2025 Power Players in Real Estate

Tom is the chairman, CEO and co-founder of TF Cornerstone. He is actively involved in overseeing residential leasing and property management.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2025? 
Seeing the entire Malt Drive development come to fruition has been the most exciting project for us this year. After opening 2-20 Malt Drive towards the end of last year, followed by the opening of 2-21 Malt Drive in February of this year, we have continued with our commitment to enhancing the waterfront community in Long Island City, Queens. Together, 2-20 & 2-21 Malt Drive produced 1,386 residential rental units within 1.5 million square feet. In addition to the residential and retail component of this development, we are also responsible for the brand new Malt Drive Park which includes a playground and dog run for the public and our residents to enjoy.

Rachel Fee has been executive director of the New York Housing Conference since 2014. Under her leadership, the organization has built coalitions around expanded housing investment, elevated the issue of affordable housing and produced impactful analyses. Before joining NYHC, Fee spent eight years at the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Fee holds a B.A. in political science from Colgate University and an M.A. in economic science from University College Dublin, Ireland.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2025?
At the federal level, NYHC is prioritizing protecting HUD programs, expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, and eliminating the volume cap for 10 years to turbocharge affordable housing production. At the state level, we’re engaging with partners to create a state affordable housing supply plan ahead of next year’s governor’s race. At the city level, we’re focused on ensuring NYC’s next mayor has an affordable housing plan with sufficient capital to hit the ground running.

How do you see real estate evolving in the future?
While we’re facing a great deal of political uncertainty, I feel confident that our elected leaders in New York understand that saying “no” to housing is no longer an option. There’s been a tremendous shift in attitudes towards housing supply. Today, there is much more willingness to embrace development, which I believe will translate to better housing policy at the state and local levels.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
The lesson that seems important right now is to play the long game. During a chaotic time of change and upheaval, it’s critical to stick to your values and your long-term goals. I anticipate a tough road for affordable housing in the months ahead, but I will seek every opportunity to advance NYHC’s priorities, broaden our partnerships, and work with elected leaders to make housing more affordable for New Yorkers.

With nearly nine million square feet of assets in New York, Washington, D.C., Miami and Las Vegas, Fisher Brothers has been growing rapidly and expanding under Winston’s leadership, including in experiential retail and entertainment, asset management, and hospitality management. An active civic leader, Winston serves on The Port Authority of New York, New Jersey’s Board of Commissioners, as a life trustee at Syracuse University and on the board of several other prominent organizations.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2025?
I am looking forward to completing AREA15’s 20-acre expansion in Las Vegas, allowing us to offer even more immersive experiences, including Universal Destinations & Experiences’ year-round horror experience Horror Unleashed. Additionally, the expansion will include iFLY Indoor Skydiving, the Museum of Ice Cream, and a Boeing 747 converted into an event venue, and more.

As chief executive officer, Bess Freedman oversees 39 Brown Harris Stevens offices and more than 2,300 agents across New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Florida. Under her leadership, Brown Harris Stevens has grown into one of the largest and most successful privately held real estate companies in the United States with the highest average sales price per agent in the country.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2025?
We are getting ready to launch a new Brown Harris Stevens website. I can’t reveal too much, but it’s going to be very intuitive, integrated, and incredibly innovative. The interface, graphics, and content will be unlike anything else in the industry.

How do you see real estate evolving in the future?
The industry is at a crossroads. Some companies have worked hard to undermine transparency through private exclusive channels. Really, these are end-to-end commission grabs disguised as marketing ploys and buyers, sellers, and renters pay the price because the listings won’t be offered on the open market –  just internally within the same brokerage. That helps no one but the brokerage. It’s dangerous for the longevity of the industry and disastrous for clients everywhere.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
It’s a quote by Maya Angelou but it has served me well in life and in business: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Dan Garodnick is a lawyer, the director of the New York City Department of City Planning, and chair of the City Planning Commission. Garodnick previously served in the New York City Council for 12 years, representing the East Side of Manhattan, and was known as one of New York’s most independent voices and effective legislators. He also served as president and CEO of the Riverside Park Conservancy.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2025?
DCP’s advancing four neighborhood plans to bring more homes, affordable homes, jobs, and infrastructure investments to New Yorkers. Those proposals – the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, and Long Island City Neighborhood Plan – are expected to complete public review this year. We’re also working on the NYC Industrial Plan, a comprehensive framework for the development of industrial businesses and jobs, scheduled for release by the end of 2025.

How do you see real estate evolving in the future?
With City of Yes, we expect to see more homes and more types of homes in every neighborhood. For decades, housing has been unevenly distributed, with formerly industrial or “gentrifying” areas creating much of the City’s new homes, and exclusionary zoning limiting development in wealthier communities. Through ADUs, missing middle apartments, and expanded office conversions, we’ve re-enabled incremental housing growth that’s been missing from large swaths of our city for decades. That’s a welcome change.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Be responsive. It’s vital that important stakeholders feel like their concerns are being heard. People will accept an answer that they don’t like –  what they won’t accept is a lack of communication. That’s been my North Star. At DCP, we prioritize communication with New Yorkers on everything we do. That’s why we held hundreds of meetings on City of Yes with community boards and other stakeholders and even created a division dedicated to public engagement.

Lisa Gomez brings nearly 30 years of experience in real estate development and finance to her position as L+M Development Partners’ chief executive officer, where she oversees the day-to-day operations of the company and its construction and property management subsidiaries. She also leads the company’s growth strategy and has positioned L+M Development Partners as a nationally recognized affordable housing developer.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2025?
We have many exciting project milestones approaching, including our construction team putting the finishing touches on the new home for the National Black Theatre, securing the cultural and educational organization’s long-lasting legacy. We are also getting ready to welcome the first residents into Alafia, our transformative multiphase project in East New York. Alafia will feature 2,400 affordable apartments upon completion, including units for seniors, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and formerly homeless people.

How do you see real estate evolving in the future?
Real estate is constantly evolving. The fast-moving trends are what makes the field so interesting – for example, the lack of demand for office space. We must always continue to evolve to meet the physical needs of the New York City of today and tomorrow. While there is still much to be done to address regulatory and cost hurdles, City of Yes provides a beacon of light for the future of housing in New York.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
The real estate industry is highly cyclical, and to know and learn those cycles is integral to thriving and building in New York City. What is the current state of housing will definitely not be the case a decade from now.

Gropper has 20 years of experience in the construction and preservation of affordable housing across New York City and beyond. Gropper is directly responsible for development transactions exceeding $4 billion of total cost and 20,000 units in aggregate. At the end of 2024, Camber closed on a nearly $1 billion transaction to take over Brooklyn’s Linden Plaza, which will undergo a massive rehabilitation, making it one of the largest multifamily deals of the year.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2025?
We are currently working on Stevenson Square in the Soundview section of the Bronx, which is a $1 billion transaction that will create nearly 1,000 affordable homes. The first two phases will feature affordable homeownership allowing future residents to build equity over time in a co-op structure. The first phase will also include an affordable senior housing development with amenities and on-site services to support residents as they age in place.

Jeffrey Gural is chairman of GFP Real Estate LLC (formerly Newmark Holdings and Newmark Knight Frank). GFP Real Estate LLC has an ownership interest in more than 50 properties, most of which are located in New York City. Mr. Gural, together with his son Eric Gural and nephew Brian Steinwurtzel, are responsible for all future acquisitions and the managing and leasing of the over 13 million square feet in which they have an ownership interest.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2025?
I’m excited about our Jersey City project, where we repurposed former dorm space into housing for recent art school graduates. Partnering with a nonprofit arts group, we’re subsidizing the initiative with a $5 million donation to support emerging artists, providing an affordable living solution that fosters creativity. I’m also excited about our new office-to-residential conversion projects, including The Flatiron Building, 222 Broadway and 25 Water Street, which just began leasing.

How do you see real estate evolving in the future?
Real estate will continue evolving with shifting interest rates and new technology. Higher borrowing costs have already lowered property values, but a potential recession could drive rates down, impacting investment strategies. Buyers will likely pay less for buildings than in a low-rate environment. Additionally, AI will play a growing role, providing instant access to tenant data and market insights – though for industry veterans, experience and market knowledge still hold significant value.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is the value of maintaining a good reputation. When things go wrong, it’s your reputation that will help you navigate challenges. A strong reputation opens doors, making it easier to secure loans and build trust. It’s a foundation that keeps you grounded, no matter the economic climate.

Kevelyn has been a driving force in transforming the brokerage model, viewing agents as clients and empowering them for long-term success in Manhattan real estate. She led the company (formerly Warburg Realty) through its 2021 acquisition by Coldwell Banker and launched the NYC Committee of What Moves Her, a women’s advocacy initiative. Recognized by Diversity Journal, Crain’s, HousingWire, RISMedia, and Inman, she is known for her leadership, innovation, and commitment to agent success.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2025?
For me, 2025 is all about expansion – specifically, growing our presence in Brooklyn. It’s a market full of energy, creativity, and opportunity, and I’m excited to deepen our impact there. Building relationships, elevating our brand, and creating opportunities for our agents – that’s what’s driving me this year.

How do you see real estate evolving in the future?
Real estate is always changing, but at its core, it’s about people. The way we live, work, and interact with our surroundings is evolving, and our industry has to adapt just as quickly. I see technology continuing to enhance how we connect with clients, but at the end of the day, relationships and expertise will always be what set great real estate professionals apart.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Growth happens when you push yourself. Whether it’s facing new challenges or uncertainty, every leap forward comes from embracing the unknown and trusting myself. I’ve had to learn difficult lessons about people. Building relationships is the business. But not every relationship works out perfectly. Sometimes, they disappoint, and managing those moments requires resilience and grace. You have to learn when to hold on, when to let go, and how to move forward.

Richard Haggerty, CEO of OneKey MLS, is a visionary and trailblazer in the New York Metropolitan real estate market. With over 40 years of leadership at local, state, and national levels, Richard has helped shape the future of real estate through innovative strategies and a relentless pursuit of opportunity. His dynamic leadership has positioned OneKey MLS to thrive in a competitive market, continuously raising the bar for real estate professionals and consumers across the region.

Is there a project you are excited to work on or see completed in 2025?
New technology tools seem to come out every day and can overwhelm real estate professionals. What do the tools do and how will they help me? Are they worth the price tag? How can they benefit my clients? In 2025 OneKey MLS is focused on helping our members navigate what can sometimes seem like a minefield of technology products to help them find the products that provide solutions for the problems they are experiencing.

How do you see real estate evolving in the future?
Real estate will continue evolving with technology, streamlining transactions and enhancing data-driven decision-making. However, the human element remains vital – buyers and sellers will always rely on skilled professionals for guidance. Sustainability, affordability, and changing consumer expectations will shape the market, requiring adaptability. OneKey MLS will provide real estate professionals with the resources and support to navigate these shifts successfully.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
While technology has transformed real estate, the industry remains fundamentally about people and relationships. Real estate professionals are passionate about guiding clients toward homeownership, and supporting their growth in this mission is deeply rewarding.