2017 Women in Professional Services: Kyla Gessin-Stern of Chatham Development Company

Name: Kyla Gessin-Stern

Title: Vice President

Company Name: Chatham Development Co. 

Years in real estate: 13

What real estate associations or organizations are you a member of? NY CREW

How have you navigated obstacles to achieve success in your career? In development and construction the obstacles can be daily and come in many forms. It takes creativity and resilience to constantly find solutions and see a project through. Luckily, my upbringing, family and the great team we have at Chatham Development Co. provide the foundation and support that I need personally to persevere and overcome any obstacles that end up in my path. 

How do you play your strengths to your advantage in your career? Historically I have worked on marketing, customer support and operations at our real estate operating and development businesses. My background in fashion and sales gives me the confidence to make recommendations to customers regarding the design and aesthetics of their custom homes and aide in the selection of finishes for our new developments. My single greatest strength, which is reinforced by the fact that we are a family business, is that I really do care about what I do and about our customers. We have worked hard to attain our stellar reputation and I know that it is my responsibility to guard it while working to expand the business. 

What trends are you seeing so far this year? We are seeing a strong demand for high-quality new construction homes in all facets of our business. We will be coming to the market shortly with a park-front condominium project at 868 Lorimer Street in Greenpoint/Williamsburg which is a boutique, 14-unit project with only two- and three-bedroom units. In the Nassau County market we are working on several subdivision projects where we will build luxury single-family homes in areas where much of the housing stock is older and inefficient. Last but not least, in the Hamptons, we are the premier builder of homes in Westhampton Dunes and use our experience in this market to develop elegant and well-planned homes that stand up to coastal conditions for years to come. 

What do you do for fun? These days it is all about family time. The work weeks are long so my family spends a lot of time on the weekends together. When you have young children anything can be an activity because they are so curious about the world. Our upcoming plans include trips to Manhattan, Brooklyn and the beach as well as planting vegetables and fitting in some bicycle and scooter time with friends and family.