REBNY honors legacy and achievements of industry leaders at 120th Annual Banquet at the New York Hilton

New York, NY Real estate’s finest, along with city and state dignitaries including governor Andrew Cuomo and mayor Bill de Blasio, showed up in force at the Real Estate Board of New York’s (REBNY) 120th Annual Banquet held at the New York Hilton. The momentous evening honored the legacy of industry titan John Zuccotti, a former REBNY chairman, and the exceptional contributions and accomplishments of Matthew, Tara, and Darcy Stacom – who became the first family to receive The Bernard H. Mendik Lifetime Leadership in Real Estate Award – as well as those of Daniel Brodsky, Jeffrey Levine, Bill Montana, Edward Piccinich, and Steven Marvin. “REBNY’s annual celebration is always the biggest night of the year for the real estate industry, and this year was certainly no exception. We were thrilled to be joined by more than 2,000 of our members, as well as top government and business leaders from across the city and state, in celebrating the best and brightest of New York’s real estate community,” said Rob Speyer, president and CEO of Tishman Speyer and REBNY chairman. Prompted by REBNY’s annual video presentation this year, the evening also ignited discussion concerning the city’s need for the development of new commercial office, industrial manufacturing, and life sciences space for continued economic growth and the creation of good jobs for New Yorkers. The video, with commentary from Speyer; Maria Torres-Springer, president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC); Mary Ann Tighe, CEO of CBRE’s Tri-State region and former REBNY chairman; and Robert Knakal, chairman of Cushman & Wakefield and REBNY executive committee member, highlights the history of New York City office development and findings from a recent study commissioned by the NYCEDC, which projected that based on projected job growth over the next 10 years, the city will need up to 60 million additional s/f of office space to keep up with demand. “While there will be challenges and obstacles to this growth initiative, commercial vacancy rates are well below the national average, and there is strong demand for new office product throughout New York City,” said REBNY president John Banks. “We commend the administration for their analysis and efforts to address this critical need.” City, state and federal officials who celebrated the close of another dynamic year for the real estate industry and a promising 2016 with REBNY members and their guests, included: Cuomo; New York State comptroller Tom DiNapoli; New York State senate majority leader John Flanagan; de Blasio; city council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito; New York City comptroller Scott Stringer; Public Advocate Letitia James; Manhattan Borough president Gale Brewer; Bronx Borough president Ruben Diaz, Jr.; U.S. congress members Joseph Crowley, Dan Donovan, Chris Gibson, and Carolyn Maloney; New York State senators Philip Boyle, Leroy Comrie, Tom Croci, Michael Gianaris, Martin Golden, Timothy Kennedy, Jeffrey Klein, David Valesky, and Cathy Young; New York State assembly member Mark Gjonaj; New York City council members Jimmy Van Bramer, David Greenfield, Donovan Richards, and Jumaane Williams; New York State division of housing and community renewal commissioner James Rubin; New York City first deputy mayor Anthony Shorris; deputy mayor Alicia Glen; New York City Planning chair Carl Weisbrod;  Department of Housing Preservation and Development commissioner Vicki Been; Department of buildings commissioner Rick Chandler; New York City fire commissioner Daniel Nigro; Department of finance commissioner Jacques Jiha; Housing Development Corp. president Gary Rodney; and Economic Development Corp. president and CEO Maria Torres-Springer; New York City Tax Tribunal president Ellen Hoffman, and New York City council deputy chief of Staff Ramon Martinez, among others. Focal points of the evening included the REBNY Foundation cocktail party hosted by the REBNY board of governors, which brought together hundreds of guests including those seated at the dais to raise funds for industry-wide charitable activities and projects and REBNY’s Members In Need Fund, and the REBNY banquet dinner, during which the honorees were presented with their sought-after awards. New York City’s leading trade association bestowed top honors to: • The Stacom Family – the late Matthew Stacom, former vice chairman of Cushman & Wakefield; Tara Stacom, executive vice chairman of Cushman & Wakefield; and Darcy Stacom, a vice chairman and head of the Investment Properties Group for CBRE’s New York office – who received The Bernard H. Mendik Lifetime Leadership in Real Estate Award for their exceptional accomplishments in the profession, leadership, and service to the real estate industry over the course of their distinguished careers. This was the first time a family was presented with an award at REBNY’s Banquet. • Daniel Brodsky, senior managing partner of the Brodsky Organization, who received The Harry B. Helmsley Distinguished New Yorker Award, which is presented to an industry member for invaluable contributions to New York’s civic welfare and the real estate community. • Jeffrey Levine, chairman of Douglaston Development, Levine Builders and Clinton Management, who received The Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award, which recognizes a REBNY member’s meritorious service to the community. • Bill Montana, senior managing director of Savills Studley, who received The Louis Smadbeck Broker Recognition Award, which celebrates a commercial broker with exceptional personal and professional integrity, leadership, prominence in the brokerage community, and service to REBNY’s committees. • Edward Piccinich, executive vice president of SL Green Realty Corp., who received The George M. Brooker Management Executive of the Year Award, which recognizes individuals of superior accomplishment in property management based on outstanding professionalism, civic achievement, and contributions to the real estate industry. • Steven Marvin, executive managing director and partner of Olmstead Properties, Inc., who received the Young Real Estate Man of the Year Award. This award is selected by the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association of New York and presented to a member who exemplifies strong integrity, professionalism, and personal ethics. Photo Credit: Jill Lotenberg Photography