New York, NY BizDevel, a leading commercial real estate, architecture, construction, consultant, and vendor business development think tank and networking group in the greater New York area, has raised in excess of $6,000 for the Education Through Music program during its 2018           BizDevel Real Estate Summer Happy Hour event. More than 300 senior commercial real estate, finance, and AEC industry executives and professionals attended the reception.

The gathering was part of BizDevel’s ongoing Edu-Series educational, artistic and business development program. Edu-Series events focus on improving BizDevel’s members’ business skills, expanding professional networks, and supporting local New York charities, especially those assisting children from underserved communities.

AnaTracey Hawkins, founder of BizDevel and vice president of strategy and development at the construction management firm Richter+Ratner, presented the donation to Cushman & Wakefield executive vice chairman Richard Bernstein, who serves on Education Through Music’s (ETM) board of directors. BizDevel has been supporting numerous New York-based charities since its founding, including ETM and Boys Town.

ETM partners with inner-city schools to provide music as a core subject for all children, and utilizes music education as a catalyst to improve academic achievement, motivation for learning, and self-confidence. The organization creates partnerships with inner-city elementary and middle schools to provide comprehensive and sequential music education. It also provides ongoing training and professional development for music and classroom teachers. 

“I am very grateful for the support of the BizDevel members for our programs. These funds will be used to improve the lives and quality of education of children in inner city schools by funding music as a core subject for all students,” said Bernstein. 

“The 2018 BizDevel Real Estate Summer Happy Hour was another highly successful networking event for the building industry executives. The real estate, construction, architecture, and related industry professionals have always been among the most generous and enthusiastic supporters of community causes in both New York City and nationwide. I am very proud to continue this tradition by donating funds raised by members and guests of the BizDevel group to Education Through Music,” said Hawkins.

Sumit Bose, regional sales manager of lighting and building management technologies provider Distech Controls, a subsidiary of Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc., hosted and co-sponsored the event at Distech’s office at 5 Penn Plaza in Manhattan. The reception’s sponsors also included construction manager Richter+Ratner; hospitality and retail architectural firm Splice; construction and M/WBE law office of Joshua D. Spitalnik, Esq.; property manager WayFinderPM; commercial cleaning firm Imacuclean; BNC Insurance and Risk Advisors; real estate capital provider Eyzenberg & Company; FFE procurement firm Farrel Flynn; window supplier and installer Adler Windows; A/V designer and integrator Cloud9Smart; and exterior restoration designer and manager Sullivan Engineering.

BizDevel was established in 2015 as a business support group for professionals in the industries related to the commercial real estate market. BizDevel’s members include real estate developers and brokers, finance and banking executives, builders and architects, suppliers, vendors, attorneys, marketing and publicity professionals, and other consultants. Through joint projects, referrals, and new business initiatives, the group has to date generated in excess of $25 million in business opportunities for its members and their firms.

BizDevel also serves as an educational, advisory, and professional development resource to its members. Its meetings frequently host presenters and guests who provide information and advice on industry trends and forecasts, and other issues relevant to the group members’ business operations.