Real Estate Center 4 Success

Neil B. Garfinkel, Esq.

Neil B. Garfinkel, Esq. leads his full-service, NY and CA-based law firm with a focus on all aspects of residential and commercial real estate, banking, and lending law. As Broker Counsel to the Real Estate Board of New York (“REBNY”) and appointed member of the New York State Real Estate Board, as well as certified instructor of real estate courses, he provides training programs across the country and created the TOOLBOX 4 SUCCESS to be an integral resource for the real estate community. Neil was recently named a Notable in Real Estate by CRAINS and a Power Lawyer by Schneps Media.

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Michael J. Romer, Esq.

Michael J. Romer, Esq. is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Romer Debbas, LLP. Michael represents a broad range of clients in connection with the acquisition, sale, lease, development and/or financing of commercial land residential properties. Such clients include both domestic and foreign individuals buying for residential or investment purposes as well as institutional and private equity clients. Michael is also counsel to a wide majority of lending institutions in the country that are focused on real estate finance. He is a frequent contributor to local and national media including New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Real Deal and Nasdaq TV. In addition, Michael frequently lectures in NYC's major real estate brokerage firms.

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Pierre E. Debbas, Esq.

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Michael Aharoni

Michael Aharoni is a certified distance educator instructor (CDEI), real estate broker and a certified housing counselor for The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) along with many other licenses and designations. He is a sought-out mentor and educator within the military and first responder community. He has spoken in front of Congress and at the Pentagon, and to many within the broker community. His love of teaching and training realtors and real estate licensees to successfully grow their businesses has been a cornerstone of his career in the real estate industry.

Eric Brecher, Esq., CES

Eric Brecher is an attorney and holds the designation of Certified Exchange Specialist (one of approximately 125 in the country.) He is Executive Vice President of Wintrust Financial Corporation's 1031 Exchange Service - Chicago Deferred Exchange Company. For over 17 years, Mr. Brecher has served as QI working with attorneys, accountants and real estate professionals in connection with thousands of transactions.

Melissa Cohn

Antonio del Rosario

Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker
Brown Harris Stevens

Antonio del Rosario has been a licensed associate real estate broker and head of the Antonio del Rosario team for over 20 years. He has been involved in over 2,000 real estate transactions throughout his career totaling over $1 Billion. Antonio is also a consultant on issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Heather Domi

Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker
Compass

Heather Domi is a highly experienced and skilled real estate agent with over 22 years of expertise in the industry. She specializes in the luxury markets in Manhattan and South Florida and has a strong background within new development sales and marketing. With a proven track record of success, Heather has sold over $1.5 billion in residential real estate in New York City and has consistently been ranked in the top 1% nationally by the Wall Street Journal/Real Trends and within the top 30 in NYC.

Michael R. Feldman, Esq.

Partner
Romer Debbas, LLP

Michael R. Feldman, Esq. is a partner at Romer Debbas LLP and manager of the firm’s residential real estate department. Michael concentrates his practice on representing buyers, sellers and lending institutions in residential and commercial real estate transactions. He is involved in all aspects of the firm’s transactional real estate practice and is well versed in the areas of contract negotiation and due diligence. Michael is a frequent presenter on various topics involving New York residential real estate. Since 2017, Michael has been named in the Rising Stars section of Super Lawyers. Rising Stars lists the top 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40 in their practice area.

Seth Feldman, Esq.

Josh Garfinkel, Esq.

Josh Garfinkel, Esq. is currently an associate in AGMB’s real estate practice, where he represents purchasers, sellers and lenders in real estate transactions. Since high school, Josh has interned at AGMB and, while attending law school at night, Josh worked as a Team Lead in AGMB’s Pay-Off Department and worked in AGMB’s Trusts and Estates and Entertainment divisions.

Alan Goodkin

Managing Director
Ackman-Ziff

Alan Goodkin joined Ackman-Ziff in 2000 and serves as a Managing Director. Alan has originated, structured and closed over $8 billion in debt and equity transactions on a variety of asset types including retail, office, hotel, multifamily and land. In 2016, Alan won the Real Estate Board of New York’s Most Ingenious Deal of the Year award in the finance category for the $66.5 million, 100% of cost, construction loan for the development of a 160,000 square foot medical office and parking facility in East New York, Brooklyn. In 2005, his financing of the conversion of the Watergate Hotel was awarded the “Best Real Estate Deal Award for Financing” by the Washington Business Journal.

Kael Goodman

Kael Goodman is an entrepreneur with a history of using technology and data to bridge the offline and online worlds. In 2009, Kael founded BlankSlate, a media and technology company monetizing a network of web properties, which led to his eventual acquisition of niche Brooklyn real estate site Brownstoner. Brownstoner, along with the monetization software BlankSlate had built, was acquired by Schneps Communications in 2017. Shortly after the sale of Brownstoner, Kael’s latest venture, Marketproof, was born.

Larry Haber, Esq.

Larry Haber, Esq. is the managing partner of the Commercial Real Estate Department of Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP. Larry takes great pride in providing his clients with the power to make knowledgeable decisions concerning their business and individual needs. Combining decades of commercial real estate ownership with a professional background in law, accounting, commercial brokerage, property management, construction, planning and development, Larry and his team can be the difference in helping their clients navigate the challenging times that may lie ahead in their lives or business.

Scott Harris

Heather Huff

Tony Jao

Tony Jao is a home lending officer and vice president for Popular Bank (NMLS# 7536). For over 20 years he has specialized in residential purchases for the Manhattan and Brooklyn markets. Tony frequently teaches continuing education classes for real estate agents locally and has also written articles on lending in condos and co-ops for publications related to the local real estate market.

Tara King-Brown

Tara King-Brown brings over 17 years of experience selling luxury real estate and has built her reputation as an ambitious, knowledgeable, and integrity-driven agent who delivers exceptional results for her clients. She has sold over $750M in her career and is distinguished within the Top 20 Small Team by Volume in Manhattan & Top 30 in New York State according to the RealTrends 2022 rankings. Tara is an established New Development expert and sell-out specialist. She has represented many top developers in marquee projects throughout New York City.

Deanna Kory

Michael L. Landsman

Co-Managing Partner
Holm & O'Hara, LLP

Michael L. Landsman, Esq. is the Co-Managing Partner of Holm & O'Hara LLP and author of Key Strategies for Real Estate Investors. His practice centers on real estate transactions, estate planning/administration, and the dynamic intersection between the two. Michael's real estate practice includes complex transactions including commercial transfers, IRC 1031 like-kind exchanges, and the acquisition and sale of NNN leased and multifamily investment properties. His trusts and estates practice is focused on representing fiduciaries and beneficiaries, and strategic counseling in estate planning including management of estate administration to ensure compliance with federal and state tax laws.

Georgia Lombardo-Barton

President
Barton Management

Georgia Lombardo-Barton, has been in residential building management and construction for over fifteen years. Her experiences include construction management of new condo conversions/developments for notable NYC developers Rockrose Development and RFR Davis. Prior to forming Barton Management LLC, she joined Morton Glick of Morton Andrews, Ltd as a partner. Ms. Barton was previously associated with Lawrence Properties for several years. As its group leader, her team was awarded the prestigious NYARM recognition for best management in 1999. She has a BBA Degree in Finance from Baruch College. She is also a licensed R.E. broker.

Nick Malfitano

Sales Director
TitleVest

As a Sales Executive for TitleVest, Nick is acutely involved in the growth components of the title insurance business. With clients across the real estate spectrum, Nick leverages his 10 years in commercial and residential real estate to provide value to lawyers, institutional owners and residential agents alike. With a propensity for developing strategic relationships, connecting intelligent and innovative people and solutions is the nucleus of Nick’s business and a core value to his industry associations. Technology and cutting edge advancements will continue to excite the business of real estate, however, its Nick’s belief that great people, with these tools in-hand, will move the industry forward.

Gary L. Malin

Paul Massey

Massey began his career at CBRE and later co-founded Massey Knakal Realty Services. As CEO, Massey managed the development of the firm’s strategic initiatives, which led to being ranked NY’s #1 investment sales company for 14 years. Massey Knakal was acquired by Cushman & Wakefield in 2014, leading Paul to serve as the President, NY Investment Sales.

In 2017, Massey ran as a Mayoral Candidate for NYC, focusing on education, housing, and homelessness. In July 2018, Paul and his partners Neil Heilberg and Michael Wlody, launched B6 Real Estate Advisors (Building By Building, Block By Block). The investment sales and capital advisory firm specializes in the middle-market and employs a Territory Network model which ensures sub-market expertise for its agents along with an owner-aligned philosophy and technology forward platform.

Eric McLendon

Eric McLendon established Clear National Title to raise the bar on title service. His experience as a contractor, investor, developer, and an award-winning sales agent for one of New York’s largest brokerage firms was the catalyst for his vision, and his success. Eric has emerged as an accomplished leader and recognizable figure both in real estate and across a multitude of professional networks. A proud minority business owner with inspiring entrepreneurial roots, he brings capability, ingenuity and reassurance to the most complex real estate transactions.

James Nelson

James Nelson is Principal and Head of Avison Young’s Tri-State Investment Sales group where he leads a group of three dozen professionals in the sale of multi-family, office, development and retail properties.

In 2018, the Tri-State Investment Sales group closed 16 sales valued at $394 million, resulting in Avison Young naming James one of its Top Sales Professionals for the year.

James has built a unique sales platform at Avison Young consisting of a unified, client first, sales group that is broken out by asset class, rather than territory, and where brokers share information and commissions in order to provide the best client experience. The group is currently marketing 50+ active listings valued at over $1.5 billion.

Sarah Orlinsky-Maitland

A natural trouble-shooter, Sarah fosters a positive environment with a hands-on approach and a will to find a solution to every problem. Stemming from her background as tour manager of Broadway shows for over a decade, Sarah wears a behind the scenes hat, promoting, supporting, and motivating the agents who work with her in all facets of their professional lives.

Sarah is deeply involved with the Real Estate Board of New York. Her work with the New York Residential Specialist program as an Executive Committee member has gained her respect throughout the brokerage community.

A native New Yorker, a mother of two, a half marathon runner and a world traveler, Sarah is also trilingual in English, French, and Spanish. She attended Boston University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology and is always seeking more learning opportunities.

Vince Rocco

Vince Rocco is a Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker with Halstead. Vince is dedicated to delivering quality service to his buyers and sellers while remaining involved in every detail of the deal. He achieves success through his straightforward approach, integrity and flexibility while working with clients. Cultivating strong relationships that can last a lifetime is what Vince is mostly passionate about. His extensive knowledge of Manhattan and its neighborhoods has earned him a successful career in selling high end luxury properties. Vince has appeared on HGTV’s House Hunters, DIY Network’s Sweat Equity and in publications such as The New York Times, New York Post and New York Magazine. His career success has led him to be the radio talk show host of “Good Morning New York, Real Estate with Vince Rocco”.

Noah Rosenblatt

Noah Rosenblatt is the founder and CEO of Urban Digs which is an industry leader in data insights and technology for professional real estate agents in the New York City residential real estate markets.

Sarah Saltzberg

Sarah Saltzberg is co-owner of Bohemia Realty Group, a boutique and independently owned real estate firm of 100+ agents that services the NYC area. Sarah accidentally got into real estate when she was raising money for a show she helped create, which became the Tony-award winning The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In addition to Spelling Bee, Sarah’s creative credits include: additional material author on Broadway’s Gettin’ The Band Back Together, creator/actor of off-Broadway's Don't Quit Your Night Job; co-writer of off-Broadway's Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage. Sarah sits on the board of directors at REBNY, is the co-chair of REBNY's Fair Housing Committee, and is the 2022 recipient of the Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award which recognizes a REBNY member's outstanding service to the community.

Michael Santora

Luciane Serifovic

Samantha Sheeber, Esq.

Managing Partner
Starr Associates, LLP

Samantha Sheeber is the managing partner at Starr Associates LLP. Ms. Sheeber practices in the development and offering plan group. She specializes in the registration of offering plans for both new construction condominiums and conversions of existing rental properties, including, mixed-use, residential and commercial properties. Ms. Sheeber works closely with New York’s leading developers to provide counsel and advice from the earliest stages of the development process through the final stages of creating the project from acquisition and construction through contract drafting, negotiation and closing of individual units. She is well versed in navigating the complex registration requirements of the New York State Department of Law, for both in state and out of state projects. Ms. Sheeber has been recognized in the real estate community (by developers and brokers as well as other attorneys) as a top deal maker in the creation of condominiums and the negotiation of purchase and sale agreements. Use this area to describe the image or provide supporting information.

Cathy Taub

Senior Global Real Estate Advisor, Associate Broker
Sotheby's International Realty

Cathy Taub is a Senior Global Real Estate Advisor and Associate Broker with over $2 billion in career sales and a 2017 Wall Street Journal/Real Trends ranking of #42 in the country by Sales Volume, #2 in the Sotheby’s International Realty Manhattan Brokerage, and top 25 in Sotheby's International Realty nationwide. Cathy works with sellers to list properties throughout Manhattan and represents buyers in their search for primary homes, pieds-a-terre, and investment properties and has vast experience selling cooperatives, condominiums, and townhouses. Cathy is proud to be one of the two Founding Chairpersons of the New York Residential Agent Continuum (NYRAC), an organization established in 2018 by and for residential real estate agents. NYRAC is focused on enhancing the consumer experience and elevating the status of the residential brokerage profession in New York City by encouraging innovation, transparency, ethics, advocacy, influence, best practices, education, collegiality, and professional networking.

Orest Tomaselli

President Project Review
Condotek

Orest Tomaselli is the President Project Review at Condotek. With more than 25 years in the industry he leads a team of experts providing compliance solutions to the condo and co-op industry which includes builders, developers, property managers, HOA’s, national lenders and government agencies. Services at his firms include Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA and Portfolio Condo-Co-op compliance lending approval, Lender Project Collateral Review, Commercial Mortgage Lending Compliance, Agency Compliant Condominium and Cooperative Reserve Studies and FEMA Flood Map Removal. Orest has provided training and guidance to national and local lenders, the New York State Attorney General’s Office, National Real Estate organizations, The Mortgage Bankers Association, State Bar Associations and Government Agencies in Reserve Study Compliance and Condominium and Cooperative lending compliance.

Brian Tormey

As President for TitleVest, Brian is involved in strategic planning, execution and oversight of operational projects, business development, and technology creation and deployment. He handles client inquiries, and provides expertise for complex transactions such as commercial defeasance, multi-site/multi-state portfolios, air rights projects and other commercial matters.

With over fifteen years of experience in residential and commercial transactional real estate and title insurance, Brian has familiarity with every position within a title insurance company, including extensive experience performing title examinations. He has leveraged this knowledge to help develop the cutting-edge technology and business practices behind the critically-acclaimed TitleVest proprietary systems.

Scott van der Marck

Michael Vargas

President and CEO
Vanderbilt Appraisal Company LLC

Mr. Vargas has over 25 years of diversified real estate experience with a focus on the appraisal of real estate in the NY-NJ-CT metropolitan area. In particular, Mr. Vargas is recognized as one of the most experienced professionals in the appraisal of New York metro area cooperative and condominium housing; and luxury, mansion, complex type residential real estate. Since forming Vanderbilt Appraisal Company in 2003, Mr. Vargas has been engaged to perform appraisal services for some of the area’s most valuable, prestigious, high dollar value residential properties in Manhattan and the Outer-Boroughs; Westchester County and the Hudson Valley region; the Catskills region; Long Island and the Hamptons; and suburban New Jersey spanning from Bergen County to the Jersey Shore.

James Wenk

Michael C. Xylas, Esq.

Christian Zebicoff, Esq.

Christian Zebicoff, Esq has been practicing law for over 25 years, after graduating from Fordham University School of Law and Boston College. His practice focuses on estate planning, trust and estate administration, elder law and real estate matters. He also has substantial experience representing commercial and not for profit entities.

His clients are typically individuals, families and small businesses. He assists his clients with the preparation of their wills and trusts and advises them on more complex tax planning techniques. Christian has guided his clients through the often difficult process of administering these trusts and estates with personal care and service. He also assists elderly clients and their families with long term care and Medicaid planning issues. During his career, he has been involved in litigating many Surrogates Court matters, including contested probate, accounting and miscellaneous proceedings in all counties.