Jodi Pulice is the founder and chief executive officer of JRT Realty Group, the largest woman-owned real estate company in the United States. Ms. Pulice has served as CEO of the company since founding it in 1996. In her role, she is responsible for directing and overseeing all organizational activities, strategic consulting and project planning, property management, and leasing. Ms. Pulice is responsible for a leasing and management portfolio of more than 13 million square feet on behalf of TH Real Estate, and serves other high profile clients including The Durst Organization and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Peter Riguardi
Chairman and President, JLL
Peter leads all operations for the firm in the tri-state region. He is responsible for broadening the company’s local platform by developing key client relationships, leading major projects, maintaining senior real estate industry contacts and political relationships, and recruiting new talent. He oversees a team of almost 2,700 professionals in seven offices throughout the tri-state area. Under Peter’s leadership, JLL has established itself as a market leader in the New York Metropolitan area, and the company’s market share, revenue, and profitability have all increased substantially. Peter has been a leading New York City broker for more than 38 years.
What is your favorite landmark in New York State?
Metropolitan Museum of Art.
What has been your favorite development project and why?
My favorite development projects are the ones that I played a part in the development: 745th 7th Ave, One Bryant Park, One Manhattan West, and 50 Hudson Yards.
What is the current role of commercial real estate in New York? What impact has the pandemic had?
The state of the New York real estate market is cautious. There’s a lot of activity around new products and well-done renovations. We are seeing lots of tech growth, but the other activity for the most part doesn’t create positive absorption. And the Class B buildings have a real supply and demand issue. The pandemic has taught us that employees want to have the same quality day in the office that they enjoyed at home and companies hiring talent or real estate firms looking for tenants need to understand this.
How did you become interested in architecture, real estate, or construction?
Construction and real estate were around me my entire life. My grandfather immigrated to the United States from Italy and started his own construction company doing work in mostly Brooklyn and Queens. My father was a leader in the property management business, so we were always talking real estate.
What is your favorite place you’ve ever lived?
My favorite place I have ever lived is where I live now in Manhattan.
Risa Heller Communications
Risa Heller, CEO
Risa is the CEO of Risa Heller Communications, a full-service communications and public affairs consultancy based in New York City. Ms. Heller builds on her background in politics and crisis communications to help clients navigate the highest levels of national top-tier media as well as complex issues management environments where reputation or permission to operate is on the line. Ms. Heller’s work centers on the intersection of public affairs, issues management, and front-page news. She has worked with a range of clients in varied sectors as well as a range of high-profile individuals and families in New York, Washington and Los Angeles.
Risa has served at the highest levels of government: as communications director to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, she served as his chief media strategist and senior spokesperson, and moved on to serve in a similar role for New York State Governor David A. Paterson. She graduated from the University of Michigan and received her M.A. in Communications from Johns Hopkins University.
What is your favorite landmark in New York State?
It’s a tie between my office in The Woolworth Building and the Great New York State Fair. Nothing beats the chocolate milk and the butter sculpture in the dairy barn!
What has been your favorite development project and why?
Essex Crossing — We began work on it well before there were shovels in the ground and watching it come to life has been incredible.
What is the current state of commercial real estate in New York? What impact has the pandemic had?
The reports of New York’s demise are greatly exaggerated. Everyone was ready to write this City off when the pandemic began and they were all wrong. It’s going to be a long road back for commercial real estate but I’m optimistic, NY Forever!
How did you become interested in architecture, real estate, or construction?
After I left government and started my firm, my first client was a rezoning, and I loved the fight of it. All of these issues are, at their core, political.
What is your favorite place you’ve ever lived?
For a long time I would have said Gramercy Park where I lived for a couple of years in my 20’s, but now that I have 3 kids, it’s Brooklyn Heights, where I live now.
James Yolles, Managing Director
James is managing director at Risa Heller Communications and runs its Real Estate and Land Use Practice. He joined the firm in 2014. James has overseen strategic communications and served as a trusted advisor on behalf of some of the highest-profile and often contentious real estate, economic development and park projects in New York City and around the region.
Previously, James was director of communications at New Yorkers for Parks, a citywide parks research and advocacy organization, and director of public affairs at the Alliance for Downtown New York, a Lower Manhattan business group. He began his career as a desk assistant at “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.” James earned an M.S. from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was named to City & State’s 2015 40 Under 40 New York City Rising Stars list.
What is your favorite landmark in New York State?
The Chrysler Building. I can’t walk near it without stopping to stare at it. To me it embodies New York City’s unique intensity and grandeur and always reminds me why I love living here. Second place goes to what should be designated an official landmark: Madison Square Garden’s gold interior ceiling.
What has been your favorite development project and why?
A project I’ve worked on that stands out is the rehabilitation of the New York City Housing Authority’s Baychester Houses in the Bronx because of the profound impact it’s had on the lives of its residents. At Baychester, residents now have redone apartments, working heat and hot water, a top-flight management and security company, beautiful open spaces and a new senior center – and rules governing their rents haven’t changed in any way. I’m fascinated by many projects that I work on, but am probably most passionate about my clients’ projects in partnership with NYCHA and the potential of those projects to dramatically improve residents’ lives.
What is the state of commercial real estate in New York? What impact has the pandemic had?
Clearly the pandemic comeback for NYC commercial real estate will be a long one. I think there was a little too much hyperventilating coverage of, for example, the death of Midtown office buildings, right at the height of the pandemic when people were prone to exaggeration. Midtown, and the city generally, will continue to have staying power, allure and appeal, even if the way people use and interact with it evolves. Office tenants will continue to take high-quality space in New York City’s main commercial districts even if not everyone is at the office every day.
How did you become interested in architecture, real estate, or construction?
Childhood trips from Baltimore to NYC with my dad usually included long walks through Manhattan, always with building observation decks, parks and exciting restaurants sprinkled throughout. Even well before my current job, I knew I wanted to spend my time working on issues relating to New York City and its built environment.
What is your favorite place you’ve ever lived?
Northwest Crown Heights.
Rockrose Development
Henry Elghanayan, Founder and CEO
Henry Elghanayan, founder and chief executive officer of Rockrose, is one of New York City’s most distinguished real estate developers. Since its founding in 1970, the company has developed, acquired or repositioned approximately 70 major projects encompassing 15,000 residential units, nearly 6 million square feet of office space and over 1 million square feet of retail space, totaling over 21 million square feet.
Best known for his visionary outlook and hands-on approach as owner, developer and manager, Mr. Elghanayan’s signature projects include the redevelopment of The Archive, a residential Landmark in the West Village, the trophy office development Carnegie Hall Tower, and the development of Alexander Court, a trophy office complex which is the largest privately-owned office building in Washington, DC’s Central Business District. Mr. Elghanayan was a pioneer in the development of several New York City neighborhoods, including the West Village, the Financial District and Long Island City.
Mr. Elghanayan serves on the Executive Committee of the Real Estate Board of New York. His other professional affiliations have included the Carnegie Hall Society, the Downtown-Lower Manhattan Association, Inc., the New York Athletic Club, and the Citibank Advisory Board.
Mr. Elghanayan received a M.B.A. from Columbia University and a Juris Doctorate degree from New York University Law School.
Justin Elghanayan, President
Justin Elghanayan is the president of Rockrose and one of New York City’s most prominent real estate developers. Since the family business started renovating Greenwich Village brownstones in 1970, Rockrose has acquired, developed, or repositioned over 70 properties, including over 15,000 residential units, nearly 6 million square feet of commercial space, and over 1 million square feet of retail space. Mr. Elghanayan has been a leading force in the creation of the Court Square section of Long Island City, where he has developed over 2.5 million square feet and 3,000 residential units. Mr. Elghanayan has also aggressively expanded Rockrose’s commercial portfolio, repositioning two Rockrose office properties in Manhattan’s booming Midtown South district. Other commercial milestones include an ongoing development of a 1.4 million square foot development site in Hudson Yards.
Mr. Elghanayan serves on the Board of Governors for the Real Estate Board of New York. He also sits on the Board of Directors for the Modern Classrooms Project, an educational non-profit supporting students in low-income communities. Born and raised in New York City, Mr. Elghanayan received a B.A. from Princeton University. He joined Rockrose in 2005 and became the company’s president in 2012.
Amy Rose
President and CEO, Rose Associates
Amy Rose is president and chief executive officer of Rose Associates, a certified Minority and Women-owned Business (M/WBE) focused on the acquisition, development, and management of multifamily rental properties in New York City and the tri-state area. Under her direction, Rose Capital Group has acquired and is currently developing over three million square feet of new multifamily apartments in strategic transit-oriented locations. Additionally, Amy oversees the Rose Property Management Group, with a focus on tech-forward efficiencies that ensure the 20,000 units Rose has under management continually outperform the market.
What is your favorite landmark in New York State?
The iconic Empire State Building. It is immediately recognizable and has withstood the test of time as an important New York City landmark for over 90 years.
What has been your favorite development project and why?
This is hard to pinpoint. When I am standing on a deck watching concrete being poured, I’m looking at my favorite development in that moment. When I see a job come out of the ground for the first time, it’s the same sensation. It never gets old and each building is unique.
Howard Rothschild
President, Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations
Howard serves as president of the RAB. For more than three decades he has represented the real estate industry in labor negotiations and has participated in thousands of arbitrations, in addition to representing employers in matters before state and federal courts. Howard has also represented employers before numerous federal, state, and local administrative agencies regarding a variety of employment and labor issues. Additionally, Howard serves as an officer and trustee on the SEIU, Local 32BJ Funds, Local 94, IUOE Funds and Committees.
What is your favorite landmark in New York State?
The Statue of Liberty is my favorite landmark in New York because it welcomes people from around the world to this great city and country. I deeply appreciate the statue’s role in American history and that it serves as a national and international symbol of welcoming immigrants, freedom, and justice.
What has been your favorite development project and why?
As a lifelong Mets Fan, Citi Field is my favorite development project. Over its decade plus of occupancy, the stadium has served as a refuge, unifier, and hopefully one day, home of the World Series champions.
What is the current state of commercial real estate in New York? What impact has the pandemic had?
We are at an inflection point in New York real estate. The pandemic hit both the residential and commercial real estate sectors strongly, but the industry is still pushing back, maintaining its status as one of the key drivers of the New York economy. The industry and its employees have partnered to protect workers and jobs, and we are hopeful that the commercial real estate sector will continue to grow and prosper in New York.
How did you become interested in architecture, real estate, or construction?
My work at the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations ignited my passion for real estate and development. I have tremendous admiration for the industry, its tireless workers, and all the great people I have the pleasure of meeting in my four decades of work.
What is your favorite place you’ve ever lived?
The years I spent living in Forrest Hills are some of the fondest memories I have. I lived there when I joined the Realty Advisory Board nearly 40 years ago. It was where my wife and I lived when we got married and our daughter was born, and it holds a special place for me.
Rudin Management Company
Eric Rudin, Co-Chairman and President
Eric Rudin is the co-chairman and president of Rudin Management Company. He has been with the family-founded company since 1978. In his current role, he is directly responsible for the oversight of the company’s Operations and Design and Construction Departments. He previously worked as an insurance broker at Lloyds of London and an assistant at the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal. He is currently a board member of a number of high profile non-profit organizations.
William C. Rudin, Co-Chairman and CEO
William C. Rudin is the co-chairman and CEO of Rudin Management Company. He joined the family business in 1979, and was appointed president of the company in 1993. Rudin works to manage the Rudin portfolio which includes 16 office buildings and 17 luxury apartment buildings. He is currently involved in a number of political, philanthropic, and civic organizations, including serving on the board of The Association for a Better New York and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.
