Eric Leroy Adams was born in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn on September 1, 1960, the fourth of six children for his mother Dorothy, a house cleaner and cook, and his father Leroy, a butcher. Growing up in a working-class household in South Jamaica, Queens, Eric showed an early interest in computers, but was drawn to public service at the early age of 15 after he and his brother were beaten badly by police officers; the violent encounter would later motivate him to pursue a career in law enforcement, a decision reinforced by mentors like Reverend Herbert Daughtry and Jitu Weusi.

Following a public school journey capped by his graduation from Bayside High School, Eric went on to earn an Associate in Arts degree in data processing from the New York City College of Technology, a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a Master of Public Administration degree from Marist College. Eric paid his way through his collegiate studies through a number of jobs, including work in the mailroom of an accounting firm, as a mechanic, and as a clerk in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office.

Eric graduated from the New York City Police Academy in 1984 as one of the highest-ranked students in his class. After initially serving with the New York City Transit Police Department, he was transferred to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) with the merging of the city’s police forces. During the course of his 22-year law enforcement career, Eric served in the 94th Precinct (Greenpoint), 88th Precinct (Clinton Hill and Fort Greene), and the 6th Precinct (Greenwich Village and West Village), where he retired at the rank of captain. As a member of New York’s Finest, Eric made the kind of life-and-death decisions that reflect insight, expertise, and poise under fire, earning him a reputation for going above and beyond the call of duty.

In 1995, Eric co-founded 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, an advocacy group that rose to nationwide prominence speaking out against police brutality, racial profiling, and departmental diversity. He also served at one time as president of the Grand Council of Guardians, a statewide fraternal society for African-Americans in law enforcement. Through leadership roles in these organizations, Eric helped raise thousands of dollars for worthy causes across New York City.

Eric was elected to the first of four terms in the New York State Senate in 2006, where he represented a diverse range of neighborhoods across brownstone and central Brooklyn. During his tenure in the State Legislature, he chaired both the Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs Committee and the Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee. In 2013, Brooklynites elected Eric as the first person of color to serve as their borough president; he is currently serving his second term as Brooklyn’s chief executive.

In 2016, Eric was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Having lost vision in his left eye and suffering from nerve damage in his hands and feet, he went against the initial recommendations of his doctors and pursued a whole-food, plant-based diet. Within three months, Eric reversed his diabetes diagnosis, and he has subsequently been able to impact the health of countless New Yorkers facing chronic diseases, including his own mother.

Eric lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant, where he has resided for more than 20 years. He enjoys biking through his neighborhood, meditating, and exploring new cultures through travel. Eric is the proud father of Jordan, an aspiring filmmaker and graduate of American University.

Mr. Zegen co-founded Madison Realty Capital in 2004 and is responsible for overseeing the origination and structuring of all of MRC's investment activities, as well as raising institutional capital and portfolio management. Since MRC's inception, Mr. Zegen has closed real estate transactions totaling in excess of $11 billion. At the firm, Mr. Zegen serves on several investment committees related to both the debt and equity platforms. Prior to founding MRC, he founded and was president of Alpine Commercial Capital, a mortgage advisory firm that successfully closed over $500 million in real estate financings. Prior to forming Alpine, Mr. Zegen was an investment banker in Salomon Smith Barney's financial sponsors/private equity group where he focused on leveraged buyouts, equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions and private placement transactions. He is a co-founder and board member of The New York Private Equity Network ("NYPEN"). Mr. Zegen graduated cum laude from Brandeis University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics.

Andrew Barrocas has enjoyed success as a dominant force and respected authority in the New York City

real estate industry for many years. In his accomplished career, he has sold over $10-billion worth of

property, and managed, trained, recruited and collaborated with the city's top agents and brokers. As

CEO and Founder of MNS, Andrew currently oversees more than a billion dollars’ worth of real estate, as

well as an exceptional team of talented agents and project managers focused on providing the utmost

level of client service.

Andrew entered the real estate field after graduating from the WP Carey School of Business at Arizona

State University. He went on to achieve instant success and recognition as one of the "Top 30 Brokers

Under 30", according to The Real Deal. Over the years, Andrew has been a continually sought-after

expert on real estate who has been featured in The New York Times' "The 30-Minute Interview", quoted

in all major New York publications, and spotlighted on The Stoler Report.

Since founding MNS in 2006, Andrew has grown the company substantially in terms of its revenue and its

team, which is now over 125 people. He also serves his industry as a licensed teacher through the State

of New York, passing on his knowledge and array of professional experience of real estate sales to real

estate brokers and salespersons.

Andrew is also an active member of The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), The Community

Housing Improvement Program (CHIP), Young Jewish Professionals (YJP) and Young Presidents

Organization (YPO). He and his wife Rachel are the proud parents of three beautiful girls – Cayden, Ella

and Zoe.

Mr. Levine joined Meridian in 2004 and currently serves as a Senior Managing Director, overseeing a staff of originators and underwriters in the negotiation and placement of financing for construction, repositioning and transitional asset transactions.

Prior to joining Meridian, Mr. Levine was a Senior Vice President at Westminster Capital, a division of Kushner Companies. His job responsibilities at Westminster included coordinating all aspects of financing for Kushner Companies, including debt and equity financing. Mr. Levine also previously worked as a financial analyst in the real estate investment banking group of CIBC World Markets.

Mr. Levine holds an M.S. in Real Estate Finance from New York University and a B.A. in Finance from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business.

Ravi Kantha is a Real Estate Adviser who specializes in townhouse and building sales in Brooklyn Heights and Downtown Manhattan. Since joining Leslie J. Garfield & Co. in 2015, Ravi has sold or placed into contract over $200 million of real estate and is currently representing over $90 million in exclusive listings. Ravi joined the firm after spending several years as an attorney, first as a prosecutor and later in private practice focused on white collar defense, criminal defense, and securities litigation. Through his professional experience, Ravi has developed a reputation for his dedication to excellent client service, attention to detail, and professionalism. Together with his passion for New York City real estate, those skills enable him to ensure that his clients receive the very best real estate experience.

Ravi is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law, Susquehanna University, and Fordham Preparatory School. At Susquehanna, Ravi received his B.A. in political science and was a four-year letter winner on the varsity football team, as well as a member of the varsity lacrosse team.

David J. Pfeffer is a partner, chair of Tarter Krinsky & Drogin’s Construction Practice, and a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. Mr. Pfeffer serves as a business partner to his clients – including real estate owners and developers, educational institutions, high-net-worth individuals, healthcare organizations, and cultural centers – and advises on all aspects of their construction, development, real estate, and business needs. His work has helped reshape skylines through some of the most significant construction and development projects in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Long Island City.

Mr. Pfeffer leverages his keen insight into the business climate to provide clients with sophisticated guidance in order to mitigate risks and manage their complex issues. Combining his understanding of business-focused solutions with a legal perspective, Mr. Pfeffer focuses his practice on project delivery strategies and the preparation and negotiation of design, construction, and related contracts for private and public real estate development projects. He handles matters such as contract preparation, development, continuing operation, leasing and dispute resolution, and also maintains an active practice in business negotiation.

David is a frequent speaker, published author, and quoted source who has been featured in Law360, The Real Deal, Crain’s New York Business, The New York Post, and Real Estate Weekly, among others. He has been ranked in Chambers as a leading construction lawyer in New York (2006–2021) and recognized as a 2020 New York Trailblazer by the New York Law Journal. Mr. Pfeffer serves on various boards including John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Kathe Kramer Chase has three decades of New York City centric commercial real estate experience and has played major roles in world renowned projects such as Chelsea Market, the Historic Falchi and Factory Buildings and now Industry City. Kathe received her undergraduate degree, with a concentration in business, from Northwestern University. After graduating, Kathe worked with developer Irwin Cohen after leaving Time Equities to assist in the renovation and leasing of 2mm square feet in Long Island City, and later in the purchase, redevelopment, and lease-up of what is now known as Chelsea Market. As an integral part of the Chelsea Market team, Kathe helped shape the identity of the Meat Packing District as an international destination. In 2014 Kathe left retirement to join Industry City as the Director. Over the course of her career Kathe has been on the forefront of real estate trends, and has pioneered development and leasing concepts that distinguish her in the industry, while leasing millions of square feet of commercial real estate in New York City, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Michael Rudin is the Co-CEO at Rudin Management Company. He has been with the firm since 2008, and together with his sister Samantha represents the fourth generation to work at the family business. Michael focuses on multiple areas within the company including new developments, capital markets, commercial and retail leasing, sustainability, and technology. Michael also helps lead the family’s venture capital business, Rudin Ventures, which focuses on early-stage startups in the real estate technology sector.

Michael holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Design and Planning with an emphasis in Real Estate from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master’s of Science in Sustainable Real Estate Development from New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate.

Michael is also Managing Partner of Rudin West Development, based in Aspen, Colorado. Rudin West Development has built two mixed-use projects totaling 50,000 square feet. Recent projects in New York include The Greenwich Lane and Dock72, a 675,000-square foot class A office building in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Michael is a member of a number of industry-related organizations that include The Real Estate Board of New York Real Estate Technology Committee, The Real Estate Round Table Sustainability Policy Advisory Committee, the WiredScore Advisory Board, the NYU Furman Center Advisory Board, and the Urban Land Institute. Michael serves on the board of the three Rudin Family foundations as well as The First Tee of Metropolitan New York, the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Friends of the BQX, and the Aspen Art Museum.

Michael lives in Manhattan with his wife Sabrina, their sons Lukas and Dylan, and their dog Hoppy.

Sam Charney is the principal and founder of Charney Companies, a Queens-based real estate development, property management, and brokerage firm that builds, owns, and operates more than 3 million square feet and 3,500 apartments across New York City. Since launching the company in 2013, he has led transformative projects citywide, beginning with his first solo development, The Jackson at 11-51 47th Avenue, which received the Queens Chamber of Commerce Award for Best New Multifamily Building. His work has earned numerous accolades, including Brooklyn Building Awards (2006, 2008), NYU’s Bart Lawson Award for Humanitarianism (2012) for his work with blind athletes, and Developer of the Year at the 2025 RED Residential Awards. Charney lives in New York with his wife and two children, serves on the boards of the Brooklyn Museum, Queens Museum, Pursuit, and the Brooklyn Public Library, and is an avid art collector.

Robert is a founding partner of Fogarty Finger Architecture responsible for the design of all corporate and residential interior projects. After finishing his architectural training, Robert further developed his passion for design as Studio Head and Senior Associate at SOM, leading a number of international projects. In his own practice, Robert has brought a unique approach to commercial interiors. Drawing on a breadth of experience designing luxury residences, Robert’s emphasis on scale and materials brings a high level of refinement and detail to the firm’s projects. He has been at the forefront of an evolving marketplace where his designs are prized for creating comfortable yet stimulating work environments. Robert’s client list includes some of the largest developers in the New York City area such as Boston Properties, Brookfield, and Vornado. Recent and ongoing projects include interior and amenity spaces at the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Dock 72 and boutique offices for local firms. He is a graduate of Syracuse University and a member of AIA New York.

Jason Davidson is a member of the firm's litigation department. He handles commercial and residential landlord-tenant matters, contract and lease disputes, and complex real estate and construction litigation in state and federal courts.

He has litigated cases in Federal District Court and in New York State trial and appellate courts, including the New York State Court of Appeals. He has also represented clients before various New York City administrative agencies, including the New York City Loft Board, the Office of Administrative Trial and Hearings, the Environmental Control Board, and the Board of Standards and Appeals.

Jason started his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in the trial division and in the special investigation bureau of the Manhattan District Attorney's office, prosecuting criminals and investigating international narcotics and money laundering organizations.

Jason is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. He serves on the judicial screening committee of LeGal Law Association of Greater New York and on the Board of Directors of the Hetrick-Martin Institute.

Originally from El Salvador, Jason is fluent in Spanish. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the State University of New York at Albany and a Juris Doctorate from the American University, Washington College of Law, where he was a participant in the International Human Rights Law Clinic and the international studies program at the University of Chile School of Law.

Marc Wieder, CPA, is an accounting and audit partner at Anchin with over 25 years of experience servicing the accounting, business, and financial needs of real estate companies and their owners. He has extensive experience in the area of federal, state, local, personal and business taxes. As Co-Practice Leader of the Real Estate Industry Group at Anchin, Marc routinely helps to shed new light into the complex world of taxation, particularly as it relates to selling and acquiring real estate.

Marc has written numerous articles on various real estate topics published in Real Estate Weekly, Real Estate New York,Real Estate Journal, Shopping Center Business, and other publications. He frequently lectures for large groups and currently writes a monthly column for Real Estate Weekly. He served for 10 years on the advisory board to the University of Buffalo Department of Accounting and Law.

Marc was named among the 2015 Top 10 Public Accounting Professionals in New York by NAPAP. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY). Marc is on the boards of The Fashion Center Business Improvement District and Variety the Children’s Charity.

MaryAnne Gilmartin is President and Chief Executive Officer of Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC), a New York-based real estate development company.

Ms. Gilmartin has been point person in the development of some of the most high profile real estate projects in New York City. She led the efforts to build Barclays Center, the new state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue and the centerpiece of the $4.9 billion, 22-acre mixed-use Pacific Park Brooklyn development.

Ms. Gilmartin oversaw the development of The New York Times Building, designed by world renowned architect Renzo Piano and New York by Gehry, the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere, designed by award winning architect Frank Gehry. In addition to these projects, Ms. Gilmartin has managed the commercial portfolio at MetroTech Center in Downtown Brooklyn, which consists of 6.7 million square feet of Class A office space.

Ms. Gilmartin graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Fordham University, where she also completed her Masters Degree in 1990. Ms. Gilmartin began her real estate development career as a New York City Urban Fellow in 1986 at the Public Development Corporation.

Ms. Gilmartin served proudly for over 7 years on the New York City Ballet Advisory Board. Currently, Ms. Gilmartin serves as a Board Trustee for the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM); a Member of the Executive Committee and Board of Governors of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY); and as a Member of the Industry Advisory Board of the MS Real Estate Development Program at Columbia University. Most recently, she was named Co-Chair of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, a member of the Board of Directors of the Jefferies Group LLC, a global investment banking firm, and a Member of the Board of Trustees of New York Public Radio.

Ms. Gilmartin has been recognized as a top professional in her field by WX as its 2007 “Woman of the Year”, by Crain’s in 2007 as one of New York’s Most Influential Women and again, in 2011, 2013 and 2015, by Crain’s as one of New York’s 50 Most Powerful Women.

Mr. LiMandri joined Vidaris in 2014, bringing with him strategic leadership experience and innovation. Currently Mr. LiMandri oversees operations and the company’s Code Advisory division. The newly formed group can deliver comprehensive solutions based on a deep understanding of building code and NYC zoning. He also explores strategic service offerings that can bridge current gaps within the complex real estate and construction market in New York City and other metropolitan markets around the country. Mr. LiMandri also serves as a member of the Management Committee.

Before joining Vidaris, Mr. LiMandri served as New York City Department of Buildings Commissioner. He is an operational executive with a history of leadership in commercial real estate, construction, development standards, and oversight—with a tenure punctuated by widespread changes in building safety standards, technology initiatives, green building innovation, and code updates. Drawing on his background in fiscal oversight and P&L management, he has managed budgets exceeding $200M, in addition to a team of 1,100 attorneys, engineers, inspectors, and architects.

His leadership impact can be felt throughout the city’s real estate industry with enhanced safety awareness, stringent mandates for construction, and quality and advances in sustainability. In addition, his innovative approach to technology utilization has saved his customers millions in staff time, while boosting customer satisfaction with the launch of cutting-edge online collaboration tools such as the paperless virtual approval of plans at the HUB, 3D site safety review, and a smart phone app.

Mr. LiMandri has also held positions at Realfoundations as a management consultant, Jones Lang LaSalle managing Class A office, Columbia University, and Honeywell Corporation.