8 public school. Through creative broker events featuring neighborhood highlights, such as top chefs and most in-demand restaurants from the Upper West Side, as well as impactful press coverage in top national and international outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York Post and New York Observer, Hundred Stories’ efforts led to One West End being the top-selling new construction building in Manhattan in 2015, with 120 contracts signed in just six months since launching sales.
22 Central Park South
Hundred Stories began planning and strategizing for the launch of Elad Group’s 22 Central Park South, a landmarked, pre-war 8A • www.sokolmediaonline.com
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In keeping with this ethos, Hundred Stories regularly collaborates with established brands across an array of industries including Bergdorf Goodman, 92Y, Tesla, Exhale, Hearst, Lalique and the NY Philharmonic, among others. The influence, reach and marketing arms of its partners have proven not only extremely powerful in reaching new customers for clients, but have also resulted in headlining “news” because, according to Robin, “the integrations are always substantive and asset-differentiating – never merely ‘stunts.’ In many ways, we are like script doctors with projects; we go in and alter their DNA when necessary.” Some recent projects the firm has every right to boast about include the following:
building located just next door to the famed Plaza Hotel, over a year before it launched sales. A first-of-its-kind collaboration with Bergdorf Goodman was born, one that created every New Yorker’s dream apartment: a model home outfitted and designed entirely by the sought-after BG Decorative Home Floor team. The model was an immediate hit with the building’s international and pied-à-terre buyers, most of whom opted for Bergdorf Goodman to decorate their homes. The partnership did not end here: In further elevating the luxurious, red-carpet lifestyle of this intimate building, Hundred Stories convinced Bergdorf Goodman to offer 22 Central Park South residents more than the exclusive access to the Home Floor. Fashion, beauty and style services are arranged through 22 Central Park South’s concierge, who directly connects to Bergdorf ’s staff of personal shoppers via an exclusive 24-hour phone line. If a ball gown is needed, along with shoes and jewels, a personal shopper will hand-deliver and arrange the items in a resident’s closet prior to arrival. All one needs to do is “arrive;” even the John Barrett Salon at Bergdorf ’s will make house calls for hair and makeup, just another exclusive perk of living at 22 Central Park South. 22 Central Park South was prominently featured in The New York Times story, “Of course the Condo Has a Gym, But What About a Personal Shopper?” as well as scores of other publications from Elle Décor to Town & Country.
1 Seaport
In January 2016, as Fortis Property Group, along with Frederik Eklund and John Gomes of the Douglas Elliman Eklund Gomes Team, prepared to launch sales at 1 Seaport, the neighborhood defining tower located in the heart of Manhattan’s Seaport District, Hundred Stories was retained to execute a highly strategic unveiling to both press and the brokerage community. Rising 60-stories above the waterfront and offering unobstructed river and city skyline views from nearly every residence, 1 Seaport is the first condominium luxury in what is considered the most historic neighborhood in NYC, and one on the cusp of being transformed into a cultural and culinary mecca. When sales officially launched in April 2016, 1 Seaport hit the market with unrivaled success. Through creative broker events, such as the launch party filmed for the Season 6 Finale of Million Dollar Listing New York, and strategic media placements, which kicked off with an exclusive feature in The New York Times, Hundred Stories’ efforts led to unprecedented sales momentum right from the start. Within the first few weeks alone, approximately 25 percent of the building’s units were sold – and all at or above full ask! Both press coverage and sales momentum only grew from there. Over the summer months, typically the
(Left) Hundred Stories brings together David Kaufman of New York Post, Jeff Blau of Related Companies, Abby Hamlin of Hamlin Ventures, Jared Kushner of Kushner Companies, and Steven Witkoff of Witkoff Group for a sold-out discussion at 92Y, the same venue for their upcoming Symposium on February 3-5, 2017.
252 East 57 Street th
World Wide Group retained Hundred Stories in January of 2016 to cultivate an elevated events and partnership program. Soaring over 700 feet at the gateway to one of the world’s most desirable residential boulevards, 252 East 57th Street’s striking curved-glass silhouette is a magnificent addition to the Manhattan skyline. The expansive homes start on the 36th floor with panoramic views that stretch from the George Washington Bridge to Central Park to the East River. The 93 residences are enhanced by a thoughtful collection of amenities that emphasize privacy and exclusivity, including a gated porte-cochere, automated parking, 75-foot pool and 34th Floor Club. 252 East 57th Street is committed to sustainability and anticipates LEED Silver certification. Hundred Stories conceived of and executed such a successful Feng Shui event (featuring China Happenings’ founder Chiu- Ti Jansen and Feng Shui Master Zhi Hai) that dozens of developers called, asking for similar activations. In addition to the wide range of media placements resulting from this event – from New York Magazine to Mansion Global – Hundred Stories secured coverage in numerous foreign publications such as China TV, The China Press and World Journal. Additionally, Hundred Stories played a major role in the creation and launch of 57 Newspaper, a controlled circulation publication reaching 90,000 of the most affluent New Yorkers and visitors. 57 Newspaper’s debut issue included articles from The New York Times bestselling author Michael Gross and former Society Editor of Interview Magazine Jeffrey Slonim, as well
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interviews with celebrity hairstylist John Barrett and fashion icon Linda Fargo on her 20 years as “The Eyes Of Bergdorf Goodman.”
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t’s evident that the Hundred Stories team stands unrivaled in their uncanny ability to create (from scratch, seemingly) unique programs to get clients directly in front of coveted demographics who might purchase or invest in an asset (not just their B2B peers). The firm regularly devises panels, innovating the conference medium to bring its clients directly to audiences at organizations like the Penn Club, Princeton Club and even the esteemed 92Y where Hundred Stories has produced three sold-out “talks” featuring “starchitects” such as Richard Meier and Bjarke Ingels, notable developers like Jeff Blau and Jared Kushner and acclaimed interior designers such as Russell Groves and Amy Lau. What is also clear is that the best is still yet to come from Hundred Stories. Leading off the docket for 2017, Robin and her team are producing a three-day Real Estate and Architecture/ Design Symposium in collaboration with 92Y. On Feb. 3 through 5, 2017, the conference will utilize nearly every available room for keynotes, talks and interactive discussions geared towards consumers. Real estate’s and architecture’s “Greats” will grace the keynote discussions. Interested speakers and sponsors may contact Hundred Stories for more information. “As the city’s premiere, iconic cultural institution for the past 140 years, 92Y makes the ideal partner to launch this first-of-its-kind summit,” says Robin. We are excited to see where Hundred Stories goes next. One thing we are certain of: The firm will continue to broaden the scope of public relations and respond to the changing marketplace. The firm’s team has successfully shifted the real estate industry’s perspective of PR to value their services as, oftentimes, the defining player on a project.
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slowest season for sales, 1 Seaport continued to break records with the highest number of sales ever seen for the month of August in NYC.
I consider Hundred Stories my family. We are currently running six projects with them so we see them every single day, sometimes three times a day. I love their direct, no bs-approach, and they are obsessed with results just like me. The press for 1 Seaport as an example is unparalleled. Fredrik Eklund of Douglas Elliman and star of Bravo’s hit show Million Dollar Listing New York
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TOP 10 WOMEN in REAL ESTATE
DONNA WALCAVAGE Stantec
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aving focused on the planning and design of public spaces across New York City for more than four decades, Donna Walcavage, FASLA, RLA, LEED AP, ENV SP, Principal at Stantec, says that the firm’s slogan, ‘Design with Community in Mind,’ is a direct reflection of her work. “I see the New York City street, for example, as public realm, not just for vehicles, but as public spaces that should work for everybody.”
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As such, Walcavage has set a new standard for urban spaces in parks, waterfronts, and streetscapes. As Principal-in-Charge for Stuyvesant Cove Planning and Design in Manhattan, she led a team that included civil engineers, economic planners, architects and landscape architects as consultants to NYC Economic Development Corporation in the conversion of this abandoned industry site along the East River into an environmentally-based green space for community use. “This is the first use of native plantings in public spaces in New York City,” Walcavage says. “The community wanted an environmentally friendly park, and we were pleased to deliver it.” Walcavage has designed similarly successful spaces throughout the city. On the Lower East Side, she led the reconstruction of the Pike and Allen Street Malls, creating the first phase of an enhanced and unified corridor for pedestrian and bicycle movement. This project, developed by NYC Department of Transportation and put in place by NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, is a part of a series of green, social and neighborhood spaces designed, as part of the East River Waterfront Framework Plan. Creating a connection between
the upland, city and the East River Waterfront through a green corridor, this project expands the parkland by more than doubling the footprint of the malls with an integrated park, a bikeway, and planted medians. In Chelsea, at Waterside Park, leftover space from the conversion of the old West Side Highway to the new West Street boulevard, Walcavage guided the playground design, which was created to fit within the curvilinear design of its surroundings, while adding new interest with equipment that is both age appropriate and fun. In consideration of the comfort of parents and caregivers, shade structures in the form of large umbrellas and tables with seatswere also included to provide adequate lunch space. Adding her signature spaces downtown as well, at Battery Park City’s Rockefeller Park, Walcavage’s role in the design team was focussed on the design of the children’s play area with custom-detailed equipment, as well as the sports terrace. The design, simple in form, allows for many varied outdoor activities in an elegant and beautiful way that balances open green spaces with the community’s active recreation needs.
Left: A seating area in the center median linear park at Pike and Allen Streets, Lower East Side Right: Playground in Chelsea Waterside Park, Manhattan
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Left: The conversion of the old West Side Highway to West Street reframed the conversation about what urban streets can do. Right: Even the smallest children can play at Rockefeller Playground.
Opposite page (clockwise from top): The four season city is the new urban model: Stantec has pioneered ice trails as urban amenities; West Street in Chelsea connects the neighborhood to the piers; Transmitter Park in Brooklyn brings native plantings to the waterfront; The playground at Rockefeller Park incorporates art into the playground with this Dodo by Tom Otterness.
On to Brooklyn, where Transmitter Park now stands on the Greenpoint-Williamsburg waterfront, Walcavage led the design of this new park which initially was walled off from the East River by a hard marine structure. Today, the design creates a water’s edge that appears more natural, and all drainage is accommodated in the onsite bio swales. “When I started on this project, the waterfront was very inaccessible,” Walcavage says. “Once it was completed, the site was transformed from a barren zone of manufacturing into a beautiful green space on the waterfront. Zoning also created accessible space along the waterfront for everyone, and this helped the entire neighborhood develop into a waterfront community.” Yet it doesn’t stop there. On West Street which runs from Battery Place to 59th Street, she served as the landscape architect for two segments of the highway which transformed the west side of Manhattan and created billions of dollars of
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real estate value, helping to set the stage for the entire redevelopment of the west side.” Walcavage says. This unique urban design created a park with a boulevard running right through it, rather than adjacent to it. “This New York State DOT project was very important to me since it transformed the way we envision the use of streets in New York City, even at this large heavily-trafficked scale,” Walcavage adds. As part of a 22,000-person global design firm, Walcavage enjoys mentoring Stantec staff and tackling new challenges, such as resiliency. She believes resiliency – mitigation and adaptation – must be incorporated into planning and design of infrastructure, natural resources, and buildings projects. Resiliency is a particularly grave concern for projects near the shoreline. For example, she is now working with the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery on a shoreline protection plan for an approximately 1.5 mile stretch of the Tottenville community in Staten Island, with the goal of
The public waterfront at Stuyvesant Cove created an environmentally based green space from a parking lot.
using a layered system introducing more natural elements to reduce risk to the community from wave action, and to prevent erosion. The project employs a variety of tactics to mitigate damage, while restoring and enhancing ecosystems, improving waterfront access and engaging with the community through educational programs directly related to the coastal resiliency actions. In Coney Island, Brooklyn, streets west of the MCU Stadium, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, the minor-league baseball team affiliated with the New York Mets, are being raised so that new sewers can be installed. “During storms, the area floods so raising the grades of the streets and providing new sewers is essential to redeveloping and revitalizing the area,” Walcavage says. “We are now also going to be working on the area adjacent to the parachute jump and MCU Stadium, which will set the scene for the development on Coney Island.” “People come to New York City to live and work for many reasons, but certainly the social aspects of parks and quality public realm space are chief among them,” Walcavage says. “By increasing the number of streetscapes and public spaces, even if it’s only adding a bench, we are getting people outside,” she adds. “This all adds to their physical and mental health, what we call ‘social resiliency.’ No one ever wants to feel isolated, which can happen even in a major city. Social interaction is what cities are all about—using the public realm to create community is not only our firm’s goal but the real basis of urbanism.” 6A • www.sokolmediaonline.com
“People come to the city and work in Manhattan and Brooklyn because of all of the parks and restaurants. By increasing the number of streetscapes and public spaces, even if it’s only adding a bench, we are getting people outside.”
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A Special Edition from Sokol Media
FALL 2016
2016
TOP WOMEN IN NYC REAL ESTATE GINA ESA CNC Construction Inc. LAURA GIUSTINIANI Justin Group Inc. ABBY HAMLIN Hamlin Ventures LAURIE KERR Urban Green Building Council VALERIE KITAY Savanna ERICA MILLER Cantor-Pecorella JENNIFER NOVACK Sheffield Haworth
Howard Wechsler Photography
AMANDA RYZOWY L+M Development Partners Inc. KENNE SHEPHERD Kenne Shepherd Interior Design Architecture PLLC EILEEN WEINGARTEN Forest City Ratner Companies
Donna Walcavage Stantec
TOP Firms for Women: Hundred Stories & CohnReznick LLP