REBNY Awards
REBNY Annual
The Bernard H. Mendik Lifetime Leadership in Real Estate Award
This leadership award, first bestowed in 2003, is presented to REBNY members who have displayed exceptional service to the real estate industry and professional accomplishments over the course of distinguished careers.
2023 Honoree - Barry M. Gosin, Chief Executive Officer of Newmark Group, Inc.
Past Award Winners
2022 Honoree - Tom Elghanayan, Chairman and Co-Founder of TF Cornerstone Inc
2021 Honoree - Alan Wiener, Group Head at Wells Fargo Multifamily Capital
2020 Honoree - Jodi Pulice, Founder and CEO at JRT Realty Group
2019 Honoree - Diane M. Ramirez, CEO, Chairman and Co-founder of Halstead Real Estate
2018 Honoree - Elizabeth Stribling, Chairman and Founder of Stribling & Associates
2017 Honoree - MaryAnne Gilmartin, President and CEO Forest City Ratner
The George M. Brooker Management Executive of the Year Award
The Management Division created this award in 1976 to recognize accomplished individuals within the management area. Winners display outstanding professionalism in property management, civic achievement and contribution to the real estate industry. Named for its first recipient, a past Vice President of the Management Division, the award is presented yearly at REBNY's Annual Banquet.
2023 Honoree - Elly Pateras, Executive Managing Director, Douglas Elliman Property Management
Past Award Winners
2022 Honoree - Frank Pusinelli, Sr EVP, Chief Operating Officer-Operating Assets at RXR Realty
2021 Honoree - Kevin McCann, Senior Managing Director of Global Occupier Services at Cushman & Wakefield
2020 Honoree - Henry M. Celestino, Vice Chairman at L&L Holding Company
2019 Honoree - Bernard Warren, Chairman and Presidnet at Webb & Brooker, Inc.
2018 Honoree - Gene Boniberger, Senior Vice President at Rudin Management Company, Inc.
2017 Honoree - William Dacunto, Executive Vice President at Silverstein Properties, Inc
The Harry B. Helmsley Distinguished New Yorker Award
This award, created in 1992, recognizes REBNY members who have a lifetime of exceptional accomplishments in the profession and have made invaluable contributions to New York's civic welfare. The award is named for Harry Helmsley, a leading real estate executive of his time, and is presented at REBNY's Annual Banquet.
2023 Honoree -Mary Ann Tighe, Chief Executive Officer, NY Tri-State Region, CBRE
Past Award Winners
2022 -
Hal Fetner, President and CEO of Fetner Properties;
Jeff Levine, Founder and Chairman of Douglaston Development;
David Picket, CEO of Gotham Organization
2021 -Laurie Zucker, Vice Chairwoman at Donald Zucker Company & Manhattan Skyline Mgt. Corp.
2020 Honoree - David R. Greenbaum, Executive Vice President of Vornado Realty Trust
2019 Honoree - Daniel R. Tishman, Chairman of the Board at Tishman
2018 Honoree - Rob Speyer, CEO at Tishman Speyer
2017 Honoree - Marc Holliday, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at SL Green Realty
The John E. Zuccotti Public Service Award
This public service award was presented for the first time in 2017. It is awarded to a New Yorker who has displayed exceptional accomplishments and service in the public's interest. It is named for the late John E. Zuccotti, Chairperson of REBNY from 2004 to 2006 and a longstanding member of its Executive Committee. John also had a distinguished career as a public official, including serving as First Deputy Mayor and Chair of New York City's Department of City Planning during some of the City's most difficult times. The award is presented at REBNY's Annual Banquet
2023 Honoree - Dan Doctoroff, Founder & Chairman of Target ALS
Past Award Winners
2022 Honoree - Hazel Dukes, President of the NAACP New York State Conference
2021 Honoree - Essential Workers in New York City Real Estate
Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York
Kyle Bragg, President of 32BJ SEIU
Kuba J. Brown, President of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 94
2020 Honoree - Jay Kriegel (Posthumously), Senior Advisor at Related Companies
2019 Honoree - Carol Kellermann, President of Citizens Budget Commission
2018 Honoree - Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senator
2017 Honoree - Carl Weisbrod, New York City Department of City Planning
The Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award
The Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award was first given in 1989. It recognizes REBNY members' outstanding service to the community. The award memorializes Kenneth Gerrety who served REBNY as Executive Vice President for 18 years. The award is presented at REBNY's Annual Banquet.
2023 Honoree - John C. Santora, Chairman, New York Tri-State, Cushman & Wakefield
Past Award Winners
2022 Honoree - Sarah Saltzberg, Co-Owner of Bohemia Realty Group
2021 Honoree - Bess Freedman, Chief Executive Officer at Brown Harris Stevens
2020 Honoree - Hector Figueroa (Posthumously), President of Local 32BJ
2019 Honoree - Helena Rose Durst, Principal at The Durst Organization
2018 Honoree - Richard LeFrank, CEO of LeFrank Organization
2017 Honoree - Jed Walentas, CEO of Two Trees Management
The Louis Smadbeck Memorial Broker Recognition Award
This member award was established in 1991 by REBNY's Commercial Brokerage Divisions; it honors a REBNY broker with personal and professional integrity, long-term leadership and prominence in the brokerage community and participation in REBNY's committees. Named for an exemplary broker who died shortly after being selected to receive it, the award is presented at REBNY's Annual Banquet.
2023 Honoree - Frederick K. Marek, Vice-Chairman of Helmsley Spear LLC
Past Award Winners
2022 Honoree - Darcy Stacom, Chairman and Head of New York City Capital Markets at CBRE
2021 Honoree - Gregg L. Schenker, President and Co-Managing Partner of ABS Partners Real Estate
2020 Honoree - Gregg Schenker, President of ABS Partners Real Estate
2019 Honoree - Kevin Wang, Owner of KRW Realty Advisors
2018 Honoree - Ira Fishman, CEO of HSP Real Estate Group
2017 Honoree - Joanne Podell, Executive Vice Chairman Cushman & Wakefield
The Young Real Estate Professional of the Year Award
The "Young Real Estate Professional of the Year" award is presented by the Young Men's/Women's Real Estate Association each year to a member whose knowledge, skills, integrity, and a high degree of ethics have contributed most to his or her profession and the community.
2023 Honoree -James Nelson, Principal, Head of Tri-State Investment Sales, Avison Young,
Past Award Winners
2022 Honoree - Laura Jackson, Senior Vice President, Tax Director, SL Green Realty Corp
2021 Honoree - Robert M. Shapiro, Executive Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield
Residential Brokerage Division
Residential Brokerage Deal of the Year
This award is given to members who have achieved an outstanding closing while overcoming unique obstacles and challenges.
2022 Winners:
The First Place Residential Deal of the Year Award was given to Sofia Falleroni of Compass and David Mayer of The Corcoran Group
The Second Place Residential Deal of the Year Award went to Rodolfo Lucchese of The Corcoran Group and Andrew Gordon of Compass
The Third Place Residential Deal of the Year Award was given to Boris Fabrikant, Collin Bond, and Sangmi Park all of Compass
Past Winners:
2021 Winners:
The First Place Residential Deal of the Year Award was given to Lawrence Rich and Dakota Scotto of The Corcoran Group and Steven Marvisch of Brown Harris Stevens.
The Second Place Residential Deal of the Year Award went to Joe Ulam of Brown Harris Stevens.
The Third Place Residential Deal of the Year Award was given to Martha Friedricks-Glass of The Corcoran Group.
*Award is presented for achievements of work completed in the prior calendar year.
The Eileen Spinola Award for Distinguished Service
This award honors a member who has made significant contributions to the REBNY community by donating time, expertise, and knowledge in the areas of education, ethics, and professional services for the betterment of the real estate industry.
2022 Winner - Frederick Warburg Peters of Coldwell Banker Warburg
PAST AWARDEES:
2021: Gary Malin
2020: John Wollberg
2019: Regina Wierbowski
2018: Karen L Duncan
2017: Jeffrey Rothstein
2016: Douglas Wagner
2015: Vickey Barron
The Residential Brokerage Agent of the Year Award
The Residential Agent of the Year Award was created in 2017 by REBNY's Residential Brokerage Board of Directors and Membership Committee to recognize a member Sales Agent or Associate Broker who has demonstrated skilled achievement, superior leadership, high moral character, and professional behavior both in the real estate industry and the community-at-large. Nominations for this award are made by colleagues, salespersons and broker associates from within the nominee's firm or the industry-at-large.
2022 Winner - Tristan Harper of Douglas Elliman
Past Winner
2021: Doreen Courtright of Douglas Elliman
2020: Louise Phillips Forbes, Brown Harris Stevens
2019: Jessica Cohen, Douglas Elliman
2018: Ann Cutbill Lenane, Douglas Elliman
2017: Joanna Mayfield Marks, Halstead
The Residential Brokerage Rookie of the Year Award
The Residential Brokerage Division created this award in 1998 to recognize new REBNY members excelling in the industry. Criteria for the award include sound moral character, high ethical professional behavior, excellent leadership, meaningful roles in deals, and significant contributions to the firm's success. The award is presented at the Residential Brokerage Division's Annual Deal of the Year Charity & Awards Gala.
2022: Spencer Clouse of Bohemia Realty Group LLC and Joseph Conley of Brown Harris Stevens
Past Winners
2021 - Clifford Marks, Brown Harris Stevens
2020 – Manuel Fueyo, Brown Harris Stevens
2019 – Margaret Simmons, Halstead
2018 – Shan Chowdhury, Halstead
2017 – Matt Martin, Halstead
REBNY Residential Henry Forster Memorial Award
This award is presented to an Agent, Associate Broker, or Broker whose outstanding record of achievement and conduct within both the industry and the community has brought recognition to them, their firm, and the profession.
2022 - Bonnie Chajet, Coldwell Banker Warburg
Past Winners:
2020 Mary Rutherfurd, Brown Harris Stevens
2019 Kenneth Scheff, Compass
2018 Steven Goldschmidt, Warburg Realty
2017 Elaine R Dean, Corcoran
2016 Ruth McCoy, Brown Harris Stevens
2015 Corinne Pulitzer, Douglas Elliman
Commercial Brokerage Division
The Most Promising Commercial Salesperson of the Year Award
In 1966, The Real Estate Board inaugurated a major award to honor the industry's most promising newcomers. Created by the Commercial Brokerage Division's Board of Directors, the REBNY Most Promising Commercial Salesperson of the Year Award recognizes current and potential professional achievement as well as "high moral character and ethical professional behavior." This prize is annually presented at the Spring Members' Luncheon.
2022 - Andrew Dzenis of Savills
Past Winners
2021 - Conor Krup of Lee & Associates NYC
2020 - Mitchel Flaherty of B6 Real Estate Advisors
*Award is presented for achievements of work completed in the prior calendar year.
The Sales Brokers Most Ingenious Deal of the Year Award
Conceived in 1944, the member contest honors resourcefulness and ingenuity in solving difficult problems in property negotiation.
2022 Winners:
Henry Hart Rice Achievement Award - Nathaniel Mallon of Verada
Robert T. Lawrence Memorial Award - Ira Schuman of Savills
Edward S. Gordon Memorial Award - James Kuhn of Newmark
2021 Winners:
Henry Hart Rice Achievement Award - Eric Anton and Nelson Lee of Marcus & Millichap.
Robert T. Lawrence Memorial Award - James Millon and Tom Traynor of CBRE Capital Markets.
Edward S. Gordon Memorial Award - Jarod Stern of Savills and Michael Affronti of CBRE.
*Award is presented for achievements of work completed in the prior calendar year.
The Retail Deal of the Year Award
The Retail Committee inaugurated two annual awards in 1999 that honor REBNY members most inventive and noteworthy New York City retail deals of the previous year. There are two awards in total. One is for the most ingenious and creative retail deal that demonstrates exceptional broker acumen; the second will highlight the Most Impactful Retail Deal of the Year which recognizes a transaction likely to have the greatest impact on a particular retail submarket, industry, specific development project or New York City’s landscape as a whole. The award is presented at the Retail Committee's Annual Cocktail Party.
2021 Winners:
The Most Ingenious Retail Deal of the Year - Erin Grace and Matthew Ogle of JLL
The Most Impactful Retail Deal of the Year - Peter Ripka and Gene P. Spiegelman of RIPCO Real Estate LLC
*Award is presented for achievements of work completed in the prior calendar year.
Owner & Manager Division
Residential Management Leadership Breakfast
2022 Awards:
Albert E. Mayas of Charles H. Greenthal Corp - Residential Management Executive of the Year
Caryl Hock of Douglas Elliman - Building Service Employee of the Year
Robert Ammiano of Ogden CAP Properties - Superintendent of the Year
Bianca Taveras of Orsid Realty Corp. - Rising Star of the Year
Commercial Management Leadership Breakfast
John M. Griffin Community Service Award - This award was named after the late John M. Griffin, who gave generously of himself to numerous charitable activities. The award recognizes meritorious service to the community by a REBNY management member.
On-Site Manager of the Year - The award recognizes an on-site REBNY manager who has significantly improved their building and contributed both to the industry and their company.
Portfolio Manager / Corporate Management Executive of the Year - Recognizes a REBNY professional whose significant contributions to a firm’s success by a portfolio manager or corporate management executive.
Small Building Engineer of the Year - Recognizes a union engineer who has innovated their building's practices, is committed to constant improvement, and has gone above and beyond to improve the performance of a less than 500,000 square foot building.
Large Building Engineer of the Year - Recognizes a union engineer who has innovated their building's practices, is committed to constant improvement, and has gone above and beyond to improve the performance of a more than 500,000 square foot building.
Security Professional of the Year - Recognizes a union security professional who work at the building level and have demonstrated a commitment to building safety during a variety of challenging circumstances.
Porter of the Year - The award recognizes an outstanding union member who keep buildings clean and pleasant places to do work and who exceed expectations and bring pride to their job every day.
Rising Star of the Year - Recognizes a REBNY member new to the industry who has already has made an impact as a great commercial manager.
Best Engine Room* - Recognizes an exceptional engineer room that demonstrates mechanical, technological, and operational improvements.