With expertise spanning planning, design, and project management, Rob has been a key
contributor to SM&W's success since he joined our firm 19 years ago. Rob has been
instrumental in shaping the company's operational strategy, optimizing processes, and driving
cross-functional collaboration among SM&W's global offices.
Steven Cohen is an agile global CEO and Board Director adept at identifying and capitalizing on market shifts.
Throughout his career, from his education at the UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (MBA & BA) in
Entrepreneurship, Real Estate & Economics, Corporate Governance, and Strategic Positioning he has achieved
significant growth across three continents.
Tim Angerame is the chief operating officer at utiliVisor, the leading tenant submetering and energy plant optimization service.
Carlo A. Scissura, Esq. is President & CEO of the New York Building Congress, a position he has held since January 2017.
The New York Building Congress is a broad-based membership association committed to promoting the growth and success of the construction industry in New York City and its environs. The organization – which includes members from across the building community – provides a unique forum to advance an industry-wide agenda focusing on economic and infrastructure investment, job creation, and professional exchange.
Amie Gross AIA founded Amie Gross Architects in 1984 with the conviction that people of all walks deserve well-crafted architecture. With over forty-five years of multidisciplinary work, Ms. Gross has championed the causes of diversity, community alliance, and direct engagement with urban policy.
David Feinberg is General Counsel at Time Equities Inc. (TEI), and is responsible for overseeing the legal aspects of the various transactions TEI performs. David is also the Chief Compliance Officer of Time Equities Securities LLC, TEI’s FINRA licensed broker dealer.
In addition to our staff of attorneys who are well practiced in land use law we have non-legal professionals who possess a broad knowledge base in zoning regulations.
Bill Montana is Senior Managing Director at Savills, a global real estate advisory firm. Since 1988, he has been providing real estate advisory services to major corporations, institutions, and not-for-profit organizations located in the New York metropolitan area and nationally. He and his team structure creative and innovative occupancy solutions that save their clients money.
As Founder and CEO of Indigo River, Dena Prastos, AIA, is the first "waterfront architect," trailblazing a new category in the industry. Indigo River is a women-owned transdisciplinary design firm focused on progressive waterfront architecture, resiliency, and climate adaptation.
Indigo River is a women-owned transdisciplinary Architecture & Engineering studio focused on Climate Adaptation, Waterfront Infrastructure, and Resiliency. A leading authority in New York Harbor and beyond, the studio specializes in climate adaptation through waterfront solutions that seamlessly transcend boundaries – guiding and executing projects from ideation through final construction and operations.
Services offered – waterfront architecture, marine engineering, climate adaptation, resiliency, etc.
In addition to working with clients like +Pool, Harlem River Greenway, Governor’s Island Trust, Scenic Hudson, and NYC Economic Development, Dena and her team at Indigo River are also working on Robert De Niro’s new Wildflower Studios in Astoria, which is the first vertical film production studio in the world.
Marie Driscoll, CFA, founder of Driscoll Advisors and co-founder of MDSQUARED, is a leading expert in beauty, fashion, and retail. A four-time Top Retail Expert by RETHINK Retail, she also teaches at multiple institutions and contributes to industry publications.
A Brief Survey of Manhattan Retail Real Estate Trends and Challenges
Manhattan’s retail real estate market is experiencing a dynamic transformation, shaped by evolving consumer behaviors and innovative retail formats. We will explore the key trends driving the robust retail real estate industry in Manhattan:
Emerging Trends
· New retail fundamentals
· Changing consumer lifestyles and demands
· NYC’s flagship mentality driving luxury neighborhood investments
· Rise of experiential retail and multi-use spaces
· Impact of return-to-office mandates
· Resurgence in tourism
Persistent Challenges
· Uneven recovery across local neighborhoods
· Effects of high borrowing costs on investment and profitability
· Ongoing shift to online shopping
Our brief overview will provide insights into the forces shaping Manhattan’s retail landscape, highlighting both the opportunities and obstacles facing the sector. Attendees will gain a nuanced understanding of the current state and prospects of retail real estate in one of the world’s most competitive markets.
Sonya Weisshappel is the CEO and founder of Seriatim, Inc., which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. She is an organizer, move manager, inventory and efficiency expert. Her debut memoir, Confessions of a Chaos Whisperer, was released in May.
Getting a space ready for a renovation or even a rental? Do you know what you own? Do you have an inventory? What happens in the in-between when you’re moving to temporary housing or your items are going to storage? What about the items that are being left in the home?
Seriatim offers comprehensive services beyond just moving your belongings. We ensure that every item is properly cataloged, appraised, and insured, providing peace of mind during transitions. Our expertise in inventory management, administrative support, and coordination with trusted third-party vendors sets us apart, making us the reliable choice for managing your possessions through
In his role as Director of Marketing for Holon Modular Building Systems at BROAD U.S.A., he guides the company’s market development and communications strategy for the Holon turnkey modular building, a stainless steel-framed volumetric modular building designed to Passive House design principles, and aimed at high-rise multifamily projects.
BROAD Sustainable Building has innovated a stainless steel framed high-rise building concept with a Passive House design to sharply reduce energy consumption. A 26 story, 202 unit residential tower completed in 5 days in January 2024 will be presented.
Mr. Karr has enjoyed a long career in commercial real estate with a focus on tenant representation in office and retail leasing, development projects, and asset sales. His main activity now is representing sustainable products for housing and healthy buildings.
Modular construction is a remedy to the long and unpredictable project cycles of site-built buildings. To make a dent in solving the critical housing shortage, the industry must reach industrial scale to supply units quickly. Industrial scalability enables the mass production of modular housing units similar to the production of cars, characterized by the standardization of a turnkey product: Large-scale, streamlined production, and investment in automated production.
Rob Levin is a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience helping small and midsize businesses (SMBs) run their businesses better. In 2018, he co-founded WorkBetterNow (WBN), a game-changing venture that provides US-based SMBs with exceptional talent from Latin America.
Every Business Owner Should Have an Assistant
An industry thought leader and influencer known for developing and introducing game-changing new products and solutions, Lawrence Sunshine possesses 30 years of experience as an engineer and senior executive in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) sectors.
An industry thought leader and influencer known for developing and introducing game-changing new products and solutions, Lawrence Sunshine possesses 30 years of experience as an engineer and senior executive in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) sectors.
As Founder and President of Air+, he overseas their expansion into the North American IAQ market while advancing the company’s global business development strategy. He is also leading the company’s innovative product development advances and expanding his patent portfolio. He also developed and recently launched the AirCalcs+TM 1.0 software platform, a web-based program that calculates and compares contaminant levels using both ASHRAE’s Ventilation Rate Method and IAQ Procedure in reducing outside air intake. AirCalcs+TM enables owners and engineers to reduce first costs, enhance building energy efficiency, and improve IAQ.
Upcoming Presentation Highlights:
Highlights of HSTPA of 2019
RSC Amendments of 2023
Status of Regina Correction Bill / HSTPA Cleanup Bill (Currently Passed Assembly and Senate; not yet presented to Governor for signature)
Status of Rent Stabilization Challenge to U.S. Supreme Court (Application for Certiorari pending)
With over 25 years of experience in brand development and management, public relations, social media, marketing, and special events, Carey Balogh is a visionary entrepreneur who delivers exceptional experiences for clients in architecture, design, construction, engineering, real estate, education, and professional services.
Equal parts creative and strategic, Lauren Genest is a corporate communications and public relations expert who helps executives shape their public personas. Led by 20 years of trusted client and media relationships, Lauren has developed and implemented internal and external strategies to increase client visibility and promote long-term brand growth.
Guthrie Garvin is a Managing Director at JLL, were he focusses on representing New York City building owners in the sale of their properties. Guthrie has been involved in the sale of properties with an aggregate value of over $2.4 billion. Prior to real estate, Guthrie worked with Novartis Pharmaceuticals as a senior sales consultant. He was a member of its marketing and leadership development teams, was an international sales trainer and was named Salesman of the Year.
Alan T. Cohen is a recognized expert at providing Debt Capital for all types of Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions and Development including Multifamily, Hospitality, Office, Mixed-Use, and Industrial.
Jesse Terry is the CIO for HUBBNYC Properties, a privately held owner of retail and residential properties in NYC. Jesse has been with the organization for approximately ten years and has been part of the majority of the company’s ~90 acquisitions. Most recently post Covid, HUBBNYC purchased ~$700M of primarily recent construction apartment buildings located in Manhattan, Williamsburg and Park Slope.
Founder and CEO of aJuxt Media Group, Lynsie helps local, national, and international companies, brands, associations, and nonprofits navigate the “ins and outs” of today’s online marketing landscape. “AI for Brands” includes an overview of what AI and machine learning are and the history of how we got here. Then we will talk about some ways brands are leveraging AI for workflows and marketing. Lastly, we’ll discuss potential legal implications as well as creative and conceptual aspects that require protection from a brand perspective.
Jim Whelan is the President of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), the City’s leading real estate trade association which represents commercial, residential, and institutional property owners, builders, managers, investors, brokers, salespeople, and other corporations and individuals professionally interested in New York City real estate.
Eric Deutsch has spent his thirty-year career in the real estate and economic development fields, serving senior positions in the public, non-profit and for profit sectors. Eric has experience in several market segments, from industrial to residential, and with all aspects of the development process, from financing to design and construction.
R.E.N.T. is a unique network of real estate firms and professionals created to emphasize multi-disciplinary teamwork.
R.E.N.T. represents experienced New York Metro area real estate firms and professionals in various disciplines.
See R.E.N.T.’s expertise in each discipline.