Ron Lanzo, AFR Furniture Rental & Event Furnishings

What was your most notable project, deal or transaction in 2013? My most significant project of the year was undoubtedly, New Jersey City University. We did a swing space construction furniture rental for them at their Jersey City campus. Working with NJCU facility manager, Jose Santamaria, we did three buildings and multiple floors including the Bursar's Office. NJCU was able to use the GSA or General Services Administration contract which gave them a pre-negotiated contract price. What was your greatest professional accomplishment in 2013? I'd say my best professional accomplishment for 2013 was my contributions to IFMA's (International Facility Managers Association) Greater New York Chapter. I became more active in the monthly breakfast networking group as a committee co-chair as well as being named a director and member of the board of directors. What are your resolutions for 2014? For 2014 my biggest resolution is to be sure to get back into more "new business development" and to especially spend more time in the field in front of customers and potential customers where the true selling is done, on the street in the trenches! Social media, e-mails and even the telephone only go so far, you have to be visible and in front of customers to succeed in sales and increase your base business. What are your predictions for commercial real estate in 2014? I am not a commercial real estate professional, but from what I'm hearing from brokers that I network with and from what I've read in the business publications, New York especially Manhattan is once again hot. Prices per square foot in midtown are at new highs and the Financial District or Wall Street is smoking as well. The rumor mill also says that Brooklyn is now the growth Borough.