David, a Principal of the Blumenfeld Development Group and has been the driving force behind many of the company’s high profile projects, including the acquisition and development of East River Plaza in Manhattan and The Arches at Deer Park. East River Plaza is an innovative, vertical, urban power-center that is often cited as being the spark that ignited the revitalization of upper Manhattan. The Arches is an 800,000-square foot, hybrid/lifestyle center and Long Island’s first green retail development that combines discount and outlet shopping with entertainment and restaurant uses. In addition to this role, David also serves as president of BDG Construction Corp., with annual revenues exceeding $20 million, where he actively manages the construction process on a majority of BDG’s projects. David, who studied at the University of Michigan, spent three years as a Project Manager at RC Dolner Construction Corp. before joining BDG. David is also active in community activities, serving as a Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Children’s Medical Fund of New York and as a Trustee for the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, Northwell Health (formerly North Shore-LIJ) and The NYC Police Museum.

Mr. Farrell is a Managing Director at Savanna where he is a member of the investment committee and is responsible for acquisition sourcing, underwriting and structuring as well as asset and project management. In addition, Mr. Farrell coordinates Savanna’s fundraising efforts and oversees ongoing communications with Savanna’s institutional investor base. Mr. Farrell joined Savanna in 2008 following four years as an Associate at K. Backus & Associates (KBA), a real estate development consulting firm in New York City. Prior to KBA, Mr. Farrell spent two years at the Mayor of the City of New York’s Office of Operations. Mr. Farrell received a BA in Political Science from McGill University and an MS in Real Estate Finance from New York University, where he graduated with honors.

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.

Jonathan Schwartz is a Director in the Investment Sales Division at Eastern Consolidated, specializing in the sale and acquisition of multifamily and mixed-use properties in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Mr. Schwartz has closed or has in contract in excess of $200 million in transactions. His signature deals include the 50-room Orchard Street Hotel at 163 Orchard Street, which sold for $23.75 million, and the 186-unit Inwood Portfolio, which traded for $31 million. In

In just over a decade, Josh Schuster has established himself as a leader of the ‘next

generation’ of New York real estate professionals. Having closed more than $1 billion in

development deals by the age of 34, Josh started his own development company in July

2016, Silverback Development, focusing on ground-up development and adaptive reuse

opportunities that enhance neighborhoods by pushing the boundaries of design.

In Silverback’s first year, Schuster and his team secured nearly $470 million in new

deals and control of a $2 billion asset pipeline nationwide, in addition to $400 million in

projects still underway through his previous firm, DHA Capital.

As former principal of DHA Capital, Josh sourced and led the development of many

noteworthy luxury residential developments in New York City, including 50 Clinton

Street, 535 West 43 rd  Street, 75 Kenmare and 12 East 13 th  Street. Prior to his time at

DHA, Josh served as director of development at JMH Development, where he was

responsible for the trailblazing luxury renovation of 184 Kent Avenue, one of the first

and most successful multifamily conversions in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Josh is the founder and chairman Bicol

Clinic Foundation, a non-profit organization that builds clinics that provide free medical

care in developing countries. To date, the organization has raised more than $3 million,

and has built four clinics on three continents.

A graduate of Tulane University, Josh is the youngest board member of the Baruch

College - Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute, and also a co-chair of Urban Land

Institute's NYC Multifamily Housing Council. He is also a member of the American Real

Estate and Urban Economics Association, and the New York Private Equity Network.

James Caseley is a Partner and Executive Managing Director of ABS Partners Real Estate. He is responsible for the in-house review of rental conditions, supervising a portion of the brokerage team, and handling the leasing and management of a number of properties. Mr. Caseley specializes in repositioning commercial and industrial real estate to appeal to changing markets, particularly involving construction administration and lease negotiations. Utilizing knowledge from the extensive landlord representation, he has represented scores of commercial tenants in real estate transactions.

Experience

Mr. Caseley has 34 years experience in commercial real estate brokerage and management in New York City. Prior to joining ABS in 2005, Mr. Caseley served as Senior Managing Director at Newmark & Company Real Estate, Inc., where he was involved in the conversion of industrial loft buildings for office uses. In 1985, he opened Newmark’s Soho office, overseeing leasing in the local portfolio consisting of nearly 1,000,000 square feet. At the time, Mr. Caseley was a pioneer in the soon to emerge Soho Market. Over his career he has represented landlords in well over 20,000,000 sf of transactions.

Awards and Affiliations

Mr. Caseley is a member of REBNY, founding member and former Executive Committee member of the Village Alliance/8th Street BID, and the NoHo-NY BID. He has also served on the Clinton Land Use and Zoning Committee for Community Board #4 and is an active participant in REBNY committee meetings and a 2013 selectee to the REBNY Commercial Board of Directors.