James Ricca, Esq., Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP

What was your most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2020?
Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP served as counsel to an institutional lender who provided $54 million in combined mortgage loans for

Leslie Cook, KBE-NY, LLC

What was the most challenging part of working during the pandemic?
Working during the pandemic was very challenging. Our company was able execute a plan to keep everyone on payroll and not

Ira Zlotowitz, Eastern Union

What was your most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2020?
In May, Eastern Union took bold action designed to help reinvigorate a market increasingly hobbled by the COVID-19 pandemic. We launched a financing unit called

Chuck Merritt, Merritt Environmental

What was the most challenging part of working during the pandemic?
As a large portion of our work comes from local and regional banks and credit unions, the pause they experienced with pivoting to the SBA PPP loans for

2020 Year in Review: William O’Brien, M.C. O’Brien, Inc.

What aspects of working from home did you enjoy most?
I spent more time with my core family, exercised and ate better than I typically do, no COVID 15 lbs for me

James Pirot, IREON, Cresa

What aspects of working from home did you enjoy most?
The ability to have multiple uninterrupted meetings has been an unexpected benefit of the pandemic. On any given day, I will have six or seven

Peter Vanderpool, Cignature Realty Associates Inc.

What was the most challenging part of working during the pandemic?
Dealing with the uncertainty and trying to keep our employees engaged and focused, knowing they were in the comfort of their homes and

Janet Bortz, The Kislak Co., Inc.

What was the most challenging part of working during the pandemic?
Working in the face-to-face business of investment real estate brokerage was challenging. Client meetings, site visits, and facilitating deals with

Brian Earley, IREON, Metropolis Group, Inc.

What was the most challenging part of working during the pandemic?
Learning what the “new normal” was going to be. Experiencing the “Zoom Boom” with most, if not all meetings going

Steve Kirschner, IREON, Principals Direct Group

What was your greatest professional accomplishment in 2020?
In addition to expanding off-market property dispositions as COO of Principals Direct Group, a full-service commercial brokerage, and consultancy firm, I was able to