2024 Power Players in Real Estate

Regional Administrator Ampry-Samuel presides over HUD’s activities in NY and NJ. Appointed by President Biden, RA Ampry-Samuel oversees nearly $10 billion in programs and activities across the region. RA Ampry-Samuel works with partners, local officials, community stakeholders and residents to ensure the Department’s programs create more affordable and inclusive communities. RA Ampry-Samuel has served in leadership positions at the housing authority, with nonprofit housing developers as well as organizations focused on supportive and transitional housing. 

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2024?
As we all work towards tackling the housing supply challenge, I’ve been convening faith-based institutions under the leadership of HUD’s Secretary to strategically address ways to increase affordable housing while preserving our current housing stock. In 2024, I look forward to HUD producing a formal document that provides the nuts and bolts of creating housing on church property through public/private partnerships. The housing crisis we are facing is solvable if we all play our part.  

What is your favorite part of working in real estate?
The best part of working in real estate is helping people find a home. And home can mean so many things to different people. Whether it’s building new construction affordable housing for families moving out of the shelter system or building single-family homes for hard-working New Yorkers who participate in first-time home buyer programs. Real estate allows me to meet people wherever they are in their search for a home.    

What qualities do you believe make up a successful real estate professional?
Real estate professionals have the power to positively impact a person and/or an entire community. Real estate professionals should be passionate about seeing a change in one’s circumstances; they should have a clear vision of the change they want to see; they should have an educational background that provides the tools needed to make the change possible; and the experience to bring the pieces together for implementation. 

Eric Benaim, a well-respected figure in Queens real estate, boasts a career since 2001. He pivoted to Manhattan luxury sales before spotting potential in Long Island City. In 2006, he sold 50 residences, earning renown for connecting properties and people. Despite 2008’s challenges, he launched Modern Spaces, revolutionizing LIC’s real estate. His personalized approach led to rapid expansion across offices, claiming a 70% LIC market share with $5.5B in sales and $4B oversight. 

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2024?
The Bold, a new luxury rental project slated to be completed this summer

What is your favorite part of working in real estate?
Playing a part in shaping a neighborhood

What qualities do you believe make up a successful real estate professional?
Patience, having a long view, and understanding that sometimes short-term pain is worth the long-term gain

Jeff Blau is CEO of Related Companies. For the past 25+ years he has been responsible for directing and overseeing new developments worth over $60 billion in virtually every sector of the real estate industry. In his position as CEO, he is responsible for the strategic direction of the company, overall management of the firm, the pursuit of new development opportunities, and corporate acquisitions and financing activities across all business platforms.

Lisa was appointed CEO of NYCHA in July 2023 after serving as interim CEO since September 2022. In this role, she’s at the helm of the largest Public Housing Authority in the nation. Lisa’s nearly 30 years in public service are rooted in her strong commitment to serving New Yorkers. She was formerly executive director of the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery and, for nearly two decades, was a senior attorney at the NYC Law Department.

What work are you focused on in 2024? 
Following decades of federal disinvestment, NYCHA has a nearly $80 billion capital need. As CEO, I have been working diligently to address budgetary challenges and to oversee the Authority’s continued transformation – ensuring that we are refining our business practices and using every available tool (including PACT, Comprehensive Modernization and the newly established Public Housing Preservation Trust) to preserve and renovate buildings in the portfolio, directly improving conditions for hundreds of thousands of residents.

What is a recent achievement you are particularly proud of?
This past year, I was proud to lead the charge to secure ERAP funds for NYCHA residents, ensuring they could benefit from the same COVID-related rental assistance as other New Yorkers. I’m proud of our ongoing success with the PACT program, having now converted more than 20,000 units. This past fall, NYCHA held its first-ever resident-vote, with Nostrand Houses residents selecting the Public Housing Preservation Trust to bring large-scale investment into their homes. 

What role does NYCHA play in the New York City Real Estate Market? 
For many low-and-moderate-income New Yorkers, NYCHA is a critical source of affordable housing. As the largest landlord in New York City, NYCHA oversees a housing stock that spans all five boroughs and is a city within a city – serving more than 528,000 authorized residents through public housing, PACT and Section 8 housing combined. NYCHA has 177,569 apartments in 2,411 buildings across 335 public housing and PACT developments – underscoring its size and significance.

Ben Brown is a managing partner in Brookfield’s Real Estate Group, where he is head of the Americas region and global head of office. He is responsible for overseeing all real estate activities in the Americas, including investments and portfolio management. As global sector head for Brookfield’s office business, he also oversees one of the largest office portfolios in the world with 400+ high-quality properties comprising 180 million square feet in gateway cities worldwide.

As founder and CEO of Capalino, Jim has overseen the growth of the most well-respected government relations and strategic consulting practice in New York, responsible for helping some of the most well-known companies achieve success. His career began in 1972 when he joined the staff of U.S. Representative Edward Koch then co-managed Koch’s successful mayoral campaign. Jim was named commissioner of general services at the age of 28 and is still the youngest commissioner in New York City history.

Adolfo Carrión Jr. built a career focused on strengthening communities and increasing opportunities for New Yorkers. His experience took him from the Bronx to Washington D.C, all while staying focused on affordable housing, economic development, and public service. Prior to HPD, he served as a NYC council member, Bronx borough president, regional administrator for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, deputy assistant to President Obama, and director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs.

Rafael brings over 30 years of experience tackling the most pressing housing challenges facing cities today. Since joining CPC in 2012, he has expanded the company’s business and social impact nationally. Under his leadership, CPC launched a successful mortgage lending subsidiary, became one of a few CDFIs to receive an AA- rating from S&P, and in FY22 eclipsed $1 Billion in lending and investing for the first time. Rafael cohosts the podcast The Housing Problem.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2024?
CPC is leading a partnership that recently assumed responsibility for the servicing and asset management of the former Signature Bank’s rent-regulated and stabilized loan portfolio. We understand the unique role that rent-regulated housing plays in our neighborhoods, the distinct financial challenges facing its owners and operators in today’s market, and its importance as a haven of affordability to its tenants. It’s a big responsibility but it’s one we’re excited about.

What is your favorite part of working in real estate?
I’ve spent my entire career in affordable housing and community development, and being able to help make a positive social impact is easily the best thing about the job. As a nonprofit lender, at CPC we can help local developers grow their businesses, we can bring investments in housing to communities that are struggling, and we can ensure that residents have affordable homes they can be proud of. It’s all about creating positive outcomes.

What qualities do you believe make up a successful real estate professional?
You need to be able to see the bigger picture and be patient. There are usually multiple partners, different financing sources – including subsidy, and varying timelines that can be challenging. Knowing what levers to pull to keep things moving is important. You also need to care about people. If you don’t, there are easier ways to make money than doing this work. We’re creating homes where people will put down roots and raise families.

Kenneth Crystal, partner at Phillips Lytle LLP, is a seasoned real estate lawyer with a national practice and deep connections in New York City who has built a reputation with his clients for getting the deal done. Ken’s clients range from Fortune 100 automotive manufacturers, global financial institutions and fashion retailers to companies establishing their first presence in New York City. He focuses on commercial real estate, including real estate leasing, finance and restructurings.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2024?
We work on projects that impact the New York City skyline from downtown to Harlem, as well as retail and infrastructure projects from California to Maine. We also work on very small, but just as important projects, such as hundred-year-old buildings that are at imminent risk of collapse but may possess valuable zoning rights.

What is your favorite part of working in real estate?
My favorite part of working in real estate is its tangibility. You get to see the results of all of your efforts, which is very rewarding. In addition, you can always find your project; they may not always turn out the way we hoped, but at least you can find them; they won’t disappear.

What qualities do you believe make up a successful real estate professional?
To be a true counselor and advisor, you need to understand the needs and motivations of all of the parties to the transaction and think like a businessperson as well as a lawyer. Preparing documents that accurately reflect the transaction is just the baseline.

Douglas Elliman President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Durkin has been an industry leader for nearly three decades and is a driving force behind the globally recognized brokerage’s ranking as one of the largest independent residential real estate firms in the United States. 

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2024?
Douglas Elliman’s new website

What is your favorite part of working in real estate?
Helping to turn great agents into star agents

What qualities do you believe make up a successful real estate professional?
A work ethic like no other