2024 Power Players in Real Estate

As chairman of Bally’s Corporation since 2016, Soo Kim has left a significant mark on the United States gaming industry. Raised in Queens, Kim’s educational journey led him from Stuyvesant High School to Princeton University. His exemplary leadership was recognized in 2021 when he was honored with the ‘American Executive of the Year’ award at the Global Gaming Awards. Kim actively supports community development through his roles as a director of the Coalition for Queens and as a director and treasurer at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Kim, a Queens native, currently lives and works in New York. 

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2024?
Our investment in Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point underscores our deep commitment to the Bronx. As chairman of Bally’s, I’m proud of our efforts to listen and respond to the Bronx community’s needs, with initiatives like the Bally’s Bus shuttle program. Taking over the Ferry Point site from the Trump Organization was a significant step for us, marking a new chapter in our partnership with the Throggs Neck community. The rebranding and shuttle service are just the beginning of our long-term commitment to the area. We’re excited about the future and the positive impact we can bring to the Bronx and its residents!

What is your favorite part of working in real estate?
It’s the growth, industry advancements, and the strengthening of community ties through our real estate and development projects that I find most rewarding. This approach of blending cutting-edge technology with real estate is not only about enhancing our business’s success but also about enriching the experiences that people have within our spaces, making each project more than just a building but a landmark of innovation and communal benefit. At Bally’s Corporation, my leadership has been centered around leveraging real estate investments not just to expand our gaming sector footprint but also to enhance community engagement and development. What excites me the most is the innovation and integration of technology into our gaming and entertainment ventures.

What qualities do you believe make up a successful real estate professional? 
A successful real estate professional must deeply understand and prioritize the community’s needs and values in every development project. For me, this means not just building spaces but creating environments that reflect and enhance the local community’s character. It’s about listening to what the community truly needs – whether it’s more green spaces, accessible facilities, or sustainable development – and incorporating those values into our projects. Success comes from merging our expertise in real estate with a genuine commitment to the community, ensuring that each project not only contributes to our business growth but also positively impacts the community and its residents. This approach has guided our work at Bally’s Corporation, where we strive to innovate while keeping the community’s well-being at the forefront of our decisions.

Paula is managing director of Plaxall, a third-generation family business that owns and manages nearly a million square feet of property in Long Island City. A Queens native, Paula serves on the boards of the Queens Museum, the Queens Public Library Foundation, the Citizens Budget Commission, and the LIC Business Improvement District, as well as on the Board of Advisors of Mount Sinai Queens. She is an active member of REBNY and the LIC Partnership.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2024?
The community planning process that the city is leading in Long Island City – OneLIC – is very exciting. At a time when New York is in the midst of a serious housing crisis, Long Island City is uniquely well-positioned to step up and deliver badly needed homes through mixed-use development. These efforts to engage residents, businesses and stakeholders in a thoughtful conversation about the neighborhood’s potential is the right place to start.

What is your favorite part of working in real estate?
I love that every day my meetings run the gamut, from property management and architectural design to engineering and remediation! There is never a dull moment and I have learned so much about the challenges and successes of development in New York City.

What qualities do you believe make up a successful real estate professional?
In my case, I believe that the ability to multitask, network, and negotiate is critical. That said, there are so many different aspects of the real estate industry – land use, urban planning, community outreach, to name a few – and each requires its own skill set, so there are countless avenues to get involved and be successful.

Hope Knight is dedicated to advancing sustainable and inclusive economic growth. She was instrumental in creating the NYS Office of Strategic Workforce Development, which aims to improve New York’s workforce development programs and practices to better align with the needs and priorities of today’s employers. Knight is focused on efforts to support the state’s small businesses, ensuring that they have the resources needed to thrive, and growing the state’s Minority and Women-Owned Business community.

Gary LaBarbera has served since 2009 as president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, an organization representing 100,000 working men and women in New York City. In 2021, Mr. LaBarbera was elected president of the NYS Building and Construction Trades Council, which is comprised of 15 local building trades councils, 12 district councils and state associations, and 135 local unions and represents 200,000 tradespeople.

Pamela Liebman is the president and CEO of Corcoran, one of the largest residential real estate firms in New York. Pamela began her career with Corcoran as an agent in 1994 and quickly rose through the ranks, being appointed president and CEO in 2000. Pamela is continually recognized for her real estate expertise and has received recognition from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Financial Times, and Crain’s New York Business.

Council Member Farah N. Louis represents the 45th Council District in Brooklyn, NY, which includes the diverse neighborhoods of Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Flatlands, and Marine Park. She serves as chair of the Committee of Women and Gender Equity, and co-chair of the New York City Council Brooklyn Delegation. She continues to advocate for equitable contract opportunities for MWBEs and for the livability of New Yorkers as a champion for fair and affordable housing.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2024?
I look forward to seeing the completion of Bethany Senior Terraces, my second success in affordable housing development within the district, bringing 40,000 square feet of sustainable, affordable independent housing for older adults and shared community facilities. This project prioritizes community integration and vibrant living for all residents, and I also look forward to continuing efforts to rezone portions of my district to alleviate trends of displacement while advancing truly affordable housing in Central Brooklyn.

What is your favorite part of working in real estate?
I am passionate about bridging developers of affordable housing with communities in need. By addressing housing crises in the city, particularly in Central Brooklyn, my goal is to foster vital connections that benefit the diverse groups of families and community leaders in each part of my district. Between negotiations with developers to accommodate our neighbors and secure mandatory inclusionary housing for new buildings, I enjoy prioritizing sensitivity and inclusivity to ensure all voices are heard.

What qualities do you believe make up a successful real estate professional?
In my previous experience on the Committee on Land Use, I have witnessed the most successful real estate professionals consistently have a problem-solver mindset with integrity to support the needs of every community in the city. In order to support the critical shortage of our housing stock, negotiating for the best possible outcomes for potential projects requires having an understanding of the community to best address the local needs and concerns of the area.

Frank Marino has built and scaled Marino’s Real Estate & Property Innovation practice for more than 30 years, playing an integral role in shaping the narrative surrounding some of the most iconic names in the industry. Together with the firm’s award-winning team, Frank – a member of REBNY’s Board of Governors – has developed and executed results-oriented, comprehensive communications strategies for a dynamic roster of clients, and has worked on some of the city’s most consequential projects.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2024?
Our team has had the privilege of working on some of the largest economic development initiatives in NY including Hudson Yards, Downtown Brooklyn and 1WTC. In 2024, I look forward to seeing our client JFKIAT – the operator of Terminal 4 at JFK Airport – usher in a $1.5B expansion and other improvements. It’s exciting to witness this project come to life as the terminal continues to enhance the passenger, airline, tenant and employee experience.

What is your favorite part of working in real estate?
It’s tough to pinpoint my favorite part when the entire process from start to finish is so fulfilling. Working on large-scale developments starts with winning local support for a project. Hard-won community approval is quite rewarding and only makes the challenge of ground-up property building that much more gratifying. It never ceases to amaze me what our unionized construction industry can build when they overcome construction complications.

What qualities do you believe make up a successful real estate professional?
From my perspective, honesty and integrity, coupled with deep industry knowledge, are the cornerstones of success as a real estate professional. To stay on top of what’s going on – in any sector, but certainly in real estate – it’s important to stay informed. That involves being active in industry and trade groups, such as the Real Estate Board of New York, where I have the pleasure of serving on the Board of Governors.

John leads Marino’s day-to-day operations and a combined staff of 60 team members, with Marino now considered among the mid-sized agency elite nationwide. His reputation is unsurpassed among Fortune 100 C-Suite executives, founders at emerging technology/innovation companies, corporate principals of leading real estate companies, and directors at prestigious nonprofits. Under his leadership, Marino’s work within the real estate innovation space has also grown exponentially.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2024?
I’m excited about the completion of the Bronx Logistics Center in Hunts Point. It will transform the local supply chain infrastructure by providing the largest state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution facility in NYC. The project also has the potential to have a positive impact on the local Bronx economy through job creation and supporting local businesses. Seeing this project come to fruition will mark a significant step forward in revitalizing the area and fostering sustainable development.

What is your favorite part of working in real estate?
As a real estate professional specializing in integrated marketing, it’s rewarding to blend traditional marketing strategies with cutting-edge digital tools. We’re able to craft compelling narratives around the built environment that resonate with different audiences while maximizing visibility and building meaningful connections. I enjoy collaborating with teams to create an identity for each property or investment through leveraging earned media, social media, creative content, and targeted campaigns to sell both a space and a lifestyle. 

What qualities do you believe make up a successful real estate professional?
Given the fast-paced nature of the real estate world, I find that resilience, empathy, and a forward-thinking mindset are key qualities for success. A successful real estate professional embodies integrity, market knowledge, and excellent communication skills. They understand the importance of trust in building lasting client relationships that can become true partnerships. Developing negotiation skills and having a keen eye for market trends are also important to navigating the evolving landscape.

Jay Martin is an expert in rent-stabilized housing policy, representing CHIP members who provide nearly 400,000 RS apartments. Martin is the voice for hard-working property owners who have built strong communities throughout NYC. He is a leading advocate for finding compromise on housing solutions, rejecting traditional narratives that pit tenants against property owners. Prior to CHIP, he was chief of staff to NY State Senator Carlucci and director of operations for the Senate IDC.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2024?
We would like to see the Local Regulated Housing Restoration Adjustment get passed by the legislature. The bill would bring relief to rent-stabilized housing providers who are unable to renovate and rent out apartments coming off long-term occupancies because of the high costs of repairs necessary upon turnover. CHIP has spent the past couple of years highlighting the vacancy problem and encouraging a legislative fix.

What is your favorite part of working in real estate?
Housing is one of the biggest problems facing New Yorkers. Being able to work every day towards solving that problem so every New Yorker has a safe, clean, affordable place to live is what keeps me going.

What qualities do you believe make up a successful real estate professional?
I believe dedication, passion, drive and endurance are necessary in this business. Things might not move at the pace you want or expect, but you need to keep on moving forward and working toward your goals, no matter the setbacks or delays. You need the fortitude and character to withstand whatever is thrown at the industry, and the smarts and wherewithal to push back when needed.