Two former Transwestern partners in the company's New York City office have started their own brokerage firm focused on companies that create social impact.

Lindsay Ornstein and Stephen Powers launched OPEN Impact Real Estate to work for “mission-driven” companies, according to a press release. The company will be affiliated with the leaders’ former company, and clients will be able to work with both firms.

“Our new firm is responding to what Stephen and I see as a tremendous need in the CRE industry right now — providing clients with more diverse partnership choices through a woman-owned real estate services firm,” Ornstein said in an email to Bisnow.

Ornstein co-founded Transwestern’s New York office and spent a decade there, leading the office’s nonprofit practice. She was named a Bisnow Power Woman in 2018.

“Throughout our careers, helping nonprofits and socially minded companies craft and implement real estate solutions in support of their values and mission has been foundational to our reputation as real estate experts,” Powers said in the release.

Powers has brokered deals specifically for nonprofits over his 17-year career.

The duo continued leasing space throughout last year, as the New York City office leasing market came close to a halt. In June of last year, the team brokered a 30K SF renewal for Goodwill at J.W. Mays’ 25 Elm St. in Brooklyn.