REBNY Awards Best in Industry

Six leaders to be honored. Also, BOMA and CCI align to combat gas emissions.

REBNY Names 2007 Honorees

This year, six industry leaders will be honored at The Real Estate Board of New York’s 112th Annual Banquet. REBNY recently released the names of the winners:

Alan Wiener of Wachovia Multifamily Capital Group will receive The Harry B. Helmsley Distinguished New Yorker Award, for a lifetime of exceptional accomplishment and invaluable contributions to New York’s civic welfare.

Edward Riguardi of Jones Lang LaSalle will receive The Bernard H. Mendik Lifetime Leadership in Real Estate Award, for a lifetime of exceptional accomplishment and invaluable contributions to New York’s leadership in real estate.

Bruce Mosler of Cushman & Wakefield will receive The Louis Smadbeck Broker Recognition Award, which honors an executive who exemplifies the characteristics of a successful commercial broker.

Gaston Silva of Vornado Realty Trust will receive The George M. Brooker Management Executive of the Year Award, which recognizes outstanding professionalism, civic achievement and contribution to the real estate industry.

Jonathan Mechanic of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson will receive The Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award, which recognizes meritorious service to the community by a REBNY member.

Gregg Schenker of ABS Partners Real Estate LLC, will receive The Young Real Estate Man of the Year Award for integrity, professional and personal ethics and knowledge, ability and accomplishments in the field of real estate, contribution of time and effort to REBNY and constructive participation in the life of the community.

The honorees will receive their awards on January 17, 2008 at the New York Hilton.

Community Center Get Boost from IBEW

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 164 recently donated electrical materials and services to The Franciscan Community Development Center in New Jersey.

The new center on St. John the Baptist Church grounds in Fairfield is scheduled to open in January 2008. The center will offer multiple pro bono services including a food bank and health care center.

“Like all of IBEW Local 164’s community outreach projects, the St. John the Baptist Church effort reflects our commitment to making life better for those around us through our skilled trade,” said Richard Dressel, Local 164 business manager. “The new Franciscan Community Center will bring much-needed healthcare and nourishment to the residents of the surrounding community and we are pleased to be involved with this worthwhile endeavor.”

A New Interest for BOMA and CCI

The Building Owners and Managers Association International and the Clinton Climate Initiative of the William J. Clinton Foundation recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding. As a result, the two will collaborate on improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the world’s largest cities.

On the agenda, the partnership will encourage BOMA’s large portfolio members to participate in the CCI Building Retrofit Program, which provides both cities and their private building owners with access to the necessary funds to retrofit existing buildings with more energy efficient products, typically leading to energy savings between 20 to 50 percent, according to the William J. Clinton Foundation.

BOMA and CCI will also identify standard models for energy performance contracting to reduce transactional time and cost as well and eliminate barriers to participation.

“We are honored to collaborate with the CCI on these crucial sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives,” said BOMA International Chairman Brenna Walraven. “By aligning our respective programs . . . we will expand our outreach to municipalities and commercial properties to markedly improve energy performance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

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