Members
Members of the National Realty Club have shaped the U.S. real estate industry for more than seven decades.
The club has the right mix of real estate principals, developers and other service professionals who know how to get real estate deals done. Each member adds to the club’s dynamic atmosphere. At any NRC event, you may be able to connect with a developer who is working on one of the largest projects in the country, an owner with a significant portfolio or a renowned architect.
Events
Attending an NRC event gives unparalleled access to industry leaders.
The NRC hosts a speaker series featuring very senior-level executives and many other social events that encourage interaction among members and guests. Events are held in New York City, D.C. Metro, and Texas.
Opportunities
The NRC works to ensure business opportunities, in all areas of real estate, are shared throughout the membership.
We believe that bringing together the right people is the key to driving business.
Mission
The National Realty Club’s mission is to provide a forum for real estate principals, leaders, influencers and senior-level professionals to connect and foster business opportunities by developing strong and lasting relationships.
Vision
The NRC will utilize its strong member base including principals who have extensive real estate holdings throughout the United States to continue to grow both its New York and national presence. The NRC plans to add a hub in a selected gateway city every year.
The club continues Mr. Hemsley’s mission, connecting industry leaders and building long-term, mutually beneficial working relationships.
Values
The club’s leadership is guided by the NRC’s pillar values:
Trust
Transparency
Committment
Collegiality
Integrity
The National Realty Club was founded in 1947 by Harry Brakmann Helmsley and 15 of the leading real estate owners and professionals in New York.
The original members would lunch at Mr. Helmsley’s restaurant and literally sketch out deals on napkins. In that manner, the Club was as a facilitator to help build New York City into what it is today.
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NRC Founder, Harry Helmsley
Mr. Helmsley began his long and storied career in 1925. A self-made man, his first job was as a $12-a-week office boy. During his heyday, he amassed a strikingly diverse portfolio of property, becoming an owner in property worth nearly $5 billion.
Mr. Helmsley developed new buildings but also acquired already-built and occupied properties. Some of the most notable buildings he owned included the Empire State Building, the Helmsley Building, the Lincoln Building, the Graybar Building, the Flatiron Building, the Park Lane Hotel and the Fisk Building.
Mr. Helmsley loved to make a deal. He was an owner, broker, property manager, consultant and appraiser. His success was attributed largely to a gift for salesmanship, a willingness to delegate authority, and a less-usual acquisition policy of long-term fixed-rate mortgages during a slump and cash purchases when interest rates were low. This policy has since become standard in real estate today.
Mr. Helmsley was famously quoted: “You start in the business and you manage and you lease and then all of a sudden you see a property, and you think that is a good buy and you sell it to somebody. Then, after you’ve done that a number of times, you say, ‘Why am I selling this to somebody else? Why don’t I buy it?’ So you get a group together, it might require $10,000 and $20,000. Now, whatever I’m doing is really the same thing with a couple of noughts added to the end. Deals get bigger as you have more confidence. All of a sudden you are buying apartment houses as well as office buildings and loft buildings. A deal comes along that looks good, and you are in the hotel business, which you never expected to be in.”
His confidence was extraordinary and his capacity to attract capital legendary. And with few exceptions, he closed the deal. It was said that no one could analyze a deal faster than he, or judge better than he where “the romance” lay in a property, i.e. how to make it produce a better return through more efficient operations. He had a reputation for being tough but honest. He would speak deliberately and calculate rapidly and he sometimes could be gruff.
His leadership philosophy at Helmsley-Spear was to “let many flowers bloom,” and to have few rules. There was no table of organization. “The more rules you have, the more problems you have,” he told associates. Many of the brokers and building managers in the firm were also independent investors, normally in partnership with Mr. Helmsley.
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The 1947 Board of Governors of the NRC
The original Board of Governors included such notable real estate principals and professionals as Bernard P. Day, son of Joseph P. Day, Jack D. Weiler and David Rose.
The original 15 were all real estate industry leaders in their own right. Although their business prowess was second to none, many became more famous for their philanthropy. Some of the original board members’ legacy businesses remain to this day.
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Today
The NRC has moved meeting venues in New York from time to time to accommodate the changing dynamics of the club and the industry. From beginning meetings at the Roosevelt Hotel in 1947, to decades of building strong, long-standing relationships at 60 East Club, to outstanding programming at the Harmonie Club in New York City today, the one thing that has never changed is the quality of its members and stakeholders.
In May 2018, the National Realty Club in New York held its first event at the Harmonie Club with John Catsimatidis presenting. Moving forward, the NRC in New York will have most of its events at the Harmonie Club, but will still from time to time hold events at other venues when appropriate.
NRC D.C. Metro has most of its events at the Army&Navy Club and NRC Texas holds many of its events at Native Hostel near downtown Austin.
Michael Novak | President
Michael Novak began his role as President of the NRC in 2020. Michael 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)
Robert D. Pearson, Esq. | Chairman of the Board
Robert Pearson is a member of the Board of Governors of the National Realty Club. He served as president of the organization from 2015-2020. Before that, he served as general counsel from 2008 to 2012. As president, Rob helped to reinvigorate the Club, promoting and maintaining the mission and vision of the organization using its storied past as a guide, with an eye always on the future.
In 2004, Rob began representing real estate clients in his law practice. Later, he pivoted to providing relationship-based advisory and financing solutions for owners and principals and also investing in real estate proptech.
Rob actively utilizes his education, experience and skills to help to manage the continuous change process at the NRC. Outside of the Club, in addition to real estate advisory, he specializes in organizational development and empowering others in their efforts to develop capacity for change. Rob enjoys and excels in formulating and guiding change leadership initiatives.
Ed Wilkin | Treasurer
Ed Wilkin co-founded Wilkin & Guttenplan P.C. in 1983. He has over 40 years of experience helping family-owned and closely-eld 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 W&G 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 Wilkin & Guttenplan, Ed was a partner with a regional CPA firm.
Professional and Civic Achievements:
- Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA)
- Member of the New York Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA)
- Past President and former Board Member, Community Associations Institute – New Jersey Chapter
- Past President and Treasurer, Copper Hill Country Club
- Board Member of the State of New Jersey New Home Warranty Fund
- Board of Governors Member of the National Realty Club, Inc.
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.
Sarah Benton | Chief Operations Officer
Sarah joined the National Realty Club staff in 2019, assisting with efforts toward organizational operations, management of the club along with the standardization of its operations and team collaborations. As the Chief Operations Officer, Sarah works closely with the executive leadership team and Governors in empowering and modernizing the club’s processes and technologies. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the NRC in New York, she leads NRC’s event management, our re-branding process, marketing and other aspects of design for the club.
Outside the NRC, Sarah has gained extensive experience in business development, event production, operations management and finance from both private sectors and non-profit organizations. Sarah is currently with a digital media co., specializing in programmatic advertising, focusing on analytics and big data for 12 media groups across the nation.
Carter Reich, Esq. | General Counsel
In addition to serving a General Counsel to the NRC, Carter maintains a private law practice that he founded in 2017 as the next stage of his 13-year career as a courtroom lawyer. As a newly admitted attorney, Carter worked as an associate at an established general practice in northern New Jersey where he handled a wide variety litigation matters and had the good fortune of practicing alongside NRC President Rob Pearson. From 2007 to 2017, Carter associated with a midtown Manhattan litigation practice, and then for an offshoot of that practice where Carter was named partner in 2013.
Having developed a diverse commercial litigation practice, including interesting commercial real estate disputes and a growing fine art practice, Carter hung his shingle in 2017. He currently maintains an office in the Financial District.
An aggressive advocate in the courtroom and typifying the “anti-lawyer” outside of it, Carter handles all facets of litigation and dispute resolution from inception through trial, including appeals, in the state and federal courts of New York and New Jersey.
In 2010, Mr. Reich was recognized for his acumen in commercial litigation as the recipient of the New York Enterprise Report’s (now SmartCEO) Best Attorneys and Accountants Commercial Litigation Award. Since 2013, Mr. Reich has annually been named a “Rising Star” in SuperLawyers for the Metro New York City region.
Despite relocating from Hell’s Kitchen to northern, NJ in 2010, Carter maintains his connections to Manhattan as an active fundraiser for Ice Hockey In Harlem, where he volunteered as an on-ice coach for six years.
Michael Chetrit | Director of Business Affairs
Michael Chetrit has more than fifteen years of experience in commercial real estate, particularly in development, project management and marketing. In addition to leading expansion and strategic business projects for the NRC, he currently pursues select development, acquisition and finance projects in the tri-state area.
Prior to his current activities, Mr. Chetrit worked with The Park Hudson Group a development firm. At PHG he was actively involved in land acquisitions, financing, construction, and business development at strategic sites in New Jersey. He specialized at PHG in the marketing of multifamily real estate projects which entailed branding and positioning and complete personal oversight of the disposition and sales of the inventory much of the time at record prices.
Michael began his professional career selling financial investments, securities and mutual funds for the Wall Street based firm First Investors. Like friends and family, he became a product of the garment center and textile industry where he created and marketed his own brand and after twenty years, and similar to many in the field, transitioned to real estate.
He has a long background in international trade as well as business relations in Latin America, Europe and Asia. He speaks and is fluent in several languages including Spanish and French.
Michael graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Baruch College NYC with a specialization in International Marketing.
Ada Wu | Director of Technology & Blockchain
Ada Wu is the Director of Operations in North America at Calculus Network, a decentralized consensus layer for the Internet of Value. She helps build the community for the development of Calculus Network’s emerging platforms and around trading of cryptoassets. Her experience in the cryptocurrency ecosystem includes working closely with multi-cryptoasset management firms, exchanges, and market makers in Asia and the United States, such as Eigen Capital. To assist Calculus Network’s goals of building better cryptoasset market infrastructure, she utilizes her professional and academic backgrounds of Finance, Real Estate Investment, and Blockchain Technology.A
da graduated from New York University’s Schack Institute with a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Investment and Finance. She previously worked in Commercial Real Estate Finance as an Investment Manager. She is also a young leader of Asian Financial Society (AFS) and Executive Member of Media Committee of AFS.
Keti Mehta | Director of Diversity and Inclusion
Keti Mehta currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer with HUB International Northeast, responsible for the overall management of the firm’s new business initiatives along with recruiting high performing sales talent to further grow HUB’s regional footprint.
Keti’s passionate commitment has yielded success and fulfillment as she works with C-suite executives and high-potential leaders in the insurance, financial services and technology industries. As a highly skilled performance coach, avid relationship driver, champion of change and advocate of the client experience, she focuses on working with leaders to develop inspiring visions and build collaborative partnerships, while maximizing talent optimization to drive the organization’s growth agenda, deepen client footprint and increase ROI. Prior to joining HUB as the Head of Strategic Partnerships in 2017, Mehta held executive leadership roles at USI Insurance Services, Morgan Stanley, EMC, Alliance and IDB Bank.
Keti is a licensed Property & Casualty insurance broker. She holds an Executive Coaching Professional Certification from the International Coach Federation, globally accredited and a Graduate Certificate in Executive Leadership Coaching from William James College, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Charter Oak State College.
Keti serves as the Vice Chair of the Tri-State Diversity Council, where she stands out for being a culture champion, diversity sponsor, talent enthusiast and an innovative business driver providing trusted thought leadership and consultative business partnering to executive leadership. In addition, Keti is a long time Advisory Board member for Gladeo, a digital media non-profit organization fostering career exploration for young people from diverse backgrounds. Keti resides in Westchester County with her husband of 20 years and beloved daughter, Karina.
Nancy Holland | Director of Marketing
Prior to her role as Director of Business Development at Atlantic Environmental
Solutions, Nancy spent 15 years in the sales and marketing of new developments in NJ
and NYC. Beginning with New York based developer, The Athena Group, Nancy
spearheaded on-site sales at The A Condominiums in Jersey City. From there, she
moved on to work at Metro Homes LLC, simultaneously holding positions of Director of
Sales and Marketing and Property Manager. She oversaw the marketing of Gulls Cove
in Jersey City and Metrostop Condominiums in Hoboken while solely managing a
portfolio of 670 condominium homes. Moving on to become the Director of Marketing
and Management for Bijou Properties, Nancy was responsible, for the successful
marketing and lease up, of Edge Lofts, a 35-unit, LEED platinum project in Hoboken.
Nancy then went on to become the Director of Leasing for New York City based
developer, The Gotham Organization. With a total of 1200 homes at Gotham West that
included low- and middle-income housing, Nancy ran the team handling the lease up of
the 544 market rate homes. At that time, Gotham West, a $500 million dollar project,
was the largest residential project in New York City. She continued on to Gotham’s next
project, The Ashland, a 698-unit, 54 story tower in Fort Greene where she took on a
much more active role spearheading the successful marketing of the project as well as
the heading up the leasing team.
Looking to pivot, Nancy joined Atlantic Environmental Solutions as the Director of
Business Development. Drawing on her many years of real estate sales, the change
made sense based on the transactional nature of Atlantic’s business. Here Nancy
ensures customer relationships run smoothly and Atlantic’s new and existing clients are
kept informed every step of the way on the environmental processes required of their
properties. In addition to overseeing marketing for Atlantic, Nancy continues to draw on
the many relationships she has made over the years and grow them into new clients at
Atlantic.
In her spare time, Nancy consults with developers seeking her real estate marketing
expertise. She is a results-driven executive and is proud of the long career she has
cultivated along the way.
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.