Search
Story results for:
2026 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Avelina Burbridge, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
June 30, 2026
What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role? As a young lawyer, I recognized how relationship-centric both real estate and the practice of law are, and I was fortunate to find early mentors who inspired me to pursue a career in real estate. Over the years, I cultivated strong relationships with colleagues, clients and counterparties.
2026 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Matthew Gibbons, Gibson Dunn
June 30, 2026
b>What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role? I was drawn to real estate finance because it combines legal complexity, business strategy, and tangible impact. Early in my career, I was most engaged by sophisticated transactions requiring creative structuring and collaboration across stakeholders.
2026 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Eric Wright, Safehold Inc.
June 30, 2026
What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role? I’ve always been fascinated by the built environment and the role real estate plays in shaping communities and creating economic opportunities. After studying real estate finance, I joined iStar because of its reputation for innovation and willingness to challenge conventional thinking.
2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Cecilia Orduña, Shawmut Design and Construction
June 30, 2026
What accomplishment or project so far in your career are you most proud of? My work on the renovation of New York Public Library’s Aguilar branch. When our team faced unforeseen conditions, I helped resolve critical elevation and benchmarking issues alongside engineers and surveyors
2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Remi Norris, TerraCRG
June 30, 2026
What accomplishment or project so far in your career are you most proud of? The accomplishment I’m most proud of is the sale of 390 Court St. in Carroll Gardens. The property had been in the same family for generations, so it was about much more than getting a strong price.
2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Smita Garg, SKG Capital
June 30, 2026
What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role? My interest in real estate began early, shaped by watching my father build SKG Capital and seeing how ownership, operations and long-term thinking can affect communities.
2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Matthew Dulak, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP
June 30, 2026
What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role? My entire family is in the building trades. I’ve always been interested in the built environment, and being a real estate development lawyer was the closest I could come to building without wielding a hammer.
2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Elisa Albuquerque, Group PMX
June 30, 2026
What accomplishment or project so far in your career are you most proud of? I’m most proud of my current assignment: a multi-phased, half-billion-dollar corporate campus renovation for a global financial client, for which our firm was brought in to put back on track after it fell behind schedule and over budget.
2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Timothy Sudweeks, FXCollaborative
June 30, 2026
What accomplishment or project so far in your career are you most proud of? I’m most proud of my work on large-scale renovations and adaptive reuse projects. I have been involved in the repositioning of 3 Times Sq. since 2019, where our team has delivered over 20 projects
2026 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Kyle Wood, ARCO National Construction | Albany
June 30, 2026
What accomplishment or project so far in your career are you most proud of? I’m most proud of relocating to Albany to help launch ARCO’s newest office and expand our presence throughout Upstate New York. In a close-knit community like Albany, everything is centered around relationships, trust, and reputation.
2026 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Rachel Goodgal, Bright Power
June 30, 2026
What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role? I have been passionate about climate change mitigation since high school. I originally moved to New York to pursue an acting career, but I also became involved in climate advocacy organizations. Like many actors, I struggled to gain a foothold in that industry, and I was spending more and more time on climate advocacy.
2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Jeremy Kozin, Fried Frank
June 30, 2026
What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role? I have long been interested in studying cities, how they grow, evolve, and are influenced by public policy, economic forces, and community priorities.
2026 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Harrison Keller, Mojo Stumer Associates
June 30, 2026
What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role? My grandparents inspired me to pursue a career in architecture. One grandfather was an interior designer and one an aerospace engineer. From a young age I was always fascinated with building and construction. From drawing in school to building models, I knew architecture was the only path for me.
JLL Capital Markets arranges the sale and secures the financing for Jefferson Valley Self Storage fa...
June 29, 2026
Jefferson Valley, NY JLL Capital Markets arranged the sale and facilitated the financing for Jefferson Valley Self Storage, a 405-unit self-storage facility.
2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Jake Spector, Spectorgroup
June 30, 2026
What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role? There is something special about family business, and I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to continue one that stretches four generations of architects.
2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Melissa Melone, Hoffmann Architects + Engineers
June 30, 2026
What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role? From a young age, I was drawn to art and design. I was naturally curious and loved traveling, which sparked a unique appreciation for the built environment.
2026 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Charlotte Bell, Habitat for Humanity NYC and Westchester
June 30, 2026
What accomplishment or project so far in your career are you most proud of? Throughout my career, whether in tenant organizing, community development, or cooperative preservation, my focus has remained the same: helping people stay in their homes and communities. One accomplishment I am particularly proud of is helping expand Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester’s post-purchase and preservation work.
2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Michael Vulpis, H2M architects + engineers
June 30, 2026
What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role? Playing with Legos was an early creative outlet for me. I never followed the instructions on the kits, instead opting to design my own structures.
2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Saadia Ghazi, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
June 30, 2026
What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role? I was initially drawn to transactional law for its pace and problem‑solving, but I gravitated toward commercial real estate finance because of how directly legal structuring impacts deal outcomes.
2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Freddy Souid, KSR
June 30, 2026
What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role? My journey into commercial real estate began the summer before my senior year of high school. When I secured an internship at a well-established and highly respected brokerage firm my father recommended.
September Promotion
