NY Power Women

Abby Hamlin

President - Hamlin Ventures

Abby Hamlin is a New York City based real estate developer and civic thinker. In 1998, she founded Hamlin Ventures, which today, remains one of a handful of successful woman-owned development companies. Recently, the New York Times credited her eponymous company as the catalyst for a resurgence of townhouse development in Brooklyn, noting that the design of her two projects, 14 Townhouses and 9 Townhouses “set the bar high” for those who followed. Prior to forming Hamlin Ventures Ms. Hamlin was President of Swig Weiler & Arnow Mgt. Co., Inc. a premiere Manhattan-based commercial real estate company that developed, owned and managed 8 million square feet of office properties in New York City and San Francisco, as well as the Fairmont Hotels. Ms. Hamlin was with Swig Weiler & Arnow for almost fifteen years, spearheading a number of large-scale development projects and managing the organization for its private owners. An active civic leader, Ms. Hamlin is a member of the board of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and has led several of its key public design initiatives, including the CLS BID Vision Plan (a streetscape plan for Downtown Brooklyn), and “Re-Imagining the Wall,” a design competition that brought works by community arts groups (Groundswell), emerging and recognized artists (Steve Powers) to Downtown Brooklyn’s blank walls. Recognized as an expert in the field of public design, Ms. Hamlin was a member of the board of the Van Alen Institute for Public Architecture from 2001-2010, and was its Chair from 2007-2010. As Chair she organized numerous public design events and design competitions including: Project Eco: Delta, Parks For The People, and Life at the Speed of Rail. Ms. Hamlin is a frequent participant in design juries. Most recently she served as a juror for the National Endowment For the Arts, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, the City of New Rochelle and the Enterprise Community Foundation. This year she will serve as an advisor to the Mayor’s Institute of Design. At present, Ms. Hamlin is also a Trustee of Art Omi, an outdoor sculpture park and artist’s residency program in Ghent, New York, and a board member of Trainor Dance. Since 2010 Ms. Hamlin has been an adjunct professor of real estate development at the Graduate School of Architecture at Columbia University teaching both core development classes and serving as Director of Curriculum. Ms. Hamlin holds a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and a Masters of Urban Planning from Princeton University.

Andrea Balkan

Managing Partner - Brookfield Real Estate Financial Partners

Andrea Balkan is Managing Partner of Brookfield Real Estate Financial Partners, based in New York. She has held several senior management positions at Brookfield and is responsible for the overall management of the activities of Brookfield’s real estate finance funds. Andrea has over 30 years of experience in real estate finance and capital markets. Prior to joining Brookfield in 2002, Andrea was a Director at Merrill Lynch in New York in the Investment Banking and Debt Capital Markets groups (1998 to 2002), where she was responsible for conduit and large loan origination business, and before that, a Managing Director at Chase Manhattan Bank. Andrea holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University and successfully completed Chemical Bank’s credit training program in 1987.

Audrey Sokoloff

Partner - Real Estate - Skadden Aarps

Audrey Sokoloff represents clients worldwide in matters relating to real estate, real estate finance and private equity, including acquisitions and sales, partnerships and joint ventures, construction and development projects, hospitality and gaming projects, leases, public and private offerings of real estate-related securities and workouts, recapitalizations, and restructurings. In the area of real estate finance, Ms. Sokoloff represents financial institutions and real estate companies in the origination and sale of a wide range of debt instruments, including traditional mortgage loans, revolving credit facilities, Sharia compliant financings, single- and multiple-tiered mezzanine financings, and preferred equity, as well as in the acquisition, restructuring and sale of debt, including distressed and non-performing loans. Representative clients have included Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Nomura Securities, Merrill Lynch, Aozora Bank, S.L. Green Realty and UBS. Notable transactions include the $1 billion financing of Brookfield Place, New York, and IPO/corporate facilities for Spirit Realty and Strategic Hotels. Ms. Sokoloff’s practice includes real estate private equity fund formations, joint ventures and investments in Asia, the Americas and Europe. She represented Sungate Properties in its acquisition of interests in the General Motors Building and other New York properties, and sovereign wealth funds in acquisitions of U.S. and European real estate assets and developments. She also represented Asia Pacific Land, K.K. in connection with the sale of the Tiffany Building in the Ginza district of Tokyo. Other representative clients include Fortress Investment Group, Dune Capital and Colony Capital. Ms. Sokoloff represents REITs and other public and private real estate and infrastructure companies in mergers and acquisitions, as well as in financings and joint venture arrangements globally. Representative clients include S.L. Green Realty, Boston Properties, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. and Emeritus Corporation. Ms. Sokoloff has practiced at Skadden since 1990 and was resident in New York, London, San Francisco and Los Angeles before relocating to Asia in 2008, where she served as co-head of Skadden’s Asia Pacific practice, head of the Real Estate and Investment Finance Group and leader of the firm’s Tokyo office. She returned to New York in 2011. In 2014, Ms. Sokoloff was recognized among the “Women of Influence” by Real Estate Forum and as a Law360 MVP in the hospitality category. She also was selected by Real Estate Forum as one of its 2015 “Women of Influence: Metro N.Y.”

Belinda Schwartz

Chair - Real Estate Department - Herrick Feinstein

Betty Castro

Managing Principal - Cushman & Wakefield

An accomplished sales and marketing executive with over twenty years of success in strategic growth, business development and team building. Successful track record of innovating and implementing sales and marketing plans that exceed revenue goals and drive bottom line profitability. Have applied strong leadership and motivation skills to develop and inspire employees. A solutions oriented professional with a focus on results, productivity and efficiency. Recognized as a talented, enthusiastic leader who sets the standard for excellence in professionalism, work ethic and integrity.

Carol Shelby

Managing Director - Meridian Capital Group

Catherine Pfeiffenberger

SVP - Skanska

Charlotte Sturgis

Managing Director & Head of Construction - Rose Associates

Cynthia Foster

President National Office Services - Colliers International

Cynthia Foster is President of U.S. Office Services for Colliers International. In this leadership capacity, Cynthia is responsible for overseeing the expert delivery of its tenant and landlord brokerage, capital markets, investor, and valuation and advisory services to its broad and diverse marquee client base across the U.S.

Dana Roffman

Managing Director - Angelo, Gordon & Co.

Darilynne Saunders

Managing Director - MHP Real Estate Services

Donna Brandin

CFO - Lightstone

Donna Brandin is the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer at Lightstone, where she brings over 25 years of experience in leading corporate finance operations. Prior to joining Lightstone, Ms. Brandin served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Equity Residential, the nation’s largest publicly traded apartment REIT. Earlier in her career, Ms. Brandin was senior vice president and treasurer of Cardinal Health, and has held leadership positions at Campbell’s Soup, Emerson Electric Company and Peabody Holding Company. Ms. Brandin is a certified public accountant and holds a Master’s degree in finance from St. Louis University and a Bachelor’s degree from Kutztown University.

Elise Wagner

Partner - Kramer Levin

Elise Wagner is a partner in the Land Use Department at Kramer Levin, where she concentrates her practice in land use, zoning, environmental and historic preservation law. She has substantial experience counseling for-profit and non-profit property owners on the planning and development of new buildings and the reuse of existing buildings. She has coordinated the public approval processes for major public-private development projects involving cooperation between private developers and agencies of New York City and State. She has negotiated numerous multi-party transactions for the transfer of development rights, and has performed due diligence on the purchase and financing of major properties. Representative Transactions Major Medical Centers — Land use counsel to several major hospitals in connection with a new clinical building, a biomedical research building, an expansion of an existing emergency department and a new ambulatory care center. Jewish Home Lifecare — Land use advice regarding the relocation of its nursing home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Major University —Land use approvals for new and converted academic buildings, and advice in connection with changes to the New York City Building Code. Madison Square Garden — Land use approvals by the New York City Council to allow the continued operation of the arena and to allow significant additional signage. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — Secured a zoning variance from the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals to enlarge Ailey’s headquarters located on West 55th Street in Manhattan. Ms. Wagner has been recognized by Legal 500 US (2012,2014-2016), Best Lawyers (2011-2016) and New York Super Lawyers (2007‑2015). She was recently featured in the “Annual Women in Real Estate Spotlight” by the New York Real Estate Journal.

Helena Durst

Chief Administrative Officer - The Durst Organization

Helena Rose Durst is Chief Administrative Officer and a fourth-generation family member of The Durst Organization. Helena started her career as an intern at the Hudson River Park Trust, where she not only fell in love with the Hudson River waterfront but also gained valuable insight into the City’s complex land-use review process. After studying real estate at Baruch College, Helena joined the leasing department of The Durst Organization. She also instituted a comprehensive greening of the company’s building management operations that has improved landfill diversion rates, green cleaning practices, and resource conservation. In addition to her responsibilities at The Durst Organization, Helena is the President of The New York Water Taxi, New York’s premier recreational and commuter ferry service. Helena has participated in the construction and management of several projects from the ground up, including The Epic, The Helena, and One Bryant Park. When Helena’s not in the city, she can be found at her family’s McEnroe Organic Farm, one of the largest family-owned-and-operated organic farms in New York State. Helena started an education program at McEnroe Organic Farm that aims to reconnect neighbors and youths with agriculture to better understand where our food comes from. Helena is a board member of Just Food, Governors Island Alliance, and the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board.

Ivanka Trump

EVP - Development & Acquisitions - The Trump Organization

Trump is the daughter of former model Ivana Trump and real estate developer Donald Trump.[1] In her role as Executive Vice President of Development & Acquisitions at the Trump Organization, Trump is involved with all aspects of the company's real estate and hotel management initiatives. Following in the footsteps of fellow celebrity heiress, Paris Hilton, she launched her own namesake brand, Ivanka Trump

Jacqueline Finkelstein-LeBow

Principal - JSF Capital

Jennifer McLean

CFO - Kushner Companies

Katie Keenan

Managing Director - Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies

Laura Rapaport

SVP - Development & Capital Raising, L&L Holding Co.

Laura Yablon Rapaport is a Senior Vice President at L&L Holding Company in Development and Capital Markets. She currently runs Capital Markets for the company and is a senior member of the Development team. Laura has also served as the Project Director for 425 Park Avenue, a Norman Foster-designed office tower, which will be the first ground-up office building on Park Avenue in nearly half a century. L&L broke ground on this 671,000 square foot, $1 billion project in May 2015, with completion slated for 2018. Prior to working at L&L, Ms. Rapaport was a director in the New York development group of Tishman Speyer Properties, where she served as a project manager of a 3.5 million-square-foot mixed-use development, with additional focus on residential development and commercial acquisitions. Earlier in her career at Lehman Brothers Global Real Estate Group, she closed over $2 billion in transactions. Laura graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, and received her MBA with honors from the Wharton School of Business. Ms. Rapaport is a co-founder of Penn Women in Real Estate, co-head of Wharton Real Estate Alumni in NY and on the woman’s board of New York Private Equity Network. Outside of real estate she also co-founded and runs a non-profit, The Friends for Kids Foundation, at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital.

Lauren Cahill

Senior Development Director - AvalonBay Communities

Report to Senior Vice President on the progress of Avalon Willoughby Square/AVA DoBro in Downtown Brooklyn (57 story, 826 unit luxury rental building and 14,000 SF of retail, TDC $450M). Oversaw all aspects of the pre-development process inclusive of approvals with MTA for subway entrance and land closings from Nov. 2011 to Aug. 2013. Currently overseeing construction, which commenced in Aug. 2013 with initial deliveries slated for Q2 2015. - Prepare all financial underwriting, site due diligence, market research, memos and investment packages for the Management Investment Committee (MIC), Internal Finance Committee (IFC), Board of Directors (BOD), and any other internal approvals that are required for Avalon Willoughby Square/AVA DoBro and other acquisitions. - Supervise cross-functional project teams consisting of architects, interior designers, landscape architects, LEED consultants, elevator consultants, attorneys, tax consultants, marketing, building management, leasing staff, and construction personnel to ensure coordination and quality control. - Actively involved in evaluating the feasibility of potential acquisitions, as well as assisting in identifying and sourcing deals in the New York metro area. - Selected to participate in a Leadership Development Program sponsored by AVB in conjunction with the UNC Kenan-Flager Business School in Aug. 2012.

Laurie Grasso

Partner - Hunton & Williams

Laurie’s real estate practice touches all asset classes, including office, multi-family, mixed-use, hospitality, retail and condominium. She maintains an active capital markets and fund practice, representing investors in joint venture transactions and sophisticated fund structures. She also has significant zoning and land use experience and has been involved in substantial development rights or “air rights” transactions. Laurie is a frequent speaker and is sought after by industry publications for her professional insights. She was formerly with Herrick, Feinstein LLP and distinguished herself there by, at age 33, becoming one of the youngest partners in the firm’s history.​ In addition to her management responsibilities as partner of a global, 800-lawyer firm, Laurie advises property owners - including private equity funds, REITs, and corporations - in a wide variety of real estate transactions including acquisitions and dispositions, developments, financings, portforlio transactions, leasing and real estate joint ventures. In addition to handling massive deals like the $500 million redevelopment of 70 Pine Street for Downtown Holdings, Laurie also frequently acts in a general counsel role for her clients, involving herself deeply in their day-to-day business. A skilled connecter, Laurie has also become a deal source for clients, introducing them to transaction opportunities and equity sources, which has only strengthened her existing relationships as well as creating new ones. Lauri is a two-time New York Lawyers Rising Star, three-time recipient of REBNY's " Most Ingenious Deal of the Year" honor and was featured in the Ne York Real Estate Journal's " Top Women in Real Estate issue. She has also been recognized in Legal 500 and Chambers USA. Laurie set herself apart early in her career by becoming one of the youngest lawyers ever to be named partner at her previous firm, at the age of 33. Her success stems from an ability to steer large transactions and create genuine, long-lasting relationships with clients. Laurie is a frequent speaker and is sought after by industry publications for her professional insights. She is also the co-founder of Real Women of Real Estate.

Laurie Zucker

Principal - The Zucker Organization

Lisa Kiell

Vice Chairman - JLL

Lisa Knee

Partner - EisnerAmper

Lisa Knee is a Tax Partner with over 20 years of experience. Her expertise covers a range of real estate transactions and situations, including acquisitions, refinancing, like-kind exchanges, joint venture agreements, and structuring tax rehabilitation credits for a variety of clients, such as leading real estate owners, operators, investors, family offices, and developers, as well as hospitality companies, world-renowned restaurant groups, and financial service firms. She has also consulted with large boutique hotel groups on their acquisitions, dispositions, partner buy-outs, property renovations and rebuilds. As an advisor, Lisa assists high net worth individuals and family/owner-managed business clients with preserving and enhancing business and family net worth. She also provides business succession planning services for multigenerational families, including analyzing and updating estate plans, reviewing wills and trusts, and developing liquidity strategies. Lisa has worked on a variety of highly complex transactions for clients, including domestic and international tax structuring for portfolio companies, management companies, and individual owners. Her legal background has also made her adept in mitigating tax issues and providing expert litigation services involving partnership disputes. Lisa graduated from Boston University with a B.S. degree, with a concentration in Accounting. She received a J.D. cum laude from Brooklyn Law School where she was a research editor for the International Journal of Law; and a Master of Law degree in Taxation from New York University Law School. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) as well as the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), Nassau County Bar Association (NCBA), Commercial Real Estate Women New York (CREW New York) and Long Island Real Estate Group (LIREG). In addition, Lisa is frequently featured and quoted in various business publications, providing insight on tax and tax planning topics. She has also co-authored various articles for the Nassau Lawyer and moderated various real estate industry events.

Lisa Silverstein

SVP - Residential - Silverstein Properties

Luise Barrack

Managing Member - Rosenberg & Estis

Maria Torres-Springer

President & CEO - New York Economic Development Corp.

Meenakshi Srinivasan

Chair - Landmarks Preservation Commission

Melanie Meyers

Partner - Fried Frank

Melanie Meyers is a member of the Real Estate Department, resident in Fried Frank's New York office. She joined the Firm in 2003 as a partner. Ms. Meyers' practice focuses on real estate development, specializing in land use, environmental review, zoning, public approvals and private/public partnerships. Prior to joining Fried Frank, Ms. Meyers served as general counsel to the New York City Department of City Planning. From 1994 to 1997, she was an adjunct professor in the Real Estate Development Program at Columbia University. From 1993 to 1994, Ms. Meyers was an associate professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and an assistant professor from 1990 to 1993. Ms. Meyers is consistently recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business as a leading individual in Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use. She has been recognized by Legal 500 in Real Estate and in Real Estate: Land Use and Zoning. In addition, Ms. Meyers was named a "Women of Influence" by both Real Estate New York and Real Estate Forum in 2008 and 2010. She was also featured in NYinc's "Profiles in Innovation - 15 People You Should Know" in real estate. She is a member of WX New York Women Executives in Real Estate and the New York City Bar Association. Ms. Meyers also serves on the Advisory Board of the Real Estate Law Reporter. Ms. Meyers received her JD from Columbia Law School in 1987, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and served as both editor and board member of the Law Review, and her BS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982. Ms. Meyers is admitted to the bar in New York.

Melissa Cohen

Senior Project Manager - Boston Properties Group

Patrice Derrington

Director of the Real Estate Department - Columbia University

Rachel Loeb

Director of Development - World-Wide Holdings

Real estate development executive with proven ability to execute complex, ground up developments in the NY Metro area, particularly in the residential sector. Cradle to grave responsibility including site acquisition, financing, design oversight and sales/leasing. Specialties: urban multi-family, mixed-use, mixed-income residential development

Robin Fisher

Senior Managing Director - Newmark Grubb Knight Frank

Robyn Sorid

Principal - G4 Capital Partners

Samantha Rudin Earls

Vice President - Rudin Management Co.

Sukanya Paciorek

EVP & Head of Asset Management - Brooklyn Navy Yard

Sukanya is a dedicated and highly accomplished professional who will serve as a tremendous asset to the leadership team at the Brooklyn Navy Yard,” said David Ehrenberg, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. “Throughout her career, Sukanya has demonstrated an outstanding track record of forward-thinking, results-oriented leadership in the highly competitive New York City real estate market. Her skill set will serve as an incredible asset to the existing needs of the Yard, and ensure we are well prepared for the Yard’s expansion. With over 2 million square feet coming on line, and the Yard set to double in size, Sukanya is well poised to take us to the next level.” In the role of executive vice president, Paciorek will be charged with managing the Yard’s assets, including nearly 4 million square feet of leasing space and overseeing all facilities management for the Yard’s 40-plus buildings. Previously, Paciorek served as senior vice president of Corporate Sustainability for Vornado Realty Trust. In this role, she developed and led Vornado’s corporate sustainability strategy, energy management and efficiency efforts, including the vetting and implementation of large scale new technologies. Paciorek also executed operations and managed the utilities group for Vornado’s New York Division, including energy procurement and accounting, with an annual expense of more than $100 million. Before Vornado, Paciorek worked in the energy industry as an adviser at Poten & Partners, where she provided commercial brokerage, consulting and advisory services. She previously also worked as a political adviser at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. Paciorek is the recipient of numerous awards, including Crain’s New York Business 40 Under 40 (Class of 2012), Employee of the Year 2010 at Vornado Realty Trust and a Superior Honor Award at USUN. “I am thrilled to be joining the talented team at the Brooklyn Navy Yard during this period of expansion. The Navy Yard presents a great opportunity for economic development and job growth in New York City, and I look forward to contributing to its success” said Paciorek. Paciorek holds a masters in international affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and a bachelor’s degree in international studies from The Ohio State University.

Susan Kurland

Co-Head - Global Retail Services Group - Savills Studley

Toby Moskovits

CEO - Heritage Equity Partners

Veronica Mainetti

President - Sorgente Group of America

Vicki Been

Commissioner - Department of Housing Preservation & Development

Vicki Been is responsible for leading the nation's largest municipal housing agency and is charged with creating and implementing Mayor Bill de Blasio's Five-Borough, Ten-Year Plan, a bold initiative to create or preserve 200,000 affordable homes and apartments over 10 years. Prior to her appointment as HPD Commissioner, Ms. Been was Director for NYU's Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy, a nationally renowned academic research center devoted to the public policy aspects of land use, real estate, and housing development. She also served as the Boxer Family Professor of Law at NYU School of Law and Affiliated Professor of Public Policy of the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Been's scholarship at the Furman Center focused on the intersection of land of use, urban policy, and affordable housing, and addressed such issues as how to build more resilient and inclusive communities, how zoning regulations shape development patterns, and the fairness and effectiveness of foreclosure responses such as mortgage modifications. She has done extensive research on the housing affected by Superstorm Sandy, the nexus between development and environmental justice, land use, and housing policy reforms needed to promote racial and economic integration, and on a variety of affordable housing and land use policies, from inclusionary zoning to supportive housing developments. Co-author of a widely used land use casebook, Land Use Controls, Been has served on the boards of the Center for New York City Neighborhoods and the Municipal Art Society, chairing the program committees of both boards. She also has served on the boards of Pratt Center for Community Economic Development and the Next American City, and was a member of the New York City Council's Workforce Housing Task Force and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York's Special Subcommittee on Community Benefit Agreements. Been is a 1983 graduate of New York University School of Law, where she was a Root-Tilden Scholar. She clerked for Judge Edward Weinfeld of the Southern District of New York and Justice Harry Blackmun of the Supreme Court of the United States. She and her husband live in Manhattan and have two children.