REBNY To Honor Real Estate Industry Leaders at 125th Annual Banquet

NEW YORK CITY—The challenges our City faces in the wake of the pandemic are unprecedented—but they are not insurmountable. That is according to the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) who will soon host its 125^th annual banquet virtually on June 10^th.

The banquet will showcase all the ways we came together during the past year to help our fellow New Yorkers and our City, according to REBNY. “By harnessing our love of this City and our industry’s long-held spirit of collaboration, we will build on our legacy and move forward towards NYC’s greatest comeback.”

REBNY will recognize honorees at the event for their outstanding professional success, exceptional contributions to the industry and unparalleled commitment to the civic welfare of New York City.

“This year has been difficult for many New Yorkers, but our honorees remind us that over REBNY’s 125-year history we have always found a way to come back stronger and more dynamic than we were before,” said REBNY Chairman Douglas Durst. “New York was able to endure a global pandemic thanks to the essential workers who kept our City running even as it paused. It gives me particular pleasure to honor the contributions of essential workers in the real estate industry who are paving the way to New York’s coming resurgence.”

The REBNY banquet is always a highlight of the year, and 2021 will be no different even as we gather virtually, adds REBNY President James Whelan. “This year’s honorees remind us how important this industry is to our City, and we should look to them as examples of the leadership, dedication and generosity of service that we will need in the coming years as real estate leads the way to New York City’s greatest comeback.”

The following award winners will be recognized at the banquet:

• Essential Workers in New York City Real Estate will be awarded the John E. Zuccotti Public Service Award for the extraordinary work they have done to help the industry and our City manage the COVID-19 pandemic and for their ongoing efforts to support the City’s recovery.

• Bess Freedman, Chief Executive Officer at Brown Harris Stevens, will be awarded The Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award for her meritorious service and lifelong commitment to improving outcomes in her community and the New York City real estate industry.

• Kevin McCann, Senior Managing Director of Global Occupier Services at Cushman & Wakefield, will receive The George M. Brooker Management Executive of the Year Award for his superior accomplishments in property management and his outstanding professionalism, civic achievement, and contributions to the real estate industry.

• Gregg L. Schenker, President and Co-Managing Partner of ABS Partners Real Estate, will receive the Louis Smadbeck Memorial Broker Recognition Award for his exceptional personal and professional integrity, leadership and prominence in the brokerage community, as well as his service on various REBNY committees.

• Robert M. Shapiro, Executive Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield, will receive the Young Real Estate Professional of the Year Award for his strong integrity, professionalism, and personal ethics. This award is selected by the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association of New York.

• Alan Wiener, Group Head at Wells Fargo Multifamily Capital, will receive The Bernard H. Mendik Lifetime Leadership in Real Estate Award for his exceptional accomplishments in real estate, leadership, and service to the real estate industry over his career.

• Laurie Zucker, Vice Chairwoman at Donald Zucker Company & Manhattan Skyline Mgt. Corp., will receive The Harry B. Helmsley Distinguished New Yorker Award for her invaluable contributions to New York’s civic welfare and the broader real estate community.

We look forward to attending this event and any of our readers who also wish to attend the banquet should purchase their tickets here.