Spotlights

2025 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Meigan Serle, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

What recent professional milestone or project are you most proud of, and why? For more than a decade, I worked on various aspects of Hudson Yards, the largest private development in U.S. history, and it may not exist without my team’s and my bespoke work. I helped create both a declaration of easements allowing its construction over active railyards and a master property owner’s association for the campus. I wrote the individual condominium documents and offering plans,

2025 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Gabriel Elyaszadeh, Ariel Property Advisors

What recent professional milestone or project are you most proud of, and why? In the summer of 2024, a client called in despair, explaining his delicate financial situation and that he needed to sell his property. Our conversations continued and eventually led to a listing and hard contract for the property, which satisfied the seller’s financial needs.

2025 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Izzy Friedman, Entech

What recent professional milestone or project are you most proud of, and why? I recently led the successful implementation of a high-efficiency controls system for a commercial boiler upgrade. The project came in under budget and ahead of schedule, improving system performance and reducing energy costs by 20%.

2025 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Eli Gold, RTL

What recent professional milestone or project are you most proud of, and why? One of the things I pride myself most on is my ability to successfully execute deals for a wide range of clients, whether it’s tenant representation for local New York City operators, or on behalf of our large, institutional clients like Related, which I work on across the city.

2025 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Lawrence Crehan Jr., Key Civil Engineering, P.C.

What recent professional milestone or project are you most proud of, and why? Two projects I am proud of are the Seawolves Village housing development at Stony Brook University and the Wegmans Supermarket at DSW Plaza. Both were large-scale, complex projects that demanded careful coordination and attention to detail. Seeing them successfully come together was incredibly rewarding.

2025 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Joe Misita, Invictus Property Advisors

What recent professional milestone or project are you most proud of, and why? A multifamily deal in Brooklyn is the milestone I am most proud of because it is the first I led nearly end-to-end and worked hard to earn through persistence, strategy, and results. I also incorporated a combination of the skills and strategies my coaches and mentors have drilled in over my time as an investment sales agent.

2025 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Chase Kirkpatrick, Invictus Property Advisors

What recent professional milestone or project are you most proud of, and why? One recent milestone was brokering the off-market sale of 404 5th Ave. in Park Slope. With low in-place income and a vacant second floor, most investors passed. I used AI tools to identify a local dentist seeking space, structured a deal that worked for both parties, and helped the seller exit quietly. It taught me the value of staying organized, persistent, and creative.

2025 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Lena Kenny, JT Magen

What is your top advice for someone just starting out in your field? Starting a career in any field can be exciting and overwhelming — and in Construction Health and Safety, that feeling is magnified. The stakes are high, and the responsibility to protect lives adds a unique level of pressure.

2025 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Sarah Xu, Nuveen Green Capital

What recent professional milestone or project are you most proud of, and why? I am incredibly proud of leading my team to execute over $600 million in C-PACE deals last year, which accounted for about 25% of all C-PACE originations in 2024. Additionally, we closed the second and third largest C-PACE deals ever.

2025 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Brian Peykar, Brach Eichler LLC

What’s one challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far, and what did it teach you? One challenge I have faced has been navigating complex multi-party development deals with multiple layers of ownership, governmental approvals, and environmental issues. It taught me the importance of proactive communication and that legal strategy isn’t just about risk mitigation but about facilitating forward momentum.