Fireside Chat

Innovation Takes Over NYC

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  Brad Hargreaves

  Brad Hargreaves is the founder and CEO of Common. Before founding Common in early 2015, Brad was the co-founder of General Assembly, a global education institution with campuses in more than 15 cities worldwide. As part of the General Assembly founding team, Brad led the growth of the company's education business from its launch in 2011 into a global institution with over a dozen campuses. Most recently, he was a Venture Partner at Maveron, General Assembly's lead investor. Brad has been named to Vanity Fair’s “The Next Establishment”; Inc Magazine’s “30 Under 30”; Business Insider’s “Silicon Alley 100”; and Crain’s 2017 “40 Under Forty.”

  Common

  Founder & CEO

  Brad Hargreaves

  Founder & CEO

  Common

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  Chris Bledsoe

  Chris is co-founder and CEO of Ollie, leaving behind his finance career in 2011 to focus his full time and energy on his passion for the development of coliving and micro-housing communities. His prior experience as both an institutional investor and an angel investor in the consumer sector led him to re-imagine how the multi-family housing sector could, and should, be very different if only real estate developers would segment and innovate their product as a consumer category rather than as a commoditized asset class or an investment vehicle. Chris’ entrepreneurial roots pre-date Ollie. He is one of the initial seed investors in the organic baby food manufacturer, Happy Family Brands, which boasts nationwide distribution in most major grocers, including Whole Foods, Target and Wal-Mart, and was acquired by global food giant Groupe Danone in 2013. He also serves as an informal advisor to other food startups, including popsicle maker Ruby’s Naturals as well as egg substitute manufacturer Beyond Eggs. Before making the entrepreneurial leap, Chris was a consumer staples analyst with Chicago-based hedge fund Citadel Investment Group. He began his career at the investment banking firm of JPMorgan Chase & Co, which he joined following his graduation from Georgetown University, where he was enrolled in the McDonough School of Business.

  Ollie

  Founder & CEO

  Chris Bledsoe

  Founder & CEO

  Ollie

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  Michael Mintz

  Michael Mintz is the CEO and Founder of MD Squared Property Group, a New York City based residential property management firm. Prior to founding MD2 Property Group, Michael was the Acquisitions Manager and a Senior Property Manager at FirstService Residential New York, LLC (formerly Cooper Square Realty, Inc.), managing properties and locating investment opportunities for the principals of FirstService. At MD Squared, Michael uses his management, investment and development knowledge to create and implement asset repositioning plans including, tenant relocations, renovations and building improvements and violation removal in order to maximize value for owners and enhance resident experiences. MD Squared manages over 25 properties with over 500 units. Michael has experience in high-end and affordable housing including rent-stabilized units in the rental, co-op and condo markets. Michael graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Economics and has real estate licenses in both Washington DC and New York. Michael grew up in Minneapolis, MN.

  MD Squared Property Group

  CEO & Founder

  Moderator

  Michael Mintz

  CEO & Founder

  MD Squared Property Group

Market Trends & Investment

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  Matthew Kahn

  Partner

  Tavros Capital

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  Sam Sidhu

  Sam is the founder and CEO of Megalith and has an extensive investment banking and private equity background having worked for Goldman Sachs and Providence Equity in the U.S. and Asia. During his career he has advised and invested in more than $100 billion of transactions. Sam is an active keynote speaker and panelist. Notable events include; The TerraCRG Brooklyn Real Estate Summit, Real Estate Weekly Young Leaders’ Forum, Michael Stoler’s New York Real Estate Summit, Massey Knakal Multifamily Summit, and has been featured in the Stoler Report as well as Bloomberg radio. Sam received an M.B.A in General Management from the Harvard Business School and a B.Sc. in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Sam sits on the board of Customers Bank (NYSE: CUBI) and is a member of Urban Land Institute and Young Presidents' Organization.

  Megalith Capital Management

  CEO

  Sam Sidhu

  CEO

  Megalith Capital Management

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  Arvind Bajaj

  Arvind joined Anbau in 2015. He is responsible for managing the firm’s acquisition activities as well as investor and capital relationships. Prior to Anbau, Arvind served as head of the New York City office of Madison Marquette, making investments in Long Island City, Williamsburg and Hunts Point. He has also invested in Brooklyn rent-stabilized and market rate multi-family assets. Previously, Arvind has held senior commercial real estate positions with Blackstone, Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley in both New York City and London, and is a dual citizen of the United States and United Kingdom.

  Anbau

  CIO

  Arvind Bajaj

  CIO

  Anbau

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  Louis Jerome

  Louis Jerome is a Principal at JEMB Realty Corporation. After moving from his role at Hunter Realty, Louis moved into a management position for leasing several properties along with overseeing maintenance, compliance, and operations. Louis now directs the management of both the Herald Towers in Manhattan and the Pocono Manor in Pennsylvania, which hosts commericial, residential, and hospitality spaces. Louis is a proud graduate of New York University.

  JEMB Realty

  Principal

  Louis Jerome

  Principal

  JEMB Realty

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  Chris Fogarty

  Chris is the founding partner involved with the concept and design development of all the practice’s projects. His ability to work across many building types is underpinned by the intellectual rigor with which every project is approached. After studying architecture at University College’s Bartlett in London and the University of Edinburgh, he joined Skidmore Owings and Merrill Architects in 1992. He started at the London office and in 1998 was moved to Washington DC and ultimately to the New York Office. Whilst at SOM Chris won both national and international competitions and completed many award winning office and mixed use buildings. Chris is currently designing new buildings both in the USA and in Europe, as well as numerous other residential and commercial projects in and around New York City. These include new residential condominiums in New York City and New Jersey and renovations to existing office buildings such as the GM building and 510 Madison. His portfolio also includes numerous apartment and townhouse renovations throughout Manhattan, from classic Upper East Side limestone mansions to charming West Village townhouses.

  Fogarty Finger

  Co-Founding Principal

  Moderator

  Chris Fogarty

  Co-Founding Principal

  Fogarty Finger

Development & Design

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  Chris Jaskiewicz

  Christopher Jaskiewicz is Chief Operating Officer of Gotham Organization, Inc. Gotham develops, builds, owns and operates distinctive real estate properties and also owns Gotham Construction Company, one of the oldest and largest builders in the northeast. Chris joined Gotham in 2003. Chris is responsible for the operations and management of Gotham’s portfolio of approximately 3 million square feet of residential, office and retail properties. His additional corporate responsibilities include leading corporate human resources, risk management, contracts, legal, dispute resolution and crisis control. Chris also heads the company’s retail and commercial portfolio. He was the executive in charge of developing and the 2013 launch of Gotham West Market, a first-of-its-kind day-and-night market featuring 9 restaurants which is named "one of America's best food halls" by Travel & Leisure, Food & Wine, and more. Chris continues to oversee the operations and marketing of Gotham West Market, and as a leader in the emerging gourmet food hall industry, he is frequently called upon as an expert source for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bon Appetit and more. Chris previously represented Gotham as an associate in the New York office of Proskauer Rose LLP where he worked from 1999 to 2003 on mergers, acquisitions and transactions in the technology, hospitality, and real estate industries. He also litigated matters involving entertainment, franchises, employee raiding, trade secrets, and professional sports issues. Prior to law school, he worked two years as a PepsiCo District Sales Manager. Chris is currently Co-Chairman of the Greater New York City Construction Users Council, has been named a New York Real Estate "Executive of the Month," served as president of the Florida State University Alumni Association of New York, and founder of its 9/11 Scholarship.

  Gotham Organization

  COO

  Chris Jaskiewicz

  COO

  Gotham Organization

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  Alan Klein

  In 2001 he joined Stonehenge Partners, a New York based private equity residential real estate company and was responsible for all of the financial modeling, underwriting, due diligence, and investor reporting. In 2007, Mr. Klein was promoted to Director of Acquisitions, driving all of the company’s acquisitions, dispositions, and financings. During his 12 years at Stonehenge, he closed on thirty-eight transactions including twenty-eight acquisitions with a transaction value of approximately $1.5 billion. In October 2013, Thor Equities partnered with Alan Klein and Jon Fishman to launch a new residential division to acquire and develop multifamily properties with a focus on New York City

  Thor Residential

  Co-Head

  Alan Klein

  Co-Head

  Thor Residential

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  David Picket

  David L. Picket is the President of Gotham Organization, Inc., a fourth generation, family-owned real estate firm that has developed and/or constructed more than 35,000 apartment units. Since joining the family business in 1991, Mr. Picket has overseen the company’s new project development business through a period of unprecedented growth in the firm’s 80-year history. Since 1998, he has led Gotham’s development and property operations businesses, and under his astute direction has greatly expanded Gotham’s portfolio of residential and commercial assets, with the development of over 1,700 housing units, and two major urban retail centers in the Northeast. Mr. Picket was the first developer to capitalize on the resurgence of the multi-family housing market in New York in the mid-1990s and to recognize the untapped potential of the Midtown West neighborhood. The result has been several award-winning properties, including Nicole, Atlas New York, The Foundry, New Gotham and The Corner. Prior to joining Gotham, Mr. Picket was a banker in the real estate division of Citicorp where he performed work-outs and restructurings during the last major real estate downturn. He started his career as a real estate attorney for what is now Bryan Cave LLP. Mr. Picket received a BA from Cornell University and a JD from Columbia Law School. He sits on the boards of a variety of institutions including the Realty Foundation of New York and the Citizens Housing and Planning Council. He is a member of the Board of Trustees for Continuum Health Care Partners, is a member of the Cornell University Council, is on the Advisory Board for the Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences, as well as serving as the Chairman for the Council Committee on Sustainability at Cornell. Mr. Picket is a Board Member of the Fashion Center BID, is the Director of the Owners & Builders Division of REBNY, and is a Board Member of both the Housing Committee and the Board of Governors at REBNY. He is a Board Member of The Jewish Community Relations Council, the Board Chairman of Ten o’clock Classics, and formerly served as the Chairman of the Building Committee for the Harrison Jewish Community Center. Mr. Picket is an avid supporter of the Jewish National Fund, for which he received the 2007 Tree of Life Award, and was recognized by Israel Bonds as the 2000 Recipient of the Builder of Israel Award for outstanding Leadership. David lives with his wife Rona and their three children in Harrison, New York.

  Gotham Organization

  President

  David Picket

  President

  Gotham Organization

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  Adam Greene

  A developer at Forest City Ratner since 2012, Adam participated in the conception and development of Forest City’s high-rise modular construction division in parallel with the development of 461 Dean Street, the tallest modular building in the world. Adam has participated in numerous requests for proposals including the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area project and Forest City’s successful bid for the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island. Adam continues to lead the development and construction of 461 Dean Street, a 363 unit 50/30/20 rental designed by SHoP Architects that will begin leasing in the fall of 2016. Additionally, Adam oversees the development of 535 Carlton Avenue, a 298 unit 100% affordable rental designed by COOKFOX Architects and 38 6 th Avenue, a 303 unit 100% affordable rental designed by SHoP. Adam is Forest City’s lead developer on the 8-acre open space and rail-platform related work at Pacific Park Brooklyn, which was formerly known as Atlantic Yards. Prior to working at Forest City, Adam worked as an architect at Richard Meier & Partners and as a Design Critic at Cornell University’s Department of Architecture. Adam received his Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and his Masters of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University. Adam is a Registered Architect in New York and also an LEED Accredited Professional.

  Forest City Ratner

  VP - Residential Development

  Adam Greene

  VP - Residential Development

  Forest City Ratner

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  Martin Nussbaum

  Martin Nussbaum is the co-founder and principal at Slate Property Group. He has over twenty years of experience buying, developing and operating real estate across the United States. He currently oversees the strategic visionary behind the business platform, investment decisions and overall operations of the company. With a focus on multifamily and mixed-use properties, Martin leads strategic repositioning, ground-up development and conversion projects. Under Martin’s leadership, Slate has remained an active lender in the New York metropolitan real estate market with over $1 billion in loans closed and $300 million in the pipeline. Many of these deals came through Slate’s active lending affiliate called SCALE Lending, a direct lender providing first mortgage financing secured by commercial real estate assets with a focus on senior transitional loans. SCALE leverages off the Slate platform to guide investment decisions and assess the valuation of collateral, including land acquisition, construction, new development, re-development, inventory and assets with a lease-up or reposition component. It has more than $2 billion spread across 4.2 million square feet in ongoing developments. Prior to co-founding Slate Property Group, Martin served as the co-founder and managing partner of Silverstone Property Group, a full-service real estate owner and operator in New York. While overseeing Silverstone, he purchased more than $1 billion in real estate assets. Earlier in his career, Martin worked for a family office based in New Jersey overseeing a portfolio of over 5,000 apartments and three million square feet of commercial property throughout the tri-state area. He started his career in real estate investment banking working at Wells Hill Partners. Martin received a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York Albany.

  Slate Property Group

  Co-Founder, Principal

  Martin Nussbaum

  Co-Founder, Principal

  Slate Property Group

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  Robert LiMandri

  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.

  Vidaris

  Senior Principal

  Moderator

  Robert LiMandri

  Senior Principal

  Vidaris