Howard Rubenstein and his public relations firm Rubenstein Associates has 225 employees that serve 450 clients, among them such large organizations as News Corp., the New York Yankees, Bloomberg LP and some of the city's largest hospital organizations. He also has some very large real estate firms, such as Broadway Partners, Rudin Management, Silverstein Properties and Vornado Realty Trust. In part because of this, Rubenstein was awarded the Harry B. Helmsley Distinguished New Yorker Award Winner early this year at the Real Estate Board of New York's annual banquet. Click here to find out more information about next year's Jan. 17 banquet.

GlobeSt.com: How do you think the commercial real estate market has held up since you won your award early this year?

Howard Rubenstein: Overall it's been a relatively lackluster year for New York's commercial real estate market. Office leasing activity has been sluggish at best. Investment sales have been relatively active for mid-range properties, but top-of-the-market buildings have not found buyers willing to pay premium prices. New office construction has been virtually nonexistent except for the World Trade Center site and the Hudson Yards, the later which represents the most positive sign and hope for a rejuvenated market moving forward.