Avison Young leader honored by St. Thomas Aquinas College

Rockleigh, NJ Martin Cottingham, principal with Avison Young’s New York City real estate practice, was among the leaders honored by St. Thomas Aquinas at the college’s annual tribute dinner. John Elliott, a meteorologist at CBS2 News This Morning, was the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. The 2,000-student college in the Sparkill community of Rockland County offers degrees and majors covering more than 100 specialties. 

Cottingham received the 2024 Mission Impact Award, recognizing his philanthropic work, including as resident of the Irish American Building Society (IABS), an organization that develops and fosters business, cultural, educational, and charitable activities. In 2024 the organization and its board provided $50,000 to Catholic schools and organizations across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

Cottingham is a 23-year veteran of the real estate industry, including more than a decade at Avison Young. In 2024, the sales and leasing team he helps lead successfully closed more than 50 major New York commercial real estate lease transactions.

"Marty Cottingham embodies resiliency and generosity, and is full of courage, integrity, and compassion. He, along with the Irish American Building Society, is always looking to help someone in need. The world needs more people like Marty, and we are beyond blessed to name him, and the Irish American Building Society, as the recipients of our 2024 Mission Impact Award,” said Kenneth Daly, president of St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC).

Over the course of his career, he has worked with Mayor Michael Bloomberg to gain approval and develop Coney Island’s 5,000-seat Ford Amphitheater along the Brooklyn waterfront. He was also responsible for arranging the relocation of the National Basketball Association’s Players Association headquarters to Midtown Manhattan. That transaction was a finalist for REBNY’s Most Ingenious Deal of the Year Award and the winner of the Design & Construction of a New Facility Award from the New York Chapter of the International Facility Management Association.

“The ability to impact the lives of my fellow New Yorkers — whether through transformative business, cultural or real estate transactions that breathe new life into neighborhoods — is a true privilege to be entrusted with. I am deeply thankful to St. Thomas Aquinas College for this tremendous honor and recognition,” said Cottingham.

 

 

Other honorees include Sister Margaret Theresa Oettinger, OP who for many years has led a ministry at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in Manhattan, offering spiritual, cultural, and emotional support to the patients, their families, and staff. Earlier in her career Sister Theresa taught elementary school in the New York Archdiocese for 20 years and then from 1981-1989 taught and mentored younger Dominican Sisters educating students in Pakistan. She was a recipient of the St. Thomas Aquinas Founders Award.

The evening’s third honoree was Javier L. Evans, who serves as executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Webster Bank, which has more than $65 billion in assets and 3,400 employees across more than 200 branches within its banking network. He was a recipient of the St. Thomas Aquinas Medal.