Genghis Hadi
Co-founder and Managing Principal, Nahla Capital
Genghis Hadi has more than 14 years of real estate private equity experience in the United States. Most recently he spent seven years with Carlyle Group and worked on several billion dollars of transaction volume including new acquisitions and asset management of existing transactions with a focus on New York City.
Prior to Carlyle, Mr. Hadi was part of both the Acquisitions and Asset Management team at Boston Capital. He completed his Master of Science in Real Estate Development at Columbia University, and his undergraduate studies in economics at Tufts University. Born and raised in Dubai, UAE, he has now lived in the United States for more than 15 years. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Masters of Science in Real Estate Development Program.
Ken Weiss, JD, CFP
Fortis Lux Financial
Ken Weiss began his career in 1988 working in a diversified family business, where his responsibilities included managing an investment portfolio of real estate and other income-producing assets in the United States and Asia, as well as its international manufacturing operations.
With a focus on retirement planning and a commitment to long-term asset preservation and accumulation, Mr. Weiss embarked on a career in wealth management in 2002 at Hudson Wealth Advisors, an office of MetLife. He specializes in helping professionals and their families achieve their financial goals, providing them with tax-efficient solutions to build and preserve multi-generational wealth. In 2016, Hudson Wealth Advisors was merged into Fortis Lux Financial, a member of the MassMutual Financial Group.
Mr. Weiss earned a B.A. degree from Boston College in 1984 and a J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1988 and obtained his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in 2013.
He is a member of the National Association of Financial Advisors, the Society of Financial Service Professionals, the Financial Planning Association, and the Estate Planning Council of NYC; sits on the executive committees of the Cardozo School of Law Alumni Association and the National Realty Club; and is a founding member and investor in SPiN Global, a world-class table tennis and social club located in New York City and in other major cities in the United States and Canada.
Jeffrey A. Lenobel
Partner, Schulte Roth & Zabel, LLP
Jeffrey A. Lenobel is a partner with Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP (“SRZ”) in New York City, an international law firm with over 400 attorneys. He has chaired the Real Estate Group at SRZ for more than two decades. Jeff has served as one of three partners on the Firm’s Operating Committee since it was established ten years ago and had been elected to the Firm’s Executive Committee and Compensation Committee for the past 16 years. Jeff practices primarily in the areas of cooperatives and condominiums, real estate restructuring, development, finance, sales and acquisitions. His clients include real estate funds, developers, borrowers, lenders and other financial institutions in their real estate and capital markets activities, complex financing transactions, sales and acquisitions, developments, funds, joint venture arrangements, including workouts and restructurings, and other related matters.
A veteran of the firm, Jeff has grown the real estate practice at SRZ, which today is in an elite class that completes billions of dollars in real estate transactions annually. Under his leadership, the Real Estate Group has developed a reputation for producing inventive solutions to the most difficult challenges in a timely and efficient manner. In his own practice, one factor that separates Jeff from others is his hands-on approach to matters. Nationally recognized as a leading lawyer, he has a reputation for expediently structuring complex deals that utilize diverse financial vehicles.
Jeff has been ranked for the past eight years as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers in the NY Metro Area” by Super Lawyers and named as one of “New York’s Most Powerful Real Estate Attorneys” by the Commercial Observer. An elected member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, he is consistently listed in Chambers USA, The Legal 500 United States and other ranking publications. Jeff has chaired and/or served on numerous committees of the American Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association, including its Committee on Cooperatives and Condominiums.
Outside of the office, Jeff is a Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Forum on Law, Culture and Society at NYU School of Law, a not-for-profit organization that focuses on human rights and social justice issues. Jeff is also currently a member of the Admission Board at Cumberland School of Law. At various times during his career, Jeff has served on the Advisory Boards of Chicago Title Insurance Company, Stewart Title Insurance Company and Fidelity Title Insurance Company. He is frequently invited to write and speak on current real estate topics at leading industry events.
On a personal level, Jeff is currently a member of the Board of Governors of the Friars Club of New York City and is a member of the Board of Directors of (i) Phoenix Owners Corp. in New York (where he also serves as Treasurer), (ii) the Sanctuary at Longboat Key Club Community Association, Inc. in Longboat Key, Florida and (iii) the Sanctuary IV at Longboat Key Club Condominium Association, Inc. in Longboat Key, Florida. Jeff has also served on the Executive Committee of the UJA-Federation, Real Estate Lawyers Division, and the Executive Committee for the Fund to Cure Asthma of the National Jewish Medical and Research Center. An avid golfer, Jeff is a member of The Longboat Key Club (in Longboat Key, Florida) and a long-standing member of Metropolis Country Club (in White Plains, New York) where he has served many terms as Vice President, Treasurer and member of its Board of Governors. He is also involved as an active member of the Harmonie Club in New York City.
John T. Farrell
Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield
John T. Farrell has been working in the field of real estate valuation and consulting since 2003. His particular area of expertise is complex real estate disputes such as rent reset arbitrations, environmental contamination, lost profits damages, etc. He has prepared appraisal, rental, market, and feasibility studies for a variety of purposes including lease negotiation, asset acquisition and disposition, corporate mergers, partnership dissolution and other business disputes, bankruptcy, condemnation, property tax appeals, estate tax, gifting, urban renewal, financing, and various other corporate planning purposes.
Mr. Farrell is also active with the New York University Schack Institute of Real Estate where he previously served on the Global Curriculum Advisory Committee and where he currently serves as president of the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate Alumni Association. He also consulted for the New York City Department of Planning on Local Law 33 (the Post 9/11 revised NYC Construction Codes).
John T. Dragone
Managing Director, Trinity Street Capital Partners
John Dragone is a 20-year veteran in the commercial real estate arena and currently a managing director at Trinity Street Capital Partners. He began his real estate banking career as a credit analyst at PNC Bank. In this position he underwrote commercial real estate loans ranging from $25MM to $300MM for extensions of credit on construction/mini-permanent loans, revolving lines of credit and letters of credit for various prominent private and public real estate companies. In the late 1990s, Mr. Dragone joined Bear Stearns & Co.’s Real Estate Banking Group, where he evaluated, originated, structured and underwrote commercial real estate loans for inclusion in commercial mortgage backed securities. In 2004, he joined Trinity Street Capital Partners, which is engaged in the origination and underwriting of debt and equity for commercial real estate, across the United States. In 2005, he founded the Landmark Opportunity Fund, which was a real estate bridge lending vehicle.
Mr. Dragone received his B.S. in Management Information Systems from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and his MBA in Finance and International Business from Fordham University.
Bennett Fradkin, AIA
Principal, Fradkin & McAlpin Architects
Bennett Fradkin has more than 36 years of experience working on a diverse array of projects. He believes that a methodical architectural process and a well-directed effort are the means to a superior design and a successful project.
Throughout his career, Mr. Fradkin has been responsible for a number of widely renowned projects. He is currently working on a new Science, Technology & Innovation Center for Landmark College, the acclaimed college for students with learning differences; he navigated The Russell Sage Foundation’s expansion from their Philip Johnson headquarters into the adjoining Victorian brownstone; and he oversees the firm’s international work for Tiffany & Company. Bennett was also the driving force behind the design of two technically complex projects that have become local institutions: Brooklyn Brewery and NY Distilling.
Mr. Fradkin has written architectural guidelines for, and is the chair of, the Architectural Review Board in the village of Hastings-on-Hudson in Westchester County, New York, and he has served on the economic development committee for the New York State Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, helping to develop a program for a 30-acre waterfront development site. He uses these same advisory skills as consulting architect for Radburn, America’s first garden city. For this groundbreaking community, Mr. Fradkin wrote architectural guidelines and regularly helps the association’s board evaluate proposals for new building projects. He is also president of the Board of Directors of the Greenburg Nature Center, a board member of the New York League of Conservation Voters, and chairman of the President’s Advisory Committee at Landmark College.
Mr. Fradkin received his B. Arch. from Carnegie Mellon University, and is a registered architect in New York, New Jersey and Vermont.
Lance H. Wilson
Managing Director, Berkeley Point Capital, LLC
Lance H. Wilson is a managing director of Berkeley Point Capital LLC, a subsidiary of Cantor Fitzgerald and Cantor Commercial Real Estate, specializing in the financing of multifamily rental housing projects, assisted living facilities and nursing homes primarily through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHA mortgage insurance programs. Mr. Wilson had been a senior vice president of Oppenheimer Multifamily Housing & Healthcare Finance, Inc., a subsidiary of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., until April 2016 when Berkeley Point acquired the entire deal pipeline and new business production staff of Oppenheimer Multifamily. Prior to joining Oppenheimer in 2008, Mr.Wilson held senior positions in multifamily housing finance and municipal investment banking with American Property Financing, Inc. (later acquired by Wachovia Multifamily Capital, Inc.), Greytsone & Co., and PaineWebber Incorporated. Before PaineWebber in 1986, Mr. Wilson was executive assistant to Secretary Samuel R. Pierce of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 1981 to 1984, and president of the New York City Housing Development Corporation from 1984 to 1986. Prior to government service, Mr. Wilson was an attorney with the Wall Street law firm of Mudge Rose Guthrie and Alexander from 1972 to 1977, and an associate counsel of The Equitable from 1977 to 1981.
Among his many charitable, professional and political activities/affiliations, Mr. Wilson is a director of the Faith Center for Community Development, Inc., an associate member of the Associated Builders and Owners of Greater New York, a governor of the National Realty Club, a member of the of the advisory council of the Atlantic Legal Foundation, and a member of the New York State Bar Association.
Mr. Wilson is the recipient of several awards, including The White Housing Private Sector Initiatives Commendation, Housing Man of the Year from the National and New York Housing Conferences, Secretary’s Award for Excellence (highest departmental award) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Outstanding Public Service Award from the National Association of Home Builders.
Mr. Wilson is a graduate of Hunter College, the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and the U.S. Army Officers Transportation School.
Michael J. Novak
LSRP, President Atlantic Environmental Solutions, Inc.
Michael Novak has been the President of Atlantic Environmental Solutions, Inc. (AESI), located in Hoboken, New Jersey, since 1997. Michael was one of the first group of individuals to be issued a license by the State of New Jersey under its Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) program. Michael has 30 years of experience in the management and implementation of environmental consulting and remediation services. Mr. Novak has directed over $70 million in environmental projects at over 5,000 client locations across 45 states. His areas of expertise include: environmental due diligence, wetlands, brownfields redevelopment, soil and groundwater remediation, underground storage tank compliance, hazardous waste management, asbestos and indoor air quality, and regulatory compliance.
Notably, a $3MM remediation project performed under his direction by AESI was awarded the Environmental Excellence Award by the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, a 24,000 member organization. Recently, Michael was honored by NJBIA as Executive of the Year for the 2018; and AESI was listed on Inc. Magazine’s INC 5000 list of top growing firms, NJBIZ Fast 50 list of top growing firms and NJ BIZ 250 list of Top Privately Held Firms.
Michael is active in regional professional groups including the Advisory Boards of publicly
traded banks, Investors Bank and ConnectOne Bank. Michael also is on the Rutgers Business School Advisory Board of its Center for Real Estate and he is on the Board of Governors of the 70 year old, NYC-based National Realty Club. Mr. Novak is an Associate of the Society of Industrial and Office Realty (SIOR) association, and on the Government Affairs Committee of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) New Jersey Chapter. Locally, Michael has served on many Boards including the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, the North Hudson YMCA, Stevens Cooperative School, the Hoboken Rotary, the 200 Club of Hudson County, and the Hoboken Zoning Board of Adjustment. Additionally, Michael completed a two year term as President of the Hoboken Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Novak received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering in 1987 from Lehigh University located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Some of his certifications include:
- NJDEP Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP)
- NJ Redevelopment Agency, Redevelopment Training Institute (NJRA-RTI) – Redevelopment Planning Process 4-day Workshop
- NJDEP Certified Subsurface Evaluator
- NJDEP License UHOT
- OSHA Certified: 40-hour Health & Safety Hazardous Waste Operations
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
- Licensed Site Remediation Professional Association (LSRPA)
- New Jersey Highlands Council’s Brownfield Technical Advisory Council Work Group
- New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA): Environmental Network Committee
- Commerce & Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ): Environmental Business Council
- National Association of Industrial & Office Properties (NAIOP): Regulatory Committee
- Urban Land Institute (ULI): Member
Memberships and Affiliations
- Rutgers Business School, Center for Real Estate, Advisory Board Member (2017-Present)
- Investors Bank Advisory Board (2017-Present)
- ConnectOne Bank Ambassadors Board (2017-Present)
- Hoboken Chamber of Commerce (1998-Present), President Board of Directors (2009-2012)
- Hoboken City Zoning Board of Adjustment, Member 2009
- Michael J. Novak, LSRP
- Hoboken-North Hudson YMCA, Board of Directors (2005-2010)
- Hoboken Rotary: 2003-2011 (Club President ‘05/’06, Foundation President ‘06/’07)
- Stevens Cooperative School, Board of Trustees 2005-2009
- 200 Club of Hudson County, Board of Directors (2007-Present), President (2011-2013)
- Park Performing Arts Center, Union City, Hudson County, Board of Directors (2007-2009)
- Jubilee Center of Hoboken, Board of Directors (2010)
- Hudson County Chamber of Commerce (1998-Present), Board of Directors (2010-2017)
Frank DeLucia
Senior Vice President HUB International Northeast
Frank DeLucia currently serves as Senior Vice President of HUB International Northeast. Frank joined HUB International in 1991. Based out of the New York City office, he works primarily with residential and commercial real estate owners and management companies in the New York metro area. As one of the senior brokers at HUB Northeast, he currently works with over 100 major real estate companies in the region. Additionally, he has experience in building insurance and risk management programs for general contractors and construction companies. Frank also specializes in the apparel industry.
Frank is an active member of various real estate associations in New York such as Community House & Improvement Program (CHIP), New York Association of Realty Managers (NYARM), Bronx/Manhattan North Association of Realtors, the New York Association of Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH) and the National Realty Club, where he was recently elected to serve as Governor. In addition, he is a board member of the Associated Builders and Owners of Greater New York (ABO).
Outside of his work with the Real Estate industry, Frank is also an active member of the Fashion Service Network (FSN), which is a group of leaders in all professional service areas that are dedicated to the improvement of the fashion industry. In addition, Frank serves as a board member of the Nassau County Police Department’s Exploring Advisory Board, where he was honored for his dedication as their 2012 “Person of the Year”.
In 2017, Frank was a recipient of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) “Tree of Life” award and was elected as “Person of the Year” by Community Management Associates (CMA) in 2019. He has been recognized annually at HUB’s sales conference with top honors; recently achieving the HUB Triple Legend Award in 2017, which is awarded for meeting the highest category criteria for over 15 consecutive years.
Frank holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from C.W. Post – Long Island University and is a licensed Property & Casualty insurance broker in New York.
H. Edward Wilkin III
Co-founder of WilkinGuttenplan
Ed Wilkin co-founded WilkinGuttenplan in 1983. He has over 40 years of experience helping family-owned and closely-held businesses manage the challenges of growth, cash flow and organizational restructuring. His clients
cover a variety of industries including wholesalers, real estate, construction, distribution, manufacturing, consulting, health care services, law firms and other professional practices. Ed has assisted clients with their audit and
accounting requirements, securing financing, mergers and acquisitions and planning and implementing business and tax strategies.
As part of his extensive real estate practice, Ed serves a variety of clients in the real estate industry, including commercial, residential and office and medical property developers, owners/investors, managers, agents and brokers. He works with a diverse assortment of properties including residential homes, apartment buildings, condominium, cooperative corporations and town home communities, low-income housing, including issues related to government regulations (HUD, low-income housing credits, etc.), golf course communities, shopping centers, parking facilities, offices and commercial buildings. He is experienced in all facets of condominium, co-op and homeowner association accounting and consulting with clients throughout New Jersey and New York.
Ed also works in the sports, music and entertainment division of WG overseeing client relationships and consulting with clients in all aspects of their financial lives. He is also closely involved in the business management
and tax planning areas.
Ed’s expertise in litigation support includes expert witness testimony. He has produced reports and served as an expert in many areas including, shareholder disputes, fraud and embezzlement losses, professional malpractice, and probate matters.
Prior to co-founding WilkinGuttenplan, Ed was a partner with a regional CPA firm.
Es is member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Also member of the New Jersey and New York Societies of Certified Public Accountants. Past President and former Board Member, Community Associations Institute – New Jersey Chapter
Ed graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Rider University. He continues his
education through regular continuing professional education (CPE) and educational seminars.