Nominee’s Name & Job Title: Mark Fogel, CEO & President

Nominee’s Company/Affiliation: ACRES Capital

Nominee’s City & State of Employment: Uniondale, NY

What was the most difficult experience you have encountered as a leader?

During the pandemic, we made the decision to take over the management of Exantas, a publicly traded REIT. Conducting due diligence of a $2 billion in assets while integrating and onboarding 18 new employees into our existing infrastructure virtually was probably the most challenging leadership experience of my career.

What aspect of your position do you find most challenging?

The human resources aspect is the most challenging from the standpoint of my being laser focused on maintaining a customer-centric culture of flexibility, transparency, and autonomy.

What leadership role outside of the workplace is most rewarding to you?

It’s coaching my children’s baseball, basketball, and softball teams. It allows me more time with my children while teaching them life lessons such as being a team player, becoming a leader, and always bringing your best, even at practice, because you never know who’s watching.

What advice would you give the next generation of leaders in your industry?

When you discover what interests you, try and get good at different aspects of your chosen field. The more you know, the more valuable you are to your organization, allowing you more opportunities to advance.