Spotlights

2023 Ones to Watch Rising Stars: Dan Penaro, BEB Capital

Number of years at firm: 2 One thing on my bucket list: Complete a triathlon. When I am not working, I am: An active alumnus of the Chaminade High School and the Long Island Businessmen Association. On the weekends, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family and friends.

2023 Ones to Watch Rising Stars: Danielle Drake, PE, LEED GA, H2M architects + engineers

Number of years at firm: 6 When I am not working, I am: Spending most of my time with my children Logan (2.5) and Layla (10 months). We have lots of fun exploring all the fun kid activities that Long Island has to offer. I also spend my free time horseback riding.

2023 Ones to Watch Rising Stars: Brandilyn Dumas, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

When I am not working, I am: volunteering and mentoring (I serve as a director at WP Theater, a trustee at Winchester Thurston School, a trustee at Harlem Link Charter School and a mentor in NYU Law’s Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Fellowship Program), mentoring, attending shows (theater and concerts, mostly hip hop),

2023 Ones to Watch Rising Stars: Cameron Tuttle, Denham Wolf Real Estate Services

One thing on my bucket list: Running the New York City Marathon. For over a year, I’ve been training for five or six days a week, even running a half-marathon a few months ago, to help prepare. By committing to a consistent training routine, I’m hoping to be ready within the next two years to run the 26.2 miles.

2023 Ones to Watch Rising Stars: Maria Kefalas, Zetlin & De Chiara LLP

When I am not working, I am: Immersing myself in unfamiliar parts of New York with my husband and our dog, Denver. Even though I am a native New Yorker, there’s always a new place to explore or experience to be had - whether it’s admiring the architecture of a building or taking in the nature upstate.

2023 Ones to Watch Rising Stars: Chiara Aletti, Plaza Construction

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of? I am currently working as interior project manager for a 73-story residential tower in Manhattan. I originally started as assistant project manager on this same project, and I am proud now to be fully responsible for the interiors.

2023 Ones to Watch Rising Stars: Alex Capozza, M&T Realty Capital Corp.

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of? I am most proud to see the growth and success of our Strategic Alliance with Marcus & Millichap over the past 12 months. It’s been a great professional experience to be a part of launching a new initiative and seeing how successful we can be, even in such a tumultuous market environment.

2023 Ones to Watch Rising Stars: Matthew Bettinger, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson

When I am not working, I am: In addition to my deal work, I am a partner-mentor to the group of first-year associates. It’s incredibly rewarding to help guide them through the challenges that they face as young lawyers practicing in the real estate industry and at Fried Frank.

2023 Ones to Watch Rising Stars: Joseph Pirrone, PE, AMA Group

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of? Penn 1 lobby and building upgrades as the project involved multiple facets of infrastructure upgrades, tenant improvement and coordination with local utilities in 30 separate, but intermingled projects over the past 3-4 years.

2023 Ones to Watch Rising Stars: Shaun Houlihan, The Praedium Group

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of? I am proud of my recent contribution to the acquisition of Versol, a 240-unit suburban multifamily property in Bonita Springs, FL (Naples MSA). Despite the volatility in the capital markets, we were able to successfully transact on the asset in December 2022