Industry bigwigs gather for YJP Founders Gala: PHOTOS

Michael Stern, Alexander brothers among event honorees

The Naftali Group’s Miki Naftali, JDS Development’s Michael Stern and Douglas Elliman’s Howard Lorber were among the industry players who gathered Tuesday for the Young Jewish Professionals Founders Gala.

The event drew more than 900 guests from all walks of the industry and was held at Cipriani Wall Street. “It’s a world-class space which I bet everyone wishes they bought a few years ago,” quipped Eastern Consolidated’s David Schechtman. Among those in attendance: Terrence Oved, a partner with the law firm Oved & Oved; Ilan Bracha of Keller Williams NYC; Jeffrey and Ben Levine of Douglaston Development; Robert Futterman of RKF; Andrew Barrocas and David Behin of MNS; and Yuval Greenblatt of Douglas Elliman.

The festivities kicked off with a cocktail and schmoozing hour, followed by dinner and a welcome speech by Naftali. Greg Corbin, a managing director of investment sales firm Besen & Associates, was given a special award by the organization. Stern, VE Equities principal Justin Ehrlich and Elliman brokers Oren and Tal Alexander were also recognized for their real estate achievements. Barrocas presented the honorees with a shofar, the musical instrument frequently used in Jewish ceremonies.

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Elliman broker and “Million Dollar Listing New York” star Fredrik Eklund said he was there to support Ehrlich, for whom he’s worked on projects such as 250 Bowery in Nolita and 11 North Moore in Tribeca. “He came to my wedding, and he’s been like a brother to me,” Eklund said of Ehrlich. His business partner John Gomes said that the developer was “changing the skyline of Lower Manhattan.”

Stern, whose current projects include the Stella Tower condominium building at 425 West 25th Street and an 800-unit rental building at 626 First Avenue, said that “it was important for people who have gained some traction in the industry to support the up-and-comers.”