New York’s biggest night in real estate is returning on January 18, with around 1,000 developers, brokers and other leaders preparing to attend the 128th REBNY Annual at the Glasshouse.
The iconic gathering is expected to attract many of the industry’s biggest names, along with major government officials and other business leaders from across the city. As in recent years, it features cocktail hour and formal dinner curated by leading restaurants – including Chef Daniel Boulud’s Le Pavillon and Bar Boulud and Chef Hillary Sterling’s Ci Siamo – as well as a post-dinner afterparty. The event also continues the industry’s spirit of giving back, with a portion of proceeds dedicated to the REBNY Foundation and its social impact initiatives.
One of the most recognizable traditions of the REBNY Annual is its award ceremony, which bestows the industry’s most prestigious awards on a select group of men and women who have made exceptional impacts on the city. We got the chance to speak with this year’s slate of honorees about their careers and what they see as the future of New York real estate.
Douglas Durst (Chairman, The Durst Organization)
The Harry B. Helmsley Distinguished New Yorker Award will be presented to Douglas Durst, Chairman of the venerable Durst Organization, for his exceptional accomplishments in the profession and invaluable contributions to New York’s civic welfare. “My grandparents came to New York as immigrants and founded The Durst Organization with the philosophy of, ‘leave each place better than you found it,’” says Durst. “This belief has driven our work for generations.”
Durst is optimistic about New York’s future. “Top-tier offices are performing exceptionally well, and leasing momentum is strong, especially for long-term owners who have invested in and maintained their properties,” says Durst, whose firm recently completed a $150 million renovation at its 825 Third Avenue office property.
Joel Picket (Chairman, Gotham Organization)
Joel Picket, Chairman of the Gotham Organization, will receive The Bernard H. Mendik Lifetime Leadership in Real Estate Award for his exceptional service to the industry and remarkable professional accomplishments over the course of his career. Today, with a more than century-long legacy, Gotham has earned a reputation as a leader in developing, owning, and operating thoughtful, community-enhancing real estate projects. Mr. Picket’s built Gotham Construction into one of the largest privately-held contracting companies in the country, building hospitals, schools and over 30,000 apartments before selling the contracting division in 2015. He continues to build large mixed-income, multi-family developments as a developer/owner. His legacy of high quality, thoughtful, community driven development is carried on by his son, David L. Picket, CEO of Gotham Organization, and the fifth generation of Pickets at the firm – Matthew, Nicole and Ben.
Elizabeth Ann Stribling-Kivlan (Senior Managing Director, Compass)
For her outstanding service to the community, Elizabeth Ann Stribling-Kivlan, Senior Managing Director at Compass, will be presented with The Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award. A fifth-generation New Yorker, Stribling-Kivlan has been a leader in the LGBTQ community for over a decade, including serving as a Board member at GLSEN, which strives to create affirming learning environments for LGBTQ youth. “If we can come together versus being divided,” says Stribling-Kivlan, “then we are one step closer to a better world.”
Stribling-Kivlan lives and breathes New York City, and is looking forward to its continued reemergence post-COVID. “I am so proud of my hometown,” says Stribling-Kivlan, who describes NYC as “a destination for all as the place to feel safe to be themselves freely.”
Fred Cerullo (President & CEO of the Grand Central Partnership)
The John E. Zuccotti Public Service Award will be presented to Fred Cerullo, President & CEO of the Grand Central Partnership, for his exceptional accomplishments and service to the public’s interest. Once one of the city’s youngest ever councilmembers and commissioners, Cerullo has played a prominent role in NYC government for nearly 40 years and is currently a Commissioner on the New York City Planning Commission.
The award recognizes Cerullo’s leadership on a host of Grand Central Partnership’s initiatives, including: the recently-completed Vanderbilt Avenue Corridor Rezoning and subsequent Midtown East Rezoning projects, which “really solidified the public-private partnerships between our elected and appointed officials and the impacted stakeholders;” the public transit improvements around Grand Central; and the opening up of “much-needed outdoor spaces like Pershing Square West and East, a shared street on East 43rd Street between Lexington and Third Avenues, and most recently, the approval of funding for the re-envisioning of the Park Avenue Malls that will restore the Park in Park Avenue.”
Wayne Taub (Executive Managing Director of Operations, Jack Resnick & Sons)
Wayne Taub, Executive Managing Director of Operations at Jack Resnick & Sons, is slated to receive The George M. Brooker Management Executive of the Year Award in recognition of his exceptional career accomplishments as well as service to the profession and the broader community. As a leader, Taub strives to “instill confidence and trust” in his team while continuing to find time to give back to his community. “Great leaders demonstrate honesty and integrity, and not just at work,” says Taub. “They create a sense of ‘we’, not ‘I’, and let it be known that we’re all in this together.”
This attitude extends to Taub’s vision for New York City as it moves past the struggles of the pandemic. “Restaurants are buzzing with activity, retail leasing has picked up, holiday party invitations are going out, parties will soon be in full swing, and slowly but surely workers are finding their way back to the office,” he says. “I hope the worst is behind us, and the time for growth and positive change is upon us.”
Ellen Israel (Executive Managing Director, JRT Realty Group)
This year’s Louis Smadbeck Memorial Broker Recognition Award will go to Ellen Israel, Executive Managing Director at JRT Realty Group, in recognition of her personal and professional integrity as well as her long-term leadership and prominence in the brokerage community and on REBNY’s committees. After more than 40 years in the business, Israel knows that “at the end of the day, all you have is your reputation,” and she advises her fellow brokers to “be honest, be kind, and be compassionate.”
Israel compares today’s market to the post-oil crisis years of the early 1980s when she made her name in the industry. “Banks had no money to lend, foreclosures left and right, and NYC was about to default on its bonds,” she recalls. “But since I didn’t know any better, I used the philosophy, ‘Don’t take no for an answer!” After witnessing many cycles, Israel is “confident that NYC will come out of this current cycle stronger and better, as it always does.”
Michael Rudder (Principal, Rudder Property Group)
Michael Rudder, Principal of Rudder Property Group, will receive The Young Real Estate Professional of the Year Award to celebrate his incredible professional achievements as a rising star of the industry and for civic leadership. Rudder’s firm is a leader in the office condominium space and has sold over two million square feet of office condos to date. “I believe that specialization is the key to success,” says Rudder. “As the saying goes, ‘The riches are in the niches.’”
Rudder believes that the past is the key to understanding NYC’s future. “New York City, with its resilience and unwavering spirit, has historically been a catalyst for innovation and growth,” says Rudder. “I’m hopeful that the city will continue to be a beacon of opportunity, fostering an environment where innovation thrives and where aspiring professionals can make their mark.”
For more information on the REBNY Annual, including details on how to purchase tickets and secure a sponsorship, click here.