Name & Title: Judah Hammer – Vice President Company Name: Meridian Capital Group What was your most notable project, deal, transaction or professional achievement in 2016? 2016 was unique in that we experienced a more highly regulated lending environment on the part of banks in the beginning of the year and towards the end of the year we saw an unprecedented spike in treasuries, which has created ripples throughout the market. Despite these events, I am happy to announce that my team, for the second year in a row, has closed in excess of 120 loans, averaging just above 10 loan closings a month. We pride ourselves on the variation in loan sizes, ranging from our smallest loan of $400,000 to our largest, which was over $100,000,000.   What project, transaction, market trend or product had the greatest impact on your industry this year? In 2016 my team closed loans with 19 different lenders on various asset types across the tri state area, Long Island and Westchester. Due to rapid changes in the market, lending activities of banks have varied throughout the year. Our strength lies in tailoring loans to fit borrowers’ specific needs. Having the right market knowledge and the ability to understand the banks requirements is a result of our efforts to maintain a positive, long standing relationship with our lending partners.   How will you be supercharging your productivity in 2017? The end of 2016 and early 2017 will be a period of price discovery for buyers and sellers and owners will also adjust to the new interest rate environment. Once those gaps have been bridged, we expect both sales and financing volume to pick up and push productivity. More personally, my team continues to expand and allows me to leverage my time more efficiently.   What emerging trends will drive investment and development in 2017? The interest rate environment will play a big part. Borrowers have been enjoying historically low rates for a long time and it may take owners some time to adjust to higher rates but eventually this should trigger positive activity in the purchase market as prices adjust and this will lead to a flurry of refinances.