CIBS founding fathers honored by March of Dimes on October 18

The founding fathers of the Commercial Industrial Brokers Society (CIBS) of Long Island, were honored by the March of Dimes Long Island Division at its annual Real Estate Awards Dinner. The awards were presented at an Oct. 18 dinner at the Garden City Hotel that attracted 350 guests and raised $175,000 for the March of Dimes. The award recognizes the 15th anniversary of the founding of CIBS by Herb Agin, chief executive of Sutton & Edwards Inc.; Paul Amoruso, managing director of Oxford & Simpson Realty Services Inc., Joseph Lugano, senior managing director of Cushman & Wakefield and former branch manager on Long Island; and Samuel Rozzi, president and chief executive of Corporate National Realty LLC. "They are wonderful guys," CIBS President Ray Ruiz said in introducing the honorees. "This event puts the exclamation point on the CIBS' 15th anniversary." Founded in 1992, CIBS today is Long Island's largest commercial real estate organization with more than 400 members. "We never knew this group would grow to over 400 members," Lugano said of CIBS, which has become the largest commercial real estate organization in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. "We're extremely proud of what CIBS has become," added Rozzi. "We created CIBS to make this a better profession," Agin recalled. Taking note of his co-founders, Amoruso said, "These guys have been competing for 25 years. They're great competitors." CIBS' mission includes strengthening and uniting the industry, advocacy of professional standards, maintenance of a positive image for the industry and fostering economic development on Long Island.