Maria Torres-Springer is the NYC Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce, charged with spearheading the administration’s efforts to strengthen and diversify its economy, advance Mayor Adams’ moonshot goal of creating 500,000 new homes for New Yorkers over the next decade, preserve and improve the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), bolster small business, connect New Yorkers to family-sustaining jobs, and expand access to arts and culture.

She previously was Vice President of US Programs at the Ford Foundation where she oversaw the foundation’s domestic grant making and made historic investments to support racial equity, workers’ rights, voting rights, and arts and culture across the country.

As commissioner of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Maria focused on the production of housing for the city’s most vulnerable communities, while also launching several new programs to protect tenants’ rights. She led the implementation of Housing New York, a five-borough, 12-year plan to create or preserve 300,000 affordable homes; and she steered the financing of approximately 60,000 affordable homes.

Earlier, as president and CEO of New York City Economic Development Corporation, Maria led the implementation of the new citywide ferry service and made major investments in key sectors of the city’s economy. She also spearheaded several neighborhood revitalization plans. Prior to that, as commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services, Maria prioritized efforts to raise wages and support women and immigrant-owned businesses and worked to prepare New Yorkers for 21st-century jobs.

Maria earned her bachelor's degree in ethics, politics, and economics from Yale University and a master’s in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters.

Mr. Schechtman leads the Middle Market Team of Meridian Investment Sales as a Senior Executive Managing Director, overseeing a team of originators, analysts and other professionals.

Mr. Schechtman is widely recognized as one of the industry’s most visible and well-respected investment sales professionals. Trained for years at one of the world’s largest law firms, Mr. Schechtman has personally sold more than 790 deals representing more than $8 billion in his fifteen-year career to date. Recognized as an industry “Titan,” “Power Broker”, “Jack of all Trades” and one of the “25 Most Visible New York City Real Estate Players” by the Commercial Observer, The Mann Report and The Real Deal, respectively, Mr. Schechtman is regularly engaged by private families, institutions, lenders, estate lawyers and their counsel and advisors to value, market and see through to closing the sale of multifamily properties, development sites, buildings ripe for repurposing, retail condominiums and co-ops, unsold shares, and loft office and industrial buildings throughout New York City. Mr. Schechtman has also represented more than 25 lenders in the disposition of performing and defaulted notes and assets in Chapter 11, Section 363 Sales.

Prior to joining Meridian, he held the position of Principal and Executive Managing Director at Eastern Consolidated, where he was named “Broker of the Year” on multiple occasions. Prior to Eastern, Mr. Schechtman was a practicing attorney at DLA Piper in New York, where he specialized in commercial and property-related bankruptcy and litigation.

Mr. Schechtman holds a J.D. from the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and a B.A. from University of Delaware. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Commercial Committee of the Real Estate Board of New York and several other boards and charities. He is a frequent guest lecturer at Columbia University, the Real Estate Board of New York and law firms throughout the tri-state area on foreclosure and bankruptcy asset sales.

Scott A. Singer is Principal and Co-Lead of Avison Young’s Tri-State Debt & Equity Finance

Team.

Prior to joining Avison Young, Scott was President of The Singer & Bassuk Organization. He

has arranged more than $10 billion of construction and permanent debt and equity

financing on behalf of highly regarded New York City-based real estate family offices,

developers, and institutional owners. Some of Scott’s major projects in New York City

include The Crown Building at 730 Fifth Avenue, multiple assets in the Brooklyn Navy Yard,

One Seaport Plaza (three times), MetLife Plaza in Long Island City, The Mark Hotel, 110 East

59th Street, 1700 Broadway (twice), 75 Wall Street (twice), and 636 11th Avenue (twice).

Scott’s financing experience includes tens of thousands of multi-family and condo units,

and tens of millions of square feet of commercial and retail space. Scott is also an active

real estate investor and has led multiple investment entities which have invested LP and

Co-GP equity in transactions operated by his active clients.

Scott has won the Real Estate Board of New York’s Most Ingenious Finance Deal of the Year

twice, once in 2016 for sub-leasehold financing at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and once in

2013 for construction financing of Muss Development’s 50 Oceana Drive West in Brighton

Beach. He is also a recipient of the Israel Bonds Israel Peace Award.

A recognized thought leader in the industry, Scott has appeared on CNBC’s “Power Lunch”

and published articles and columns in Commercial Observer, Real Estate New York, Real

Estate New Jersey, Real Estate Weekly, and others. He is a guest speaker for several

organizations including Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.

Drawing on his experience as CEO of the Merv Griffin family office as well as his career in public accounting, Larry works with clients in the entertainment and sports industries, high net worth individuals and families, entrepreneurs, and business executives. Larry also remains active in the hospitality and real estate industries. While splitting his time between the east coast and west coast, he also advises his clients on the day-to-day management of their businesses as well as mergers and acquisitions. Larry and his colleagues provide a full suite of services, including daily financial transactions, estate planning, tax planning and compliance, and investment activity, including the investment in and exploitation of new instruments such as NFTs and cryptocurrency.

Prior to joining Citrin Cooperman, Larry was the partner-in-charge of the Business Management and Family Office Group at Marks Paneth and also led their Hospitality Group. For much of his career, Larry served as the CEO of The Griffin Group Family Office, which included entertainer Merv Griffin’s media, entertainment, hospitality, and real estate holdings. Larry also spent time as a financial executive at The Coca-Cola Company’s Columbia Pictures, and was deeply involved in its spin out as Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc., a publicly-traded company. He has also served on the boards and audit committees of numerous privately-held and publicly-traded entities and was an executive producer of the DVD retrospective of The Merv Griffin Show.

Donahue Peebles, III is the Executive Vice President of The Peebles Corporation and handles new

acquisitions and business development.

Mr. Peebles actively pursues public and private real estate transactions in for The Peebles Corporation’s

various markets, including South Florida, Washington, D.C.-metropolitan area and New York tri-state area.

In addition, he maintains substantial involvement in the pre-development phase, and is capable of

advancing projects through the development process through strategic partnerships, management and

community engagement.

In addition to his role, Mr. Peebles is the Deputy Chief Investment Officer of the Peebles Emerging

Developer Fund I – a $500 million investment fund for minority and women developers in markets that

include New York, Los Angeles and South Florida.

Mr. Peebles is the Owner and CEO of Legacy Real Estate Development, LLC a Residential Real Estate

Development firm that focuses on the development and acquisition of low-income housing projects in

South Florida, Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area and New York tri-state area.

Mr. Peebles takes an active role in The Peebles Corporation’s public image, participating in business and

entrepreneurial summits, as well as real estate panels and forums. He also serves both the Washington

D.C. and New York City communities by engaging with multiple philanthropies that benefit and expose

youth to various opportunities in entrepreneurship. He currently works with the New York City Mission

Society, Best Buddies, Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E., and various other organizations to improve the quality of

life of impoverished and special-needs individuals on a global scale.

Mr. Peebles holds a B.A. in Economics from Columbia University.

Education and Certifications:

Bachelor of Architecture degree, Syracuse University 2017

Member: American Institute for Architecture Students (AIAS) and the Architecture Student Organization (ASO)

Professional Background: Chris has studied in Florence, Italy and participated in a Concrete Fabrication Convoy study in Switzerland in the summer of 2015. Prior to working with Aufgang, he worked for Real Data Management (RDM) where Christopher surveyed existing buildings and new construction to produce Fire Prevention Plans (FPP’s), Emergency Action Plans (EAP’s) & Sprinkler/Standpipe Riser Diagrams currently utilized by FDNY.

Position: Chris is responsible for developing feasibility studies across the tri-state area and the five boroughs. He works on both As of Right Developments as well as Rezone applications. One of his greatest accomplishments was the successful rezone of Edgemere Commons. The site, once a defunct hospital, is now rezoned for 10 apartment buildings, totaling over 2000 units in approximately 2 million square feet.

Personal Life: Chris enjoys sports such as football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He is also a member of a kickball league in Hoboken.

As Senior Vice President of Building Repositioning, Brooks McDaniel provides overall direction and leadership to STOBG’s Building Repositioning Group. He works closely with the NYC-based executive leadership for Pavarini McGovern and Structure Tone to develop long-range strategic plans to help establish STOBG as an expert in building repositioning, particularly in the NYC market, as well as work with leadership across the organization to best leverage the company’s expertise in this important sector.

Brooks was previously Vice President of Design & Development at Extell Development

Company, where he was responsible for the design of millions of square feet of residential,

commercial office, hotels, retail, and educational buildings. Prior to working at Extell, Brooks

was a project director at SHoP Architects in New York, where he worked on various cultural,

residential, and institutional projects. Earlier in his career, he also worked as an architect at

Asymptote Architecture, Davis Brody Bond, and Roger Ferris & Partners. A registered architect, Brooks earned undergraduate degrees in management and in marketing from Lehigh University and a master’s of architecture from Parsons New School in New York.

Stephen has built BHSDM into a market leader through record-setting sales, unparalleled client service and creative marketing, leading an unmatched team of sales and marketing professionals.

Stephen Kliegerman is trusted advisor to developers and investors, a leader and mentor to real estate agents and marketing professionals, a respected and often called-upon pundit to members of the media, and a 20-year veteran senior executive at Terra Holdings. He has overseen more than $15 billion in sales, representing over 10,000 units in the New York City area. He has also spearheaded some of the fastest-selling developments with the industry's most prominent developers and been lauded for achieving record-setting prices.

With more than 30 years of experience in New York real estate, Stephen is recognized as a trailblazer in the brokerage community, known for cultivating genuine partnership, integrity and tenured market knowledge. He is widely quoted in globally recognized media as a market authority including; The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Post and Crain's New York Business, among others. Under his leadership, prominent developers including Toll Brothers City Living, SJP Properties, Savanna, Adam America, The Stahl Organization, L+M Development Partners and The Gotham Organization, have sought his team for their skillful understanding of all stages of the development marketing process - from pre-development planning to turnaround strategies.

A graduate of The George Washington University, Stephen serves on the Board of Directors for the school's Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis. He is the 2012 recipient of The Real Estate Board of New York's Henry Forster Award for lifetime achievement and currently serves as Co-Chair of the New Development Committee. He has also completed five terms on the Residential Ethics Committee, twice as Co-Chairman and four terms as Chairman of the Downtown Committee.

A Licensed Real Estate Broker since 1989, Stephen previously owned and operated his own real estate brokerage, management and consulting firm, Herbert H. Kliegerman Associates, Inc. In 1998, the firm, which specialized in the management, sale and leasing of co-ops, condominiums, and lofts in Downtown Manhattan, merged with Terra Holdings.

Stephen is a triathlete as well as an avid skier, tennis player and cyclist.

Josh Oberman has been practicing law for over twenty years. He provides holistic legal advice to contractors, developers, and high net-worth homeowners throughout the New York Metropolitan Area and Long Island’s East end.

Josh focuses on achieving practical and efficient solutions for his clients who include some of the City’s largest trade contractors and developers. Approaching problems holistically, he works with clients’ CPA’s and Insurance/Surety professionals to make sure their needs are addressed from all angles.

A seasoned and creative deal maker, he is also a tenacious litigator who routinely litigates cases through trial when necessary. He has deep expertise in all aspects of private and public construction and negotiating and litigating Access Agreements under New York Real Property Law 881. He has shepherded clients through commercial disputes, litigation with sureties, union negotiations and conflicts, and insolvency.

Working in tandem with the Firm’s corporate department, Josh ensures that his clients achieve the right corporate structure. He also works extensively with the Firm’s trusts and estates department to help clients implement asset preservation strategies.

A dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker, Josh combines his construction law expertise with extensive knowledge of the local community both in the City and on the East End.

He is a Board Member of the New York City Chapter of the Construction Financial Management Association, and a past the President of the New York City Surety Association. He is a member of Ned's Club and an avid supporter of the Guggenheim Museum and the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center.

Michael A. Tortorici is one of the Founding Members of Ariel Property Advisors. Serving the company as Executive Vice President in the Investment Sales Group, Mr. Tortorici is responsible for originating and executing the sale of commercial real estate transactions throughout the five boroughs.

Since beginning his career in commercial real estate in 2004, Mr. Tortorici has participated in the sale of over 600 transactions worth more than $2 billion in gross consideration.

Mr. Tortorici has represented many institutional and non-profit clients, including The Catholic Archdiocese of New York, The Watchtower, L+M Partners and Two Trees. He serves as a regular source for various publications, such as The New York Times, The Commercial Observer, The Real Deal, Real Estate Weekly and the New York Daily News.

The Commercial Observer named Mr. Tortorici one of Commercial Observer’s 30 Under 30, which recognizes emerging commercial real estate professionals, and the Real Estate Forum has identified him as one of Tomorrow’s Leaders: New York, as well as naming him and his partners Top NY Brokers in 2013 and 2014.

Mr. Tortorici is involved in various non-profit initiatives, including The Inner City Scholarship Fund and The Futures in Education Program, both of which support educational measures for K-12 students throughout New York City.

He is an active member of industry organizations such as the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors (BMAR).

Prior to forming Ariel Property Advisors, Mr. Tortorici spent seven years at Massey Knakal Realty Services, now Cushman & Wakefield. Mr. Tortorici graduated with honors from New York University’s Stern School of Business, where he earned a B.S. in economics and management.

Originally from Franklin Square, New York, he currently resides in Brooklyn. He can be reached at 212.544.9500 ext. 13 or via email at mtortorici@arielpa.com.

Ashley Doukas is a Partner and Chair of Adler & Stachenfeld's ("A&S") Land Use & Zoning Practice and Co-Chair of the New York City Development Practice.

Ms. Doukas represents clients in a broad range of real estate development matters with an emphasis on land use, zoning, and related environmental issues. Her practice focuses on guiding developers, investors, and property owners through the intricacies of New York City's evolving zoning policies.

Ms. Doukas has specialized in land use and zoning in New York City for nearly a decade and has successfully led some of the largest private land use applications presented to the City in the past five years. She has experience preparing and presenting applications before the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals, the New York City Department of City Planning, and the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. She is well-informed on city-wide land use initiatives, such as City of Yes, and works closely with clients in analyzing sites for new developments, conversions, lot assemblages, and entitlements, and analyzing and interpreting the New York City Zoning Resolution, the New York City Building Code, the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law, and other administrative agencies’ rules and regulations.

Mr. Doukas frequently speaks on topics related to urban development and serves as a trusted resource for developers and investors seeking to capitalize on the City's latest opportunities.

Before joining Adler & Stachenfeld, Ms. Doukas was at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP in their land use and zoning practice group. She is admitted to practice in New York.

During the summers, Ms. Doukas and her family can be found at Rockaway Beach where they surf, bike the boardwalk, and volunteer with beach clean-ups.

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.

MARTIN J. HEISTEIN became a Partner of the firm in 1992. He is Co-Chair of the Firm’s Administrative Law Department.

Mr. Heistein is involved in diverse proceedings before the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), including MCI, J-51 and 421-a applications, the NYC Environmental Control Board (ECB) and the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). He practices administrative law, representing property owners of rent regulated housing and developers of 421-a new construction, hotel stabilization and single room occupancy issues and Certificates of Non-Harassment. His major concentration is the representation of many buyers/sellers of rent regulated housing in connection with rent regulatory due diligence issues. He also provides advice and representation in connection with affordable housing issues.

Mr. Heistein was the former General Counsel to the Rent Stabilization Association of N.Y.C., Inc., New York City’s largest real estate trade association whose 25,000 members own or manage over 900,000 housing units. Mr. Heistein served as General Counsel for seven years.

He is very knowledgeable in the Rent Stabilization Code, having been responsible for analyzing the Code on behalf of property owners while at RSA. Mr. Heistein was formerly responsible for drafting legislation in the State Legislature and the City Council and continues to specialize in governmental relations. Mr. Heistein has also been a member of New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Owner Advisory Council. He works very closely with real estate industry groups, such as RSA, SPONY and CHIP, where he is a member of the Advisory Board.

Mr. Heistein is a member of the Landlord and Tenant Committee of the New York State Bar Association He has also served as a member of the Committee on the Housing Court of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. He has written numerous articles in the areas of housing and rent stabilization and has lectured at seminars sponsored by the Rent Stabilization Association, Associated Builders and Owners and at the Small Property Owners of New York, Marcus and Millichap and the Massey Knakal Multi-Family Summit.