John A. Catsimatidis,

is an American self made billionaire, businessman, and radio talk show host.

He is the owner, president, chairman, and CEO of Red Apple Group, a real estate and aviation company with about $2 billion in holdings in New York, Florida and Pennsylvania.

The Mark Hertz Group, with close to 40 Years of experience, specializes in serving property owners, managers, contractors, and developers in NYC. We take pride in putting our clients first and NYC second. In addition to our existing violation clearing services under Mark Hertz Company, we are thrilled to announce Mark Hertz Environmental to concentrate on Lead and Mold testing so you can be ready for Local Law 31 well before 2025. Mark Hertz Associates handles all plumbing and electrical applications, including minor work and corrections, while Mark Hertz + BILD specializes in new job permitting and expediting. With our keen attention to detail, you can trust us to handle the intricacies, allowing you to focus on the bigger picture.

Real estate investment industry veteran Henry Manoucheri is the Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Universe Holdings, which has rapidly become one of California’s largest and most active investors in the Los Angeles apartment communities. Today the firm has $1.5 billion of assets under management totaling approximately 3,000 units.

Manoucheri chairs Universe Holdings Multifamily’ s investment committee to skillfully select value-add assets for acquisition, repositioning, and eventual disposition to deliver outstanding risk-adjusted returns for the company and its institutional and high net worth partners.

His three decades of real estate experience includes 15 years as a top national broker for Marcus & Millichap, where he has successfully brokered over $500m in property assets.

David Alexander Paterson became the 55th Governor of the State of New York on March 17, 2008. In his first address as Governor, he spoke about the challenges facing New York and his plans to build a better and brighter future for all citizens. He was ahead of the national curve in predicting and acting on the state’s fiscal downturn.

During Governor Paterson’s 2008 inaugural address, he foretold of an impending national fiscal crisis and collapse. This forecast compelled New York’s Legislature to convene for a special session in August 2008. As a result of this session, the state reduced its deficit by $2 billion and mitigated further devastating financial upheaval, allowing it to maintain its credit rating for the duration of his term. He enacted legislation attaching severe criminal penalties to predatory lending and reduced New York’s fiscal deficit by nearly $40 billion. One of his greatest achievements was establishing a new budget process that has yielded on-time budgets since he left office.

Governor Paterson embodies a rare combination of skills, including a unique understanding of marketplace drivers and surrounding events. He earned his B.A in History from Columbia University and his J.D. from Hofstra Law School.

Prior to becoming New York State’s 55th governor in March 2008, David began his political career when he was elected to represent Harlem in 1985 at the age of 31, making him the third youngest state senator in New York’s history. In 2002, he was elected as Minority Leader of the New York State Senate, becoming the first African-American and blind legislative leader in the state’s history. Among his many other accomplishments and distinctions, he was honored to address the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

In 2014, David was appointed as Chairman of the New York State Democratic Party and served on the Board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. He was previously an adjunct professor of government at New York University and later joined the faculty at Touro College. He consulted for three years for the Durst Corporation and the National Federation of the Blind and currently chairs the Board of the Achilles Track Club.

David hosts a popular drive-time talk radio show on WABC-AM, was formerly a host of a radio show on WOR-AM in New York City and is a highly sought-after speaker, frequently appearing as a guest commentator on nationally broadcast news-related programs.

Upon leaving his position as Director/Investments with the Stifel Investment Bank’s Moldaver Paterson & Lee Group, he joined Kivvit, a nationally acclaimed public affairs and public relations firm.

David is also Senior Vice President and Senior Advisor to Las Vegas Sands Corp. In his current position, he is helping lead the charge to help the casino and resort developer’s efforts to expand gaming downstate to create jobs and bring billions of dollars in immediate and sustainable revenue streams that will help people throughout New York.

David recently published his autobiography, Black, Blind & In Charge, a story of visionary leadership and overcoming adversity.

In 2019, the Patersons, David and Mary were married by former New York Mayor David N. Dinkins in New York City. Their family includes three children, Alex, Ashley and Anthony.

David’s mother, Portia Paterson, who fought to make him one of the first blind students to attend public school, just celebrated her 93rd birthday.

Westwood Realty Associates is an investment sales firm based in New York City. Westwood’s Founder and CEO, Steven Vegh, started the company in 2012 after 12+ years working in the real estate industry. Since inception Westwood has sold over $10 billion dollars in deals throughout the USA. While their primary focus is Multi-Family, Westwood has transacted in the Retail, Office, and Development space as well. Although only a boutique two-person firm, with Phil Goldstein serving as Vice President, Westwood has established itself as one of the most successful brokerage firms in NYC and beyond.

In the last few years Westwood has utilized its vast relationships to expand to markets across the US, closing over $1.5 billion in sales in over 9 states. In addition, Westwood has recently branched into financing, and has closed over $1 billion of financing in 2022 alone.

MARTIN J. HEISTEIN became a Partner of the firm in 1992. He is Co-Chair of the Firm’s Administrative Law Department.

Mr. Heistein is involved in diverse proceedings before the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), including MCI, J-51 and 421-a applications, the NYC Environmental Control Board (ECB) and the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). He practices administrative law, representing property owners of rent regulated housing and developers of 421-a new construction, hotel stabilization and single room occupancy issues and Certificates of Non-Harassment. His major concentration is the representation of many buyers/sellers of rent regulated housing in connection with rent regulatory due diligence issues. He also provides advice and representation in connection with affordable housing issues.

Mr. Heistein was the former General Counsel to the Rent Stabilization Association of N.Y.C., Inc., New York City’s largest real estate trade association whose 25,000 members own or manage over 900,000 housing units. Mr. Heistein served as General Counsel for seven years.

He is very knowledgeable in the Rent Stabilization Code, having been responsible for analyzing the Code on behalf of property owners while at RSA. Mr. Heistein was formerly responsible for drafting legislation in the State Legislature and the City Council and continues to specialize in governmental relations. Mr. Heistein has also been a member of New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Owner Advisory Council. He works very closely with real estate industry groups, such as RSA, SPONY and CHIP, where he is a member of the Advisory Board.

Mr. Heistein is a member of the Landlord and Tenant Committee of the New York State Bar Association He has also served as a member of the Committee on the Housing Court of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. He has written numerous articles in the areas of housing and rent stabilization and has lectured at seminars sponsored by the Rent Stabilization Association, Associated Builders and Owners and at the Small Property Owners of New York, Marcus and Millichap and the Massey Knakal Multi-Family Summit.

David Bistricer has been the managing member of Clipper Equity & Clipper Realty a NYSE publicly traded REIT . He served as Co-Chairman of the board of directors of Coleman Cable Inc. from January 1999 through February 2011. He was previously Co-Chairman of Riblet Products Corporation from January 1987 until its merger with the Coleman Cable Inc. in 2000.

Mr. Bistricer brings to the industry many years of valuable industry experience, leadership abilities, and strategic insight .

Clipper Realty Inc. is a self-administered and self-managed real estate company that acquires, owns, manages, operates and repositions , develops multifamily residential and commercial properties in the New York metropolitan area, with a portfolio in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Company was formed to continue and expand the commercial real estate business of the 50/53 JV LLC (a Delaware limited liability company), Renaissance Equity Holdings LLC (a Delaware limited liability company), Berkshire Equity LLC (a Delaware limited liability company) and Gunki Holdings LLC (a Delaware limited liability company) (collectively, the “Predecessor” or the “predecessor entities”). Our primary focus is to continue to own, manage and operate our portfolio, and to acquire and re-position additional multifamily residential and commercial properties in the New York metropolitan area.

Clipper Equity is a development firm that specializes in residential condominiums and multi-family buildings throughout the New York Metropolitan area. With a legacy spanning over multiple generations, the firms long standing success is attributed to the companies unwavering commitment to improving and enriching the “Quality of Life” for residents.

Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein was elected on November 6, 2018, to represent New York’s 48th Assembly District, which includes the neighborhoods of Borough Park and Midwood in Brooklyn.

Before his election, Simcha served on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s legislative affairs team in Albany, and as part of the mayor’s senior Intergovernmental staff at City Hall. During this time, Simcha played a crucial role advocating for budgetary and legislative priorities vital to the City of New York in Albany, and was instrumental in helping craft and pass many pieces of legislation in the state legislature. Simcha’s City Hall portfolio included the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Department for the Aging (DFTA), Department of Homeless Services (DHS), Human Resources Administration (HRA), NYC Health and Hospitals, Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), Department of Transportation (DOT), Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), and ThriveNYC, the nation’s most comprehensive approach to mental health.

Before joining the mayor’s team, Simcha served for four years as a senior aide to New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, where his responsibilities included working on intergovernmental affairs and a deep involvement with communities across New York State. Simcha is proud to have worked with many non-profit organizations and community groups in helping New Yorkers identify and reclaim funds owed through the state’s unclaimed funds program. Simcha previously served as the political affairs director at a public relations firm, as a special assistant in the New York State legislature, and as a member of Brooklyn’s Community Board 12.

Simcha is a graduate of New York’s yeshiva system and a lifelong resident of Borough Park. Simcha and his wife, Pearl, are the proud parents of four children.

Nathan Wasserman heads up our real estate acquisition division and co-operates alongside Paul Wasserman. He has over 15 years of real estate experience and has sourced every new transaction since 2012. His first four years was as a leasing broker at Cushman and Wakefield, followed by a stint on wall street underwriting CMBS securities. He holds a B.S. in Political Science from Delaware University and a MRE, Real Estate/Finance & Investment at New York University. Additionally he is licensed to sell real estate in New York and a member of REBNY.

David Mattel is our skillful liaison between property representatives and HPD personnel. His proficiency in the knowledge of HPD’s rules and regulations concerning building inspections is crucial in optimizing expeditious removal of violations from records. He is also responsible for the management and guidance of our in-house team of building inspectors. Mr. Mattel’s energetic perseverance and ambitious resolve, make him and his team of inspectors an integral part of our firm’s efficient structure.

Ahmed Tigani is HPD's First Deputy Commissioner and oversees HPD's Office of Neighborhood Strategies and Division of Tenant Resources, in addition to the Office of Financial Management, and the Economic Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance, Engineering Audit, Human Resources, and General Services Divisions. Ahmed will continue efforts to foster and strengthen synergies between these critically important areas and all the work of the agency.

An experienced urban planner and policy manager, Ahmed first joined HPD as the Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Neighborhood Strategies. Prior to joining HPD, Ahmed most recently served as Chief of Staff to the Commissioner for the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). Before joining DOB, Ahmed was Senior Advisor for Housing, Economic Development, and Labor in the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Ahmed came to the Administration from the Office of the Manhattan Borough President, first as Community Development Officer and then as Assistant Director of Land Use, Planning and Development, organizing and helping communities develop planning processes, managing various working groups focused on specific policy issues and helping to shape the Office’s positions on a range of discretionary land use projects. He also served as Director of Housing Policy and Advocacy and then Legislative Director for the Office of NYC Council Member Helen Rosenthal. Ahmed started his career in City government as Director of Donations for Materials for the Arts at the Department of Cultural Affairs. Ahmed holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Urban Planning from Hunter College.

Mr. Raisner is the Founder and CEO of The Raisner Group, a New York real estate investment firm focused on Brooklyn.

Under his leadership, The Raisner Group has raised capital domestically and internationally since 2009 to pioneer investments in urban renewal. It has been active in non-performing notes and fee simple transactions, and focuses primarily on value-add, residential and mixed-use real estate investments. To date, it has purchased and repositioned over 45 properties with a vision to contribute to the reshaping of the local urban landscape, hand-in-hand with local stakeholders and communities.

Most of the firm’s acquisitions have taken place in the emerging neighborhoods of Bushwick, Bed Stuy and Prospect Lefferts Gardens.

Prior to creating The Raisner Group, he worked as an equity trader in New York and a private equity investor in Argentina. Mr. Raisner holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an MBA from Columbia Business School with Dean’s List honors.

He is a Foreign Trade Advisor to the Government of France and a Board Member of the North American Committee. He is a Founding Member of the Transatlantic Forum of the French-American Foundation and has served as an Advisor to Concordia, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering Public-Private Partnerships for social impact. He also serves on the Board of Advisors of La Maison Française of New York University. He is a CFA Charterholder and has been a Sponsor of the Real Estate Private Equity class at Columbia Business School. He was named a Notable in Real Estate by Crain’s New York Business in 2021.

Starting 2013, The Raisner Group also became involved in PropTech, through its affiliate Raisner Tech Ventures, and made early stage investments in such real estate technology startups as TheGuarantors, Enertiv, RealCrowd, block.a and LeasePilot. The Raisner Group also undertook its first co-living project in 2019 in Bushwick.

He has been a Contributor on real estate, urbanism and foreign affairs topics for publications and organization such as The Huffington Post, The World Economic Forum, Forbes, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Observer and Le Monde.

Prior to his career in business, he played professional basketball.

Founded in 1991, Meridian Capital Group is America’s most active dealmaker and one of the nation’s leading commercial real estate finance, investment sales and retail leasing advisors. In 2022, Meridian closed more than $55 billion in financing across more than 310 unique lenders. Meridian represents many of the world’s leading real estate investors and developers and the company’s expansive platform has specialized practices for a broad array of property types including office, retail, multifamily, hotel, mixed-use, industrial, and healthcare and senior housing properties. Meridian is headquartered in New York City with offices in New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, and California.

Mr. Levine joined Meridian in 2004 and currently serves as a Senior Managing Director, overseeing a staff of originators and underwriters in the negotiation and placement of financing for construction, repositioning and transitional asset transactions.

Prior to joining Meridian, Mr. Levine was a Senior Vice President at Westminster Capital, a division of Kushner Companies. His job responsibilities at Westminster included coordinating all aspects of financing for Kushner Companies, including debt and equity financing. Mr. Levine also previously worked as a financial analyst in the real estate investment banking group of CIBC World Markets.

Mr. Levine holds an M.S. in Real Estate Finance from New York University and a B.A. in Finance from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business.

David Junik is a respected leader and influential figure in New York City's commercial, industrial, and development brokerage scene. Over three decades, he has overseen nearly $2 billion in successful transactions, earning a reputation as a skilled negotiator. David's expertise in the last-mile logistics sector has shaped the market, setting him apart as one of the industry's most accomplished brokers. Renowned for his comprehensive market knowledge, he consistently delivers industry-leading results. His unwavering dedication to clients, coupled with a unique background in Rabbinical studies, reflects his commitment to excellence and integrity. With a passion for the industry, David Junik remains a trusted partner and true leader in NYC's real estate landscape.

Jonathan Bennett is a seasoned commercial real estate professional with over 20 years of experience. As President of AmTrust Realty Corp., Bennett oversees portfolio optimization for the company’s approximately 12 million square feet of office assets in major markets throughout the U.S. Specific focuses include capital improvements, leasing initiatives, and fostering a collaborative and innovative culture among the company’s 100-plus employees.

Joseph Ackroyd is the Assistant Commissioner of the Technical Affairs and Code Development Units at New York City Department of Buildings (DOB). He also serves as the Floodplain Administrator for the City of New York. In his role as Assistant Commissioner Joe manages a team that among other things, administers revisions to the New York City Construction Codes, draft code interpretations, local laws, rules and Buildings Bulletins. Previous positions at DOB include Executive Director of Technical Affairs, Chief Engineer of the Concrete Enforcement Unit and Plans Examiner. Joe also serves as a committee member to the International Plumbing Code.

Joe is a licensed Professional Engineer, Certified Floodplain Manager and holds a bachelors and a masters degree in Civil Engineering.

Beginning his career as a real estate salesman just two days after completing high school, Abe Betesh focused on marketing and selling income producing properties around New York. In 1988, The New York Times chronicled his quick rise to success, in an article that praised him as a “teen prodigy.”

Abe spent the ensuing years as CEO of the ABECO Organization, building it into a full service real estate investment, development and management company. Through persistence and a commitment to excellence Abe has been able to reposition properties creatively to add sustainable equity to each and every project while generating strong returns for him and his investment partners.

In the past decade Abe launched Abeco Construction, a full service, licensed, and insured construction company to fully serve his clients’ and investors’ development needs.

Abe attributes his success to leading his company in following the principles of honesty, client loyalty, attention to detail, community-based values and hard work. Abe is a dedicated member of the Sephardic community and is involved in many charitable organizations.

Greg Corbin is the President and Founder of Northgate Real Estate Group, a firm specializing in distressed assets. In addition to his focus on the sale of properties in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Mr. Corbin is also an expert in foreclosure sales, both judicial and UCC, loan and REO sales, restructuring, workouts, and the disposition of stalled construction sites. He has extensive expertise in these arenas and is widely recognized as one of the most active and sought after industry leaders.

Mr. Corbin has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, most recently:

2022 RED Bankruptcy Broker of the Year

2022 CoStar PowerBroker

2022 Crain’s Most Influential People in Real Estate

2022 New York Real Estate Journal Industry Leader

2021 Property IDX Broker of the Year

2021 IE Magazine Inspiring Leader

2021 Connect Media Top Broker

Mr. Corbin and his team have been involved in the sale of over $3 Billion of investment properties spanning all major asset classes, including: multi-family apartment buildings, development sites, factory/warehouses, transitional housing facilities, bulk condominium packages, industrial, retail, hotel, office, mixed-use and commercial buildings.

Prior to starting North Point, Mr. Corbin spent 4 years at Rosewood Realty Group as the President of the Bankruptcy and Restructuring Division. While there, he and his team arranged the sale, workout or recapitalization of over 100 buildings, development sites, membership interests and loans totaling $1.1 billion in underlying collateral.

Before Rosewood, Mr. Corbin spent a decade at Besen & Associates. Prior to that, he was a Director of Sales at Massey Knakal, now Cushman and Wakefield.

Mr. Corbin has been a Co-Chairman of the YJP Real Estate Division since 2012, Co-Founder of the NYIC Real Estate Group, and on the real estate board of the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Mr. Corbin is a graduate of Horace Mann and Boston University. He is a native New Yorker and lives on the Upper West Side with his wife and children.

Greg Corbin is the President and Founder of Northgate Real Estate Group, a firm specializing in distressed assets. In addition to his focus on the sale of properties in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Mr. Corbin is also an expert in foreclosure sales, both judicial and UCC, loan and REO sales, restructuring, workouts, and the disposition of stalled construction sites. He has extensive expertise in these arenas and is widely recognized as one of the most active and sought after industry leaders. Mr. Corbin has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, most recently: 2022 RED Bankruptcy Broker of the Year, 2022 CoStar PowerBroker, 2022 Crain’s Most Influential People in Real Estate and 2022 New York Real Estate Journal Industry Leader.

Jonathan has dedicated his career to representing the entrance of the housing providers of New York City. He has served as housing counselor to some of the largest non-for profit corporations, providing housing to veterans and addressed individuals, co-op and condo board to represent thousands of other owners and landlords from owners of single-family houses to companies of thousands of units under management. Jonathan is committed to helping landlords thrive in the most legally complex housing market in the world.