NYS Commercial Assn. of Realtors June 2025 president’s message - by Robert Strell

We hope to see you at the NYSCAR Annual Conference, Rivers Casino in Schenectady. Full details can be found at www.nyscar.org/conference.

The Annual Conference Planning Committee, chaired by Mercedes Brien has planned a great event for June 16-17. We look forward to seeing you there!  The schedule is as follows:

Monday, June 16, 2025

8 - 9am: Continental Breakfast
9 - 10am: Business Structures, Tax Laws & Deductions (Submitted for CE credit)

Join us for an informative session with Certified Public Accountant and senior tax manager Jeremy Cole (BST & Co., CPAs, LLP) as we break down key financial and tax considerations for business owners, entrepreneurs, and independent contractors. Whether you’re starting a new venture or looking to optimize your existing business, this talk will provide essential insights into structuring your business and maximizing deductions. Jeremy Cole is a seasoned Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who joined BST as a senior tax manager in 2023. With a distinguished career of more than 20 years spanning multiple renowned firms, he has significant expertise and leadership in taxation and financial reporting.

10:30am - 12pm: Legal Update with NYSAR’s Legal Counsel, Anthony Gatto
( 1.5 hour of CE credit) NYSAR’s Legal Counsel, Anthony Gatto, will cover a wide array of legal issues including legal obligations of the licensee and an in-depth look at recent laws, rules, regulations, as well as other issues critical to reducing risk in your real estate practice.

12-1pm: Attendee buffet lunch

1-2:30pm: Interactive NYS DEC Wetland Regulations Panel (approved for CE credit)
Join us for an insightful panel discussion on New York State’s wetlands regulations and their impact on development and land use. This session will bring together key experts to help you gain a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory landscape, potential challenges, and strategies for successful project navigation. Whether you’re a developer, land owner or real estate agent, this panel will provide valuable insights into the intersection of wetlands protection and economic development.
2:30-3pm: Break and networking with sponsors
3-4:30pm: Panel Discussion: Cannabis Industry in New York State (approved for CE credit)
Getting a lot of calls from dispensaries and cultivators these days? It’s time to get your cannabis CRE team together. We’ve assembled a panel of industry experts to answer all your questions from a site selection perspective - permitting, licensing, advocacy, expenses, location criteria and more - and to be your go-to resources for anything cannabis real estate related.
5-6pm: Welcome reception
 

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

8-9am: Light breakfast
9am-12pm: Northeast Regional Marketing Investment Session 
Moderators: Greg McLane and Nick DeMarte
Meeting Managers: John Lavelle and Paul Hakim
Generate potential transactions and gain valuable insight into how to best facilitate your clients’ property objectives. This full day property marketing session, led by expert SEC moderators from across the region, is the most successful marketing session in NYS each year. Your clients deserve your attendance. To be included in the property marketing book for the event, please submit your Standard Marketing Forms by Monday, June 9. The online form will be available under the “conference” tab on www.NYSCAR.org. 

12-1pm: Attendee lunch buffet 
3pm: Break and networking with sponsors
1-5pm: Northeast Regional Marketing Investment Session 
Moderators: Greg McLane and Nick DeMarte
Meeting Managers: John Lavelle and Paul Hakim
As always, we are so grateful for our sponsors who support us!  Special thanks go out to:  Diamond Sponsor: Harris Beach Murtha, Attorneys at Law; Gold Sponsor:  Society of Exchange Counselors, Silver Sponsors: Beardsley Architects and Engineers, CIREB, CoStar, Empower Federal Credit Union, LaBella Associates, New York Real Estate Journal, and Stewart Title.

Robert Strell is president of NYSCAR, Albany, N.Y.