Executive of the Month: Edwards, chief operating officer of TerraCRG; A leading Brooklyn commercial real estate brokerage

Brian Edwards has joined TerraCRG as chief operating officer, bringing 20 years of New York real estate experience to the team. TerraCRG is one of the borough's leading commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firms. As the chief operating officer, Edwards will be responsible for managing the growth of the six year old firm that became synonymous with Brooklyn commercial real estate. Edwards will be working closely with the firm's founder and president Ofer Cohen on recruiting, mentoring, and coaching one of the best commercial real estate teams in the borough. Edwards will also be building two new teams targeting under-serviced neighborhoods to support TerraCRG's existing sales efforts. Edwards' unparalleled expertise and management experience will manage the firm's growth and expand into new Brooklyn market segments. TerraCRG is a real estate brokerage and advisory firm focused solely on commercial transactions in the borough. In six years, and through the depths of the recession, TerraCRG established itself as a true market leader, completing over 70 transactions a year in the borough by tailoring its approach to suit the needs of investors, property owners, developers and lenders. TerraCRG was a vital market player during the recovery that became evident with the strong market of 2011 and in 2012 and the firm was ranked number 2 in the 2012 Top 10 Brooklyn Commercial Brokerage Firm Ranking by Co-Star. "Brooklyn is the most vibrant, exciting urban area in the entire country," said Edwards. "By focusing solely on Brooklyn, TerraCRG has created the most knowledgeable commercial brokerage team in a very short period of time. As strong advocates for property owners, and advisors to developers, TerraCRG is a perfect match for my skills and I am thrilled to be working with such a talented and dedicated team." Edwards began his real estate career in the 1980s as a residential leasing agent for Thompson Realty, a rapidly growing residential brokerage company. After rising to the top as the firm's top producing broker he was named senior vice president of all brokerage services with a focus on the growing world of corporate relocation services generating relationships with many of the city's Fortune 100 companies, including Citicorp, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and HBO. In 1990, he founded Edwards Associates, a brokerage services firm concentrating on corporate relocation with offices on the East and West sides of Manhattan. Edwards Associates was acquired by The Halstead Property Company in 1991 and Edwards was tapped to develop and manage a rental division within the city's fastest growing brokerage firm. In 1996, in addition to his brokerage division, he was named co-director of project marketing, engaging with developers of new rental and sales properties to develop comprehensive marketing, leasing, and sales strategies. In September of 2001, Edwards was named the executive director of leasing to head the merger of the Halstead Property Company and Feathered Nest, one of the premier on-site marketing firms in the city. In addition, he oversaw the daily administration of a portfolio of large residential leasing and marketing programs; including, The Corinthian at 330 East 38th St., Rutherford Place at 305 Second Ave., Hudson Park at 323 West 96th St., 15 Park Row, The Savoy at 200 East 61st St., and Kenton Place at 305 East 63rd St. From 2004 to 2007, Edwards parlayed his marketing knowledge into a successful marketing, branding and strategic consulting career beginning with the successful and award winning Historic Front St., the $65 million conversion of the Fulton Fish Market developed by the partnership of The Durst Organization, FJ Sciame, and Zuberry Associates. In 2008, Edwards was tapped to provide strategic marketing and advisory services to an array of real estate developments including One Bennett Park, a planned $125 million, 28-story luxury condominium in the Hudson Heights neighborhood, 307 Atlantic Ave. (The Atlantic Stamp Building) a 28,000 s/f mixed use new construction rental in the Boerum Hill section - which he also participated as investor, and 264 Water St. in the South St. Seaport Historic District. Originally from Minnesota, Edwards attended Columbia University and was a track and field athlete. An avid basketball fan, Appalachian Trail section hiker, and snowboarding enthusiast, Edwards lives on the Upper East Side with his wife and son. Along with his wife, Edwards devotes time as a leader of his son's Boy Scout Troop, coaching youth baseball and basketball, and as a Host Family in the Fresh Air Fund program.