NYC ROOFTOPS 2015 Property Perspectives for

THE
ROOFTOPS CONFERENCE
NYC
2015
Property Perspectives for
Not-for-Profit Organizations
Friday, April 24, 2015
8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
New York Law School
185 West Broadway
Center for Real Estate Studies
185 West Broadway
New York, NY 10013-2921
Presented by
Center for Real Estate Studies
T 212.431.2135
E [email protected]
WE ARE NEW YORK’S LAW SCHOOL
SINCE 1891
THE
ROOFTOPS PROJECT
Founder and Director of The Rooftops Project:
James Hagy, Distinguished Adjunct Professor with the Center for Real Estate Studies
at New York Law School.
The Rooftops Project Team: Student and Alumni Team Members
Current Student Members 2014-15
THE
ROOFTOPS PROJECT
Project Mission and Goals
The Rooftops Project is an initiative founded and directed by James Hagy, Distinguished Adjunct
Professor with the Center for Real Estate Studies at New York Law School. It provides real
estate programs, workshops, and Web and print resources for not-for-profit organizations, with
several goals:
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Barbara Beau (Class of 2015)
Alexa Bonaros (Class of 2016)
Lana Buchbinder (Class of 2015)
Dana Cimera (Class of 2016)
Katherine DiSalvo (Class of 2015)
Elvira Kulyak (Class of 2016)
Shannon Doherty (Class of 2015)
Zulaihat Nauzo (Class of 2016)
Naveed Fazal (Class of 2015)
Sahar Nikanjam (Class of 2016)
Mehgan Gallagher (Class of 2015)
Jennessy Rivera (Class of 2016)
Elizabeth Hamilton (Class of 2015)
Payal Thakkar (Class of 2016)
Karolina Robel (Class of 2015)
Jordan Moss (Class of 2017)
Alumni (Past Student Members):
Marzena Fercz (Class of 2011)
Jennifer Scolnick (Class of 2013)
Rachel Logan (Class of 2011)
Arthy Bakthavatsalam (Class of 2014)
T o be the host of an ongoing dialogue within the community of not-for-profit executives
and managers, not-for-profit board members and volunteers, and real estate industry
professionals about topics relating to the effective occupancy, use, and management of real
estate in the social sector.
Sushma Rambaran (Class of 2011)
Emily Barile (Class of 2014)
Leslie Franco (Class of 2012)
Carlee Cooper (Class of 2014)
Mark Lapidus (Class of 2012)
Kelly Cooper (Class of 2014)
A.J. Sokoloff (Class of 2012)
Scott Haggmark (Class of 2014)
T o highlight and celebrate the diverse roles played by real estate (as physical space) in
supporting the missions of not-for-profit organizations of every type, from museums to
places of worship, from social and human services to education and advocacy.
Toby Vickers (Class of 2012)
Dmitriy Ishimbayev (Class of 2014)
Amanda Waye (Class of 2012)
Shaan Lodi (Class of 2014)
Stacy Dasaro (Class of 2013)
Aimie Nghiem (Class of 2014)
T o increase awareness of the contribution that a disciplined approach to real estate can
make in not-for-profit organizations of every size, from those with a single location to those
with a national or international presence.
Eda Derhemi (Class of 2013)
Tamara Salzman (Class of 2014)
Renaldo Phillips (Class of 2013)
Sampada Solapurkar (LL.M., Class of 2014)
Copyright © 2015 Rooftops Group LLC. Copyright to individual articles and other content reproduced in conference materials
is held and retained by the individual author or copyright holder. All rights are expressly reserved. Conference presentations
and these materials may not be quoted, copied, referenced, or reproduced in any way, in whole or in part, whether in
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the individual author or copyright holder.
Kristen Porro (Class of 2013)
THE
ROOFTOPS CONFERENCE AGENDA
8:30 a.m.
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. –12:30 p.m.
Registration and Continental
Breakfast
Break
A Funding Toolbox for Physical
Space Projects
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Snapshots from the Rooftops:
Welcome and Introductory
Remarks
Conference Moderator:
James Hagy, Distinguished Adjunct
Professor and Director of The Rooftops
Project, New York Law School
9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
The Trades Talk
Speakers:
Michael Doherty, President, Building
Maintenance Service LLC
Mike Kahwaty, Senior Inspector, Bell
Environmental Services
Ernie Scerbo, PE, CEA, LEED AP,
Associate, Jaros Baum & Bolles
What can not-for-profit organizations do to enhance
the operation of the facilities that they own and
occupy? How can they anticipate upcoming
maintenance and repair needs, including major
upgrades or replacement of building components
and systems? What are the merits of preventive
versus reactive maintenance? What about those
3:00 a.m. emergencies? What if you are a tenant?
And how can organizations make good selections
and promote relationships with service providers
across the necessary building trades? Our panel of
senior professionals in the trades will share their
perspectives on what works and what doesn’t.
9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Incorporating Sustainability in
Not-for-Profit Spaces
Brad Molotsky, LEED Green Associate,
Executive Vice President and General
Counsel, Brandywine Realty Trust
How can not-for-profit organizations incorporate
sustainable technologies into new construction
and renovation projects? What are the benefits
and costs of seeking LEED or other industry
designations? How can organizations implement
“green” concepts in existing building operation
and renovation? How can the trend toward
sustainability affect not-for-profits as tenants?
What first steps can be taken by smaller
organizations and those with resource constraints?
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
In Site: Occupancy Strategies
in a (Relentlessly) Upward Real
Estate Market
Guest Co-Moderators:
Susan Sack, Managing Director, Real
Estate, Robin Hood
Meg Ventrudo, Executive Director,
Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan
Art
Team One (Arts Organization
Scenario):
Alan J. Horwitz, AIA, LEED AP BD + C,
Director of Architecture Firmwide and
Managing Director, New Jersey Office,
G3 Architecture
Richard Warshauer, Senior Managing
Director, Colliers International NYC LLC
Team Two (Social Services
Organization Scenario):
Robert Shansky, Of Counsel, Scarola
Malone & Zubatov LLP
Stephen Powers, Director of
Transactions, Denham Wolf Real Estate
Services
How can not-for-profits approach both newproject site selection and leased-space
searches in a competitive real estate market
where property prices and effective rents are
relentlessly on the rise? In this interactive
session, two teams of New York City
professionals will be given occupancy scenarios
posed by two fictional—but realistic—not-forprofit organizations: one in the arts and one
in social services. The teams will reveal their
suggested approaches to guest moderators
representing the mock clients and engage in a
dialogue about the paths forward!
Guest Moderator:
Michael J. Horvitz, Chairman, Parkland
Management Company
Speakers:
Paula Park, Vice President, BankUnited
Kevin Quinn, President, Wye River
Group, Incorporated
Ronald F. Ries, CPA, Partner,
WeiserMazars LLP
Houman B. Shadab, Professor of Law,
Co-Director, Center for Business and
Financial Law, New York Law School
What is the menu of funding alternatives for real
estate capital projects in the not-for-profit sector?
What considerations are relevant in making a
selection? How do institutional funders think about
organizations’ infrastructure needs and costs? How
do lenders evaluate not-for-profit creditworthiness?
What resonates with donors? Looking beyond capital
campaigns for new buildings and expansions, what
about ongoing facilities operations and building
repairs and refurbishments?
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Luncheon Program:
Communicating Through and
About Your Space
Speakers:
Thomas Kaufman, Independent
Director of Photography
Larry Mufson, Principal, The Mufson
Partnership, a Nelson Company
Amy Sananman, Founder and Executive
Director, Groundswell
How can you craft an effective message for
funding physical space projects, large or small?
In what ways does physical space express your
mission, your messages, and your brand? What
are the opportunities? Our experienced panel will
explore techniques for communicating about your
space, and for using your space to communicate.
11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
Break
Reception
Our reception offers a chance, over dessert
and beverages, to meet peers and to chat with
our speakers, panelists, faculty, and students
involved in The Rooftops Project.
THE
ROOFTOPS CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Moderator
James Hagy
Distinguished Adjunct Professor
Director, The Rooftops Project, New York Law School
Jim is Distinguished Adjunct Professor
of Law at New York Law School. He also
founded and directs The Rooftops Project
at New York Law School’s Center for
Real Estate Studies. Jim also serves as
an affiliated transnational professor at
Peking University School of Transnational
Law and lectures frequently at other
universities and for business audiences in the United States
and abroad. During his 28-year career with Jones Day, the
global law firm, Jim served for 10 years as the co-chair of the
firm’s worldwide general real estate practice. He also formed
and chaired the firm’s Corporate Real Estate Services practice
worldwide. He advised a broad range of Fortune 500, FT 500,
and private companies in major national and international
transactions.
Panelists and Speakers
Michael Doherty
President, Building Maintenance Service (BMS), LLC
Mike is President of Building Maintenance
Service (BMS), LLC. He has served in this
role for the past 15 years and has 35 years
total in the building services industry. He
is a lifelong resident of Manhattan. BMS
is a fully integrated facilities services
company headquartered in New York
City, with branch offices in Washington,
D.C., Virginia, and Chicago. Consisting of 3,000 employees, BMS
performs janitorial, security, architectural surface maintenance,
and window cleaning services.
Michael J. Horvitz
Chairman, Parkland Management Company
Michael is Chairman of the Board of
Parkland Management Company, a family
investment office. He is a trustee of the
Frick Collection in New York and of the
Cleveland Orchestra and The Cleveland
Clinic Foundation. He has extensive
experience with building and expansion
projects for not-for-profit institutions.
Michael is a Trustee Emeritus of Case Western Reserve
University, the University of Virginia Law School Foundation
(where he chaired the board for six years), and the Cleveland
Museum of Art (where he served as President from 1996 to
2001 and as Chairman of the Board from 2001 to 2011). A retired
partner in the international law firm of Jones Day, Michael
practiced for more than 30 years in the areas of tax, business
transactions, and personal planning for privately owned
businesses, substantial families, and not-for-profit entities.
Alan J. Horwitz, AIA, LEED AP BD + C
Director of Architecture Firmwide and Managing Director,
New Jersey Office, G3 Architecture
As the Director of Architecture for G3,
a multi-office design practice based in
New York City, Alan works with clients
to ensure that the firm’s design services
for new construction projects are
fulfilling the owner’s stated goals, and
he identifies opportunities for innovative
designs wherever they may exist. Alan is
fond of saying, “There’s a design opportunity in every project.
Our job is to find it, and develop it to the client’s satisfaction.”
Previously, Alan worked for a variety of small, midsize, and large
architectural firms. He has worked in project leadership positions
at all scales of the profession, from interior renovations to new
buildings to urban design. He has worked in many different
market sectors, including corporate, higher education, hospitality,
retail, health care, government/institutional, nonprofit, and
multi-family/mixed use. His deep interest and knowledge of
sustainable design has provided leadership opportunities in the
environmental community. In 2012, Alan created the first course
in sustainable design ever offered at Berkeley College, where he
serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the Interior Design program.
Alan earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree from
the University of Detroit and a Master of Architecture degree
from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Mike Kahwaty
Senior Inspector, Bell Environmental Services
Mike is a senior inspector with Bell
Environmental Services, a pest control
company that specializes in general
pest control, bed bug control, and bird
control services throughout the New York
metro area and throughout the United
States. He has been in the pest control
field for over 20 years, starting as a pest
control technician. He has been involved in the identification and
elimination of vermin of every kind, from wood-destroying pests
in residential homes to beg bugs in commercial kitchens. Mike’s
recent main focus has been on Bell’s fastest growing divisions,
bed bug control and K9 services, including the well-known
Roscoe, the bed bug dog.
Thomas Kaufman
Video Producer/Director
Tom is an Emmy-winning producer/
director, with more than 35 years
of film industry experience. As a
cinematographer, his projects range
from Nova and Frontline on PBS to
National Geographic and Discovery
Channel specials. He has worked for
top Democratic political consultants,
such as David Axelrod, Frank Greer, Mandy Grunwald, and
many others. Tom produced the Emmy-winning See What I’m
Saying (1993), which showed how learning to communicate
changes the lives of deaf children and their families. He was
cinematographer on The Holocaust: In Memory of Millions
(1994), a Discovery production hosted by Walter Cronkite,
which won an Emmy. He has also shot films for Academy
Award winners Charles Guggenheim, Barbara Kopple, and
Mark Jonathan Harris. Tom is a published author, and his
novels include Drink the Tea (2010) and Steal the Show
(2011), both published by St Martin’s Press. A graduate of the
University of Southern California, Tom holds a B.A. and an
M.F.A. in Film and Video Production.
Brad Molotsky
LEED Green Associate, Executive Vice President and
General Counsel, Brandywine Realty Trust
Brad is Executive Vice President and
General Counsel of Brandywine Realty
Trust, and co-creator of Brandywine
Environments, Brandywine’s portfoliowide sustainability and energy efficiency
initiative. He is a member of the National
Association of Real Estate Investment
Trusts (serving as Program Chair for its
Leader in Light program), the Real Estate Roundtable (formerly
serving as the Vice Chair of its Sustainability Task Force), and
the National Association of Office Properties (formerly serving
as Co-Chair of the New Jersey chapter’s Energy Committee). He
also serves on the Advisory Boards of the Greater Philadelphia
Energy Efficiency in Buildings Innovation Cluster, the Department
of Energy’s Green Leasing Leaders Committee, and Keeping
American Beautiful; is a board member of Committee of Seventy,
the Delaware Valley Green Building Council, the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society—Philadelphia Chapter (co-chair), the Jewish
Federation of Southern New Jersey, and the Greater Philadelphia
JFRE Executive Committee; and serves as President of Jewish
Community Properties Inc. He was selected as a Martin Luther
King Jr. Freedom Medal Award winner for Camden County for his
community service, as In House Counsel Award winner by the
Philadelphia Business Journal in 2014, as a Community Service
Leader in Southern NJ by the PBJ in 2014, and as a Pennsylvania
Super Lawyer each year since 2004. He testified before the U.S.
Senate Energy Committee on energy efficiency in 2012 and 2013
and co-founded the Tri-State Annual Sustainability Symposium,
which, now in its fifth year, attracts over 875 attendees annually.
He holds an M.B.A. and a J.D. from Villanova University.
THE
ROOFTOPS CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Larry Mufson
Principal, The Mufson Partnership, a Nelson Company
Stephen Powers
Director of Transactions, Denham Wolf Real Estate Services
Larry is a graduate of the Syracuse
University School of Architecture, and
began his career in corporate planning
and design in 1977. After joining Torontobased Marshall Cummings Mufson +
Associates in 1982, Larry subsequently
opened its U.S. branch office in 1990.
There, he became known for his unique
design aesthetic and innovative problem solving. Larry built a
reputation as a skilled manager with a progressive leadership
style and a creative and knowledgeable staff of professionals,
and, in 1994, he and partner Ed Von Sover acquired Marshall
Cummings + Associates’ New York operation and established The
Mufson Partnership. Larry Mufson is a hands-on Design Director
whose creative vision and understanding of the clients’ needs
guide the design phase of every project. Favoring originality of
design over a signature, Larry’s unchanging goal is to provide
clients the highest quality planning and project management
from inception through completion, emphasizing the process of
collaboration throughout. His work has been published in The
New York Times, Interior Design, Corporate Interiors, Progressive
Architecture, and Professional Office Design.
Stephen joined Denham Wolf in 2008,
bringing to the company his extensive
experience in public-private partnerships,
city planning, real estate development,
and strategic marketing. At Denham
Wolf, Stephen provides consulting,
brokerage, and financial analysis
services, guiding a range of cultural,
professional, and educational organizations through the full
scope of the real estate process. His clients have included
The Atlantic Foundation, Young Judaea Global, The Doe Fund,
Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Harlem Academy, The
Center for Family Representation, and The National Opera
Center. Stephen is committed to helping his clients meet their
missional objectives through strategic real estate planning and
implementation. The results of his persistence, dedication, and
passion can be seen in the Center for Family Representation’s
new Queens headquarters, serving thousands of families at
risk of losing their children to the foster care system. Prior to
joining Denham Wolf, Stephen served as a research coordinator
for New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate,
working directly with the Divisional Dean to identify and
analyze successful public-private partnership methods globally.
Additionally, Stephen worked for the St. Louis City Planner and
Mayor to identify promising urban redevelopment projects in St.
Louis. The project won a World Leadership Award in 2006 from
the World Leadership Forum in London.
Paula Park
Vice President, BankUnited
Paula serves as Vice President in
BankUnited’s Nonprofit Lending Group
and is a respected advisor known for
developing creative financial solutions
for tax-exempt organizations. Paula has
over 23 years of experience in satisfying
the needs of tax-exempt organizations.
Paula’s experience includes relationship
management at both the Wells Fargo Education and Nonprofit
Group and the JPMorgan Chase Bank Not-For-Profit Group, plus
managing the Not-For-Profit Group for a local New York City
bank. Paula has personal experience in the nonprofit community
in senior board roles and as a consultant, a grant maker, and a
volunteer.
Kevin Quinn
President, Wye River Group, Incorporated
Kevin received an M.B.A. from the
University of Maryland Business School, a
J.D. from the University of Maryland Law
School, and a B.A. from Loyola College.
He has 30 years of public, corporate,
and real estate finance experience. From
1979 to 1982, Kevin was an attorney at
Miles & Stockbridge in Baltimore. From
1982 to 1994, he was employed as an investment banker at
Alex. Brown & Sons, where he progressed from the positions of
Associate to Managing Director, and served during his last four
years as head of the Public Finance Department. In 1994, Kevin
became Managing Director and head of Investment Banking
for H.C. Wainwright & Co. in Boston. In 1999, he launched
Wye River Group and has played an active role in nearly all of
the firm’s transactions since that time. Over the course of his
career, Kevin also served as lead banker or advisor on over 300
engagements including public and private offerings of equity
and debt securities, mergers and acquisitions, and divestitures.
continued
Ronald F. Ries, C.P.A.
Partner, WeiserMazars LLP
Amy Sananman
Founder and Executive Director, Groundswell
Ron provides audit, tax, and consulting
services to both not-for-profit and forprofit organizations. Over the past
20 years, he has concentrated on the
not-for-profit sector, including public
accounting work with the firm Goldstein
Golub Kessler LLP, where he ultimately
became head of its Not-for-Profit
Services Practice. More recently, Ron spent five years as Chief
Financial Officer at the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s
Services. Ron lectures and writes frequently on operating and
fiscal matters, primarily in the not-for-profit sector, and is a
contributing editor at The Practical Accountant, a professional
publication. Ron received his B.B.A. degree from The City
College of New York.
Amy is Groundswell’s Founder and
Executive Director. She oversees
Groundswell’s strategic direction, with a
particular focus on fostering Groundswell’s
partnerships with other organizations, and
developing new initiatives and capacitybuilding projects. Motivated by her longstanding fascination with murals, Amy
conceived of Groundswell in 1996 with the mission to bring
together professional artists, grassroots organizations, and
communities to create high-quality murals in underrepresented
neighborhoods and inspire youth to take active ownership of
their future by equipping them with the tools necessary for social
change. Over the past 18 years, Groundswell has worked with
thousands of community members to complete more than 450
collaboratively-designed and painted murals across New York City.
Amy holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University
of California at Berkeley. Her accolades include the NYU/Wagner
School’s Rudin Award for Community Service through the Arts and
the prestigious 2006 Union Square Award for her leadership in
developing Groundswell as a grassroots asset. She has lectured
on public art as a tool for social change at venues including: the
Bronx Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, Harvard, the New
School for Social Research, Pratt Institute, Columbia University,
Teachers College, CUNY’s Hunter School of Social Work. and
the Partnership for After School Education. She lectures at Pratt
Institute on Arts and Community Development.
Susan Sack
Managing Director, Real Estate, Robin Hood
Susan serves as Managing Director of
Real Estate at Robin Hood. At Robin
Hood, Susan is responsible for the
foundation’s Capital Grant Initiative,
a program that provides technical
assistance and funding to help grantee
organizations with real estate and
facilities issues. Prior to joining Robin
Hood, Susan was a Vice President in the Merchant Banking
division at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and an associate in the real
estate department at Sullivan & Cromwell. Susan earned a
B.A. from Wellesley College and a J.D. from the University of
Pennsylvania.
Ernie Scerbo, PE, CEA, LEED-AP
Associate, Jaros Baum & Bolles
Ernie is an Associate with the firm of
Jaros Baum & Bolles, a full-service
mechanical and electrical consulting
engineering firm based in New York
City specializing in the design of large
commercial and institutional projects
throughout the world. Since joining
the firm in 2004, Ernie has functioned
as lead Mechanical Engineer for numerous new construction
and retrofit projects located both within the United States and
abroad. He currently is part of the sustainable design practice
at JB&B, and has been involved with several significant green
building projects, including the Bank of America Tower at One
Bryant Park, 7 World Trade Center, 1 World Trade Center, and
Columbia University’s Medical Center Graduate and Educational
Building. Ernie holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (magna cum
laude) from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
and a Master of Engineering Degree from Stevens Institute
of Technology. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in New
Jersey and LEED Accredited Professional.
THE
ROOFTOPS CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Houman B. Shadab
Professor of Law, Co-Director, Center for Business and
Financial Law, New York Law School
Meg Ventrudo
Executive Director, Jacques Marchais Museum of
Tibetan Art
Houman is a Co-Director of the Center
for Business and Financial Law and
also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of
the Journal of Taxation and Regulation
of Financial Institutions. His research
focuses on hedge funds, derivatives,
securitization, commercial transactions,
and cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.
He has testified before the federal government several times,
including before the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
on Bitcoin derivatives and before Congress on hedge funds
and the financial crisis. He often advises corporations, financial
institutions, and startups on issues relating to compliance,
litigation, and operations. He is the author of numerous academic
articles published in journals such as the New York University
Journal of Legislation and Public Policy and the Stanford Journal
of Law, Business, and Finance. He has also written chapters in
books published by Oxford University Press and Wiley Finance.
He regularly shares his insights on his blog, Lawbitrage. Prior to
entering academia, Houman practiced law with Ropes & Gray in
New York City and Latham & Watkins in Los Angeles.
Meg has served as Executive Director of
the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan
Museum of art for more than 10 years.
The Museum, located on Staten Island,
is housed in a facility constructed by its
founder, Jacques Marchais, and inspired by
Tibetan monastic architecture. Its collection
of Tibetan Buddhist art is regarded as one of
the finest in the United States. Meg previously served as Assistant
Director for Exhibits and Education at the Museum of American
Finance. She is a graduate of the Columbia Business School’s
Executive Level Program, Institute for Not for Profit Management,
and holds an M.A. in History from George Mason University and a
B.A. in History from Loyola College in Maryland.
Robert Shansky
Of Counsel, Scarola Malone & Zubatov LLP
Bob is an experienced and widely
respected transactional real estate
lawyer. His practice includes transactions
in a wide array of complex real estate and
corporate matters, including acquisitions,
dispositions, leasing, financing, and
development of commercial, industrial,
warehouse, and residential projects. He
represents financial institutions, corporations, hedge funds,
private equity funds, and retail companies, as well as individuals.
Before joining Scarola Malone & Zubatov, Bob practiced for 27
years with the New York office of Jones Day, where he was a
partner for 23 years. He is an elected Fellow of the American
College of Real Estate Lawyers and has been repeatedly
selected for inclusion in New York Super Lawyers (2006-13).
He has spoken frequently on real estate issues at American Bar
Association, New York State Bar and PLI programs and was a
contributing editor to the treatise Commercial Leasing (Second
Edition), published by The New York State Bar Association in
2010. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin (B.A., Phi
Beta Kappa) and the Harvard Law School.
Richard Warshauer
Senior Managing Director, Colliers International NYC LLC
Richard, a Senior Managing Director of
Colliers International’s New York Tri-State
hub, is an established New York City real
estate industry veteran with more than
35 years of industry experience. He has
represented major commercial property
owners and tenant organizations in a large
variety of diversified transactions, ranging
from major office buildings to major acreage sales. Colliers
International is the third largest commercial real estate services
firm globally, with 482 offices in 612 countries, 13,500 employees,
and 1.12 million square feet under management. An avid New
York City historian, Richard has been conducting historical walking
tours, “The Great Crashes of Wall Street,” since 1988 for the
Museum of American Finance and other not-for-profit groups.
Student Members of
The Rooftops Project Team (2014-15)
Barbara Beau (Class of 2015) has sought opportunities
throughout law school to expand her knowledge and
understanding of real estate law. Prior to law school, she worked
in the not-for-profit sector. She received her Bachelor of Arts
degree in English Literature at the University of Miami in 2012.
Lana Buchbinder (Class of 2015) concentrates her study
on real estate law. She is currently interning at a Manhattan
law firm that practices both real estate transactions and real
estate litigation. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in
Psychology at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and
will be taking the July 2015 Florida bar exam.
continued
Katherine DiSalvo (Class of 2015) concentrates her study on
real estate and international law. In addition to being President
of the Italian Law Student Association, she works at a wills and
trusts firm in Manhattan and was previously a judicial extern in
the King’s County Supreme Court, Civil Term. Katherine received
her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of
San Diego.
Shannon Doherty (Class of 2015) works in commercial real
estate for a family office in New York City. Her focus is on sales
and acquisitions as well as property management. At NYLS, she
is a Harlan Honors Program member of the Impact Center for
Public Interest Law. She received her Bachelors Degree from
Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
Naveed Fazal (Class of 2015) concentrates his study in both
real estate and corporate law. He works at the real estate
services and investment company CBRE as an intern for both
the Legal and Brokerage Departments, in addition to chairing
the Moot Court Association at New York Law School. Naveed
received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the
University of San Diego.
Mehgan Gallagher (Class of 2015) concentrates her study on
international human rights law. She is affiliated with the Center for
International Law as well as the Impact Center for Public Interest
Law. During the school year, she has worked with Human Rights
Watch and the Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of
Human Rights. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from
Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she majored
in Government and International Law with a Law and Society
concentration. She plans to pursue her Master of Laws degree in
international human rights after graduating from law school.
Elizabeth Hamilton (Class of 2015) worked as a law clerk at
a Manhattan law firm specializing in insurance policy litigation
during her first summer of law school. Elizabeth’s roots are in
criminal law, which began prior to law school, when she was
a paralegal at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. She
continued in that field during her second summer as a law clerk
at the Exoneration Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated
to exonerating the wrongfully convicted. After graduation,
Elizabeth will move to Los Angeles, California, where she will
take the California Bar Exam.
Alexa Bonaros (Class of 2016) concentrates her study on both
real estate and corporate law. This semester, Alexa participated
in the transactional Law Meet on behalf of New York Law
School’s Center for Business and Finance, and she is a member
of the Moot Court Association. Prior to law school, she worked
for a year as a paralegal at a trust and estates firm. She received
her Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology, with a focus on
current structural inequality, at Ithaca College.
Dana Cimera (Class of 2016) concentrates her study on both
real estate law and corporate law. She currently works in a
Manhattan law firm focusing on real estate, securities, and
entertainment law. She also currently works as a research
assistant for a professor at New York Law School. Previously,
she worked in the New York Civil Court, and at the New York
office of an international law firm based in Italy. She received
her Bachelor of Sciences degree from Rutgers University, where
she majored in Finance.
Elvira Kulyak (Class of 2016) concentrates her study on real
estate law. She works as a legal extern for Justice Arthur M.
Schack in the Civil Term of Kings County Supreme Court. Prior to
law school, Elvira received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History
at St. John’s University in Staten Island. She looks forward to
pursuing a legal career in real estate transactional law.
Zulaihat Nauzo (Class of 2016) concentrates her study on
commercial law and intellectual property. She served as the
Lieutenant Governor of Communications for the American
Bar Association Law Student Division, Second Circuit, for the
2013-2014 academic year. Prior to law school, she worked in
federal civil rights litigation as a paralegal. She looks forward to
pursuing a legal career in entertainment law.
Sahar Nikanjam (Class of 2016) is a Chicago native and is
highly passionate about human rights and social justice issues.
In her spare time, she likes to explore different neighborhoods
in New York City. She received a B.A., cum laude in English
Literature, at DePaul University in 2012.
Jennessy Rivera (Class of 2016) is an associate of the Center
for Real Estate Studies at NYLS. She is glad to be a member
of the Rooftops Conference, and hopes to pursue a career in
transactional law. She graduated from St. John’s University, cum
laude with a Bachelors Degree in Legal Studies.
Payal Thakkar (Class of 2016) has an interest in real estate
and property that started at an early age. During the summer
after her first year of law school, Payal worked with the New
York City Housing Authority, which reaffirmed her interest in
working in real estate. Prior to law school, Payal completed
a Bachelors Degree in Linguistics from SUNY Stony Brook
University and a Masters in Higher Education from the University
of Pennsylvania. ​
Jordan Moss (Class of 2017) concentrates her study on real
estate law. To expand her knowledge and understanding of
real estate law, she enrolled in Corporate Real Estate, which
focuses on effective corporate real estate management. She
currently works as a law clerk with a personal injury law firm.
She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Legal and Policy
Studies from Fordham University.
The Rooftops Project would also like to recognize the talented contributions made again this year to the success of the Conference by New York Law
School’s Regina Chung, Senior Director, Marketing and Communications; Melissa Pentangelo and Ruth Singleton of the NYLS Office of Marketing
and Communications; and Tamara Garland, Senior Administrative Assistant at the Center for Real Estate Studies. Thank you!
A few important notes and a legal disclaimer (after all, at New York Law School we are trained
as lawyers and we train future lawyers, so inevitably we think like lawyers):
• R ooftops Conference 2015 and these accompanying materials are not intended and should not be
construed as legal, tax, investment, or professional advice.
• T he information and views expressed may not apply to individual readers or to their organizations or to
any particular facts or circumstances.
• A
ttendance at The Rooftops Conference 2015 or receipt of these materials does not create any attorneyclient relationship.
• E ngagement and consultation with appropriately qualified, experienced, and licensed professionals
should always be sought with respect to planned transactions, investments, and projects.
• T hese materials are provided as a supplement to the panel discussions and presentations at the live
conference, but do not serve as a summary or outline of the live discussion. They do not purport to be
a complete or exhaustive treatment of the topics they address.
• V iews expressed by speakers and panelists, or in these materials, are not necessarily those of New
York Law School, its faculty, staff, or students.
• N
either New York Law School nor its faculty or staff evaluate, rate, review, or recommend products,
services, or suppliers whatsoever. Any particular products, services, or suppliers mentioned are used as
examples to illustrate concepts and are for general information only.
• N
o representations or warranties are given whatsoever, express or implied, with respect to information
presented at The Rooftops Conference or contained in these materials or their accuracy. Any
representations or warranties that might otherwise exist, whether by statute, common law, or
otherwise, are expressly excluded and disclaimed.
• N
ew York Law School and its faculty expressly disclaim and do not accept any liability for any loss
resulting from errors or omissions contained in, or for following or applying principles or views
expressed at, The Rooftops Conference or in these materials, including without limitation any liability
for direct, indirect, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages or for loss of profits or business
opportunity, whether by tort, negligence, breach of contract, or otherwise.
THE
ROOFTOPS PROJECT
Founder and Director of The Rooftops Project:
James Hagy, Distinguished Adjunct Professor with the Center for Real Estate Studies
at New York Law School.
The Rooftops Project Team: Student and Alumni Team Members
Current Student Members 2014-15
THE
ROOFTOPS PROJECT
Project Mission and Goals
The Rooftops Project is an initiative founded and directed by James Hagy, Distinguished Adjunct
Professor with the Center for Real Estate Studies at New York Law School. It provides real
estate programs, workshops, and Web and print resources for not-for-profit organizations, with
several goals:
n
n
n
Barbara Beau (Class of 2015)
Alexa Bonaros (Class of 2016)
Lana Buchbinder (Class of 2015)
Dana Cimera (Class of 2016)
Katherine DiSalvo (Class of 2015)
Elvira Kulyak (Class of 2016)
Shannon Doherty (Class of 2015)
Zulaihat Nauzo (Class of 2016)
Naveed Fazal (Class of 2015)
Sahar Nikanjam (Class of 2016)
Mehgan Gallagher (Class of 2015)
Jennessy Rivera (Class of 2016)
Elizabeth Hamilton (Class of 2015)
Payal Thakkar (Class of 2016)
Karolina Robel (Class of 2015)
Jordan Moss (Class of 2017)
Alumni (Past Student Members):
Marzena Fercz (Class of 2011)
Jennifer Scolnick (Class of 2013)
Rachel Logan (Class of 2011)
Arthy Bakthavatsalam (Class of 2014)
T o be the host of an ongoing dialogue within the community of not-for-profit executives
and managers, not-for-profit board members and volunteers, and real estate industry
professionals about topics relating to the effective occupancy, use, and management of real
estate in the social sector.
Sushma Rambaran (Class of 2011)
Emily Barile (Class of 2014)
Leslie Franco (Class of 2012)
Carlee Cooper (Class of 2014)
Mark Lapidus (Class of 2012)
Kelly Cooper (Class of 2014)
A.J. Sokoloff (Class of 2012)
Scott Haggmark (Class of 2014)
T o highlight and celebrate the diverse roles played by real estate (as physical space) in
supporting the missions of not-for-profit organizations of every type, from museums to
places of worship, from social and human services to education and advocacy.
Toby Vickers (Class of 2012)
Dmitriy Ishimbayev (Class of 2014)
Amanda Waye (Class of 2012)
Shaan Lodi (Class of 2014)
Stacy Dasaro (Class of 2013)
Aimie Nghiem (Class of 2014)
T o increase awareness of the contribution that a disciplined approach to real estate can
make in not-for-profit organizations of every size, from those with a single location to those
with a national or international presence.
Eda Derhemi (Class of 2013)
Tamara Salzman (Class of 2014)
Renaldo Phillips (Class of 2013)
Sampada Solapurkar (LL.M., Class of 2014)
Copyright © 2015 Rooftops Group LLC. Copyright to individual articles and other content reproduced in conference materials
is held and retained by the individual author or copyright holder. All rights are expressly reserved. Conference presentations
and these materials may not be quoted, copied, referenced, or reproduced in any way, in whole or in part, whether in
printed or electronic format, without express written permission, which may be given or withheld in the sole discretion of
the individual author or copyright holder.
Kristen Porro (Class of 2013)
THE
ROOFTOPS CONFERENCE
NYC
2015
Property Perspectives for
Not-for-Profit Organizations
Friday, April 24, 2015
8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
New York Law School
185 West Broadway
Center for Real Estate Studies
185 West Broadway
New York, NY 10013-2921
Presented by
Center for Real Estate Studies
T 212.431.2135
E [email protected]
WE ARE NEW YORK’S LAW SCHOOL
SINCE 1891