Real Estate Circle
About the Real Estate Circle
The Columbia Business School Real Estate Circle is an exclusive alumni-only group that provides unique networking and educational events for its members. The Circle is run by a board, consisting of faculty and alumni members, who curate tailor made experiences for the group. Events and programs are designed to encourage networking and professional development, and often include intimate gatherings with leading real estate practitioners and other business leaders, exclusive behind the scenes tours of signature real estate projects, academic lectures, and more.
Members of the Circle are at various levels in their careers and are making their mark in all segments of the real estate industry.
If you would like to join Columbia Business School's Real Estate Circle, please complete the commitment form or contact Kristin Svenningsen for more information.
Kristin Svenningsen
Managing Director
kjs2149@gsb.columbia.edu
(212) 854-8556
Circle Members
Becoming a Circle member gives you many advantages, including invitations to an exclusive lecture series, networking opportunities, and interactions with current students. Learn more about becoming a Circle member.
Circle Leaders
Zach Aarons ’13
MetaProp
Matthew Baron ’07
Simon Baron Development
Michelle Berliner ’96
Building & Land Technology
Michael Berman ’86
Formerly of GGP
Tim P. Berry ’13
Pennybacker Capital
Nicholas Bienstock ’96
Savanna
Cia Buckley Marakovits ’93*
Dune Real Estate Partners
Mark Caplan ’84
The Time Group
Leslie Carranza ’85
Adara Capital
Arvind Chary ’11
Atlas Real Estate Partners
Anna Coatsworth ’01
AJEA Real Estate Advisory
Stonington Cox ’07
Nomos Group
Tommy Craig ’82
Hines
Louis D’Avanzo ’91
Cushman & Wakefield
Ivo de Wit ’17
CBRE Global Investors
Roland Dib ’98
Dib Management
Ronald Dickerman ’87
Madison International Realty
David Dowell ’04
Spear Street Capital
Gideon M. Gil ’00*
Cushman & Wakefield—Capital Markets
Randy Giraldo ’04
Nuveen Real Estate
Sam Glass ’06
Artis Advisors
Ed Gormbley ’09
Workforce Partners
Ronen Haron ’08
Artimus
Gentry Ashmore Hoit ’90
GAH Real Estate
Austin Khan ’04
Ethika Investments
Robert Klein ’04
Monday Properties
Nancy Lashine ’81*
Park Madison Partners
Michael Lehrman ’90
CCRE
Mark Lokhin ’08
China Orient Asset Management
Sproule Love ’09
Allegro Senior Living
Andrew McAllister ’99
MAC Realty Advisers
Roland Merchant ’01
HFF
Jonathan More ’09
Mission Capital Advisors
Herbert Myers ’96
Investcorp
Andrea Olshan’04
Olshan Properties
Tom Ortinau ’09
GFP
Mark Portner ’99
Shorenstein Properties
Richard Pretsfelder ’94
Leslie J. Garfield & Co.
Quentin Reynolds ’02
The Davis Companies
Arthur Romeo ’12
TPG Special Situations Partners
Matthew Ross ’04
Edge Principal Advisors
Mo Saraiya ’10
GCM Grosvenor
Gregorio Schneider ’96
TC Latin America Partners
David M. Sherman ’82*
Metropolitan Real Estate
Steven Shores ’00
Pollack Shores | Matrix Residential
Raphael Sidelsky ’99*
W5 Group
Joseph C. Smith ’99
1754 Properties
Ross Smotrich ’83
Barclays Capital
Jake Sokol ’11
Format Real Estate Ventures
Walter Stackler ’94
Shelter Rock Capital Advisors
Bill Stasiulatis ’04
RRA Capital
Brian R. Steinwurtzel ’04
GFP
Robert Stern ’88
Castle Hill Investors
Jared Toothman ’12*
Vornado Realty Trust
Emily Von Kohorn ’06
Sheffield Haworth
Gordon Whiting ’94
Angelo, Gordon & Co.
Demetrios Yatrakis ’10
Lonicera Partners
Circle Associates
Anthony Albanese ’18
Albanese Organization
Matthew Albert ’18
Lazard
Andy Anderson ’15
EnergyWatch
Anand Bhatia ’16
Bhatia Development Organization
Lee Cross ’17
Estee Lauder Companies
Brian Dilley ’14
Dakota Pacific Real Estate Partners
Jacob Feingold ’14
Canyon Partners
Sam Fenwick ’18
Pennybacker Capital
Aaron Kazam ’15
Tishman Speyer
Eric Liang ’17
Normandy Real Estate Partners
Scott Meyer ’14*
PTM Partners
Evan Petracca ’16
Triangle Equities
Ricki Shenfeld Tishman ’18
Boston Properties
Jessica Sherman ’16
Douglaston Development
Zachary Shulruff ’18
BESEN
Stephanie Wright ’16
PGIM Real Estate
Arthur Zeckendorf ’15
J.P.Morgan Asset Management
*Denotes Circle Board members
Circle Board
In October 2017, a Circle Board was initiated, and tasked with enhancing current programming, increasing communication, developing a stronger level of connectivity among real estate alumni, and supporting the overall strategic growth of the membership group. In just a few short months, the Circle has increased its programming activities from two annual breakfasts to 10 different activities, including a new “Sites and Sounds” tour program, a Distinguished Speaker Series, and in partnership with the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate, has developed a monthly “Real Estate Alumni in the news" roundup to help keep fellow alumni connected and informed. There are more exciting and important things to come, so stay tuned, stay involved, and come participate!
Board Members
Cia Buckley Marakovits ’93
Dune Real Estate Partners
Biography
Chief Investment Officer, Partner, Managing Director and Member of the Investment Committee
With a breadth of experience in finance, fund management, and real estate investing through multiple market cycles over a nearly 30 year career, Ms. Cia Buckley Marakovits is one of the most accomplished women in institutional real estate investing.
Prior to joining Dune in 2007, Ms. Buckley Marakovits was the President of the U.S. Fund Business for JER Partners, an affiliate of the J.E. Robert Companies. Ms. Buckley Marakovits joined JER in 1997 and held a variety of positions there, including Chief Financial Officer, Head of Asset Management, Head of Acquisitions and President of the U.S. Fund Business. During her tenure at JER, Ms. Buckley Marakovits also served on the JER Global Investment Committee, the European Investment Committee, as well as the Investment Committee for the JRT public debt vehicle. Before joining JER, Ms. Buckley Marakovits spent nine years in the Real Estate Investment Banking Group at Bankers Trust, where she successfully sourced and managed a variety of assets, including distressed mortgage portfolios, operating company investments and structured debt investments.
Ms. Buckley Marakovits is a member of the Urban Land Institute where she is a Trustee and a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the ULI Foundation. She is Chair of the Investment Committee for ULI and ULIF, a member of the Audit Committee of ULIF and active in the Women’s Leadership Initiative at ULI. Ms. Buckley Marakovits is a member of the Pension Real Estate Association, serves as a member of Columbia Business School’s MBA Real Estate Program Advisory Board and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Samuel Zell and Robert Lurie Real Estate Center at the Wharton School. She is a member of Women Executives in Real Estate (“WX”) and was honored as the WX Woman of the Year in 2011. Ms. Buckley Marakovits was selected by PERE as one of the Top Ten Women in Real Estate Private Equity in 2012 and received an award recognizing leadership and achievement in capital markets from the Association of Real Estate Women in 2013.
Ms. Buckley Marakovits is a member of the Board of Directors of Taubman Centers, Inc., a Real Estate Investment Trust currently engaged in the ownership, management and leasing of 26 regional, super-regional and outlet shopping centers in the U.S. and Asia. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of Collegiate School in New York City. Ms. Buckley Marakovits received an M.B.A. from Columbia University in 1993 and a B.A. from Lafayette College in 1988.
With a breadth of experience in finance, fund management, and real estate investing through multiple market cycles over a nearly 30 year career, Ms. Cia Buckley Marakovits is one of the most accomplished women in institutional real estate investing.
Prior to joining Dune in 2007, Ms. Buckley Marakovits was the President of the U.S. Fund Business for JER Partners, an affiliate of the J.E. Robert Companies. Ms. Buckley Marakovits joined JER in 1997 and held a variety of positions there, including Chief Financial Officer, Head of Asset Management, Head of Acquisitions and President of the U.S. Fund Business. During her tenure at JER, Ms. Buckley Marakovits also served on the JER Global Investment Committee, the European Investment Committee, as well as the Investment Committee for the JRT public debt vehicle. Before joining JER, Ms. Buckley Marakovits spent nine years in the Real Estate Investment Banking Group at Bankers Trust, where she successfully sourced and managed a variety of assets, including distressed mortgage portfolios, operating company investments and structured debt investments.
Ms. Buckley Marakovits is a member of the Urban Land Institute where she is a Trustee and a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the ULI Foundation. She is Chair of the Investment Committee for ULI and ULIF, a member of the Audit Committee of ULIF and active in the Women’s Leadership Initiative at ULI. Ms. Buckley Marakovits is a member of the Pension Real Estate Association, serves as a member of Columbia Business School’s MBA Real Estate Program Advisory Board and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Samuel Zell and Robert Lurie Real Estate Center at the Wharton School. She is a member of Women Executives in Real Estate (“WX”) and was honored as the WX Woman of the Year in 2011. Ms. Buckley Marakovits was selected by PERE as one of the Top Ten Women in Real Estate Private Equity in 2012 and received an award recognizing leadership and achievement in capital markets from the Association of Real Estate Women in 2013.
Ms. Buckley Marakovits is a member of the Board of Directors of Taubman Centers, Inc., a Real Estate Investment Trust currently engaged in the ownership, management and leasing of 26 regional, super-regional and outlet shopping centers in the U.S. and Asia. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of Collegiate School in New York City. Ms. Buckley Marakovits received an M.B.A. from Columbia University in 1993 and a B.A. from Lafayette College in 1988.
Gideon Gil ’00
Cushman & Wakefield
Biography
Gideon Gil serves as a Executive Managing Director in Cushman & Wakefield’s Capital Markets Group focused on raising debt and equity for client properties and development projects throughout New York City, as well as the Northeast corridor. Mr. Gil has been an advisor to or a principal investor in over $8.0 billion of commercial real estate transactions throughout his career. Mr. Gil joined C&W in 2012.
Mr. Gil began his real estate career at Clarion Partners, working in the Acquisitions and Development Group rising to the level of Vice President. From 2004 through 2008, Mr. Gil was a Portfolio Manager and Lead Originator at RCG Longview, a private equity fund focused on high-yield debt positions in commercial real estate. Mr. Gil was a Managing Principal at Madison Realty Capital from 2008 through 2010 focused on purchasing distressed debt from financial institutions and originating high-yielding mortgage loans. In 2010, Mr. Gil co-founded Columbia River Capital Advisors (“CRCA”) an advisor to Family Office clients and advised on the investment of over $100 million of equity into opportunistic debt and equity investments in commercial real estate.
Mr. Gil holds a Bachelor degree from Cornell University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He is a member of The Advisory Board of the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate at Columbia Business School and serves as a board member and treasurer at Friends Seminary.
Mr. Gil began his real estate career at Clarion Partners, working in the Acquisitions and Development Group rising to the level of Vice President. From 2004 through 2008, Mr. Gil was a Portfolio Manager and Lead Originator at RCG Longview, a private equity fund focused on high-yield debt positions in commercial real estate. Mr. Gil was a Managing Principal at Madison Realty Capital from 2008 through 2010 focused on purchasing distressed debt from financial institutions and originating high-yielding mortgage loans. In 2010, Mr. Gil co-founded Columbia River Capital Advisors (“CRCA”) an advisor to Family Office clients and advised on the investment of over $100 million of equity into opportunistic debt and equity investments in commercial real estate.
Mr. Gil holds a Bachelor degree from Cornell University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He is a member of The Advisory Board of the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate at Columbia Business School and serves as a board member and treasurer at Friends Seminary.
Gentry Ashmore Hoit ’90
GAH Real Estate
Biography
Gentry Ashmore Hoit joined GreenOak Real Estate, a global real estate private equity investment and advisory firm, in April 2016 to help build the company’s business. GreenOak is a value investor investing in mid-market assets in gateway cities around the world through separate private equity funds in the US, Asia, and Europe. Based in New York, Gentry helped to capitalize funds and co-investments, evaluate and launch new business strategies and further build GreenOak’s brand. Covering investors in the US and Middle East, she worked closely with the GreenOak European team to market and raise their second value-add fund of €655MM, investing predominantly in Spain and Italy and with the US team to market their third value add fund of $1.55B. She project managed the firm’s new initiative in India seeking to raise $300-500MM.
Other Experience
Previously Gentry was a Partner of Park Madison Partners (2012-2016), a boutique real estate advisory firm. She led the firm’s Capital Advisory practice, which included direct equity investments comprised of individual deals, co-investments, joint ventures and separate accounts and worked with the Park Madison team in the fund raising and manager due diligence side of the business. She evaluated over 100 managers and strategies in her time at the firm.
Prior to joining Park Madison Partners, Gentry was a Partner at Atlantic Assets Group (2006-2012), a private investment company dedicated to mixed-use and residential investment and redevelopment in Brooklyn, New York. AAG’s projects were located in urban infill and transit oriented areas. Gentry worked with the partners to formulate corporate strategy for the firm. She led capital transactions: acquisitions, dispositions and financings. She oversaw all investor participation in deals: raising equity, finalizing structures and negotiating terms and documentation. In addition, she ran lender reporting and compliance and oversaw execution of all retail leasing.
Gentry was a Senior Partner at Rubenstein Partners (while also running Atlantic Assets Group 2009-2010), a private real estate investment fund focused on the acquisition and redevelopment of office properties in the Eastern Time Zone. She advised them on New York and Florida office acquisitions and helped build relationships with strategic operating partners.
Gentry served as Managing Director of Shorenstein Company, LLC (1993-2006). She was with Shorenstein at the inception of their investment management business through seven funds (Funds I-VII) which totaled $2.2 billion and achieved net IRRs at the fund level from 9-24%. While at Shorenstein, Gentry was responsible for running east coast acquisitions for the firm’s Capital Transactions Group and served as a member of the Executive Committee. She led the team to purchase office properties across the nation specializing in Midwest and East Coast markets. She acquired approximately 16 million sf of office properties valued at nearly $4.0 billion and raised over $1.8 billion in debt financing.
Prior to Shorenstein, Gentry worked for Hines as Assistant Project Manager (1990-1993) where she coordinated planning, approvals and construction of a $100 million complex for Bristol Myers Squibb Company in Princeton, NJ. After graduating from college she joined PaineWebber Incorporated (1986-1988) where she participated in more than $3 billion of financings and worked on initial public offerings of 6 closed-end bond funds.
Education
Georgetown University – BA – History/Computer Science – 1986
Columbia University – MBA – Real Estate and Finance – 1990
Series 7, 24, 63 Licenses
Professional Interests and Activities
Other Experience
Previously Gentry was a Partner of Park Madison Partners (2012-2016), a boutique real estate advisory firm. She led the firm’s Capital Advisory practice, which included direct equity investments comprised of individual deals, co-investments, joint ventures and separate accounts and worked with the Park Madison team in the fund raising and manager due diligence side of the business. She evaluated over 100 managers and strategies in her time at the firm.
Prior to joining Park Madison Partners, Gentry was a Partner at Atlantic Assets Group (2006-2012), a private investment company dedicated to mixed-use and residential investment and redevelopment in Brooklyn, New York. AAG’s projects were located in urban infill and transit oriented areas. Gentry worked with the partners to formulate corporate strategy for the firm. She led capital transactions: acquisitions, dispositions and financings. She oversaw all investor participation in deals: raising equity, finalizing structures and negotiating terms and documentation. In addition, she ran lender reporting and compliance and oversaw execution of all retail leasing.
Gentry was a Senior Partner at Rubenstein Partners (while also running Atlantic Assets Group 2009-2010), a private real estate investment fund focused on the acquisition and redevelopment of office properties in the Eastern Time Zone. She advised them on New York and Florida office acquisitions and helped build relationships with strategic operating partners.
Gentry served as Managing Director of Shorenstein Company, LLC (1993-2006). She was with Shorenstein at the inception of their investment management business through seven funds (Funds I-VII) which totaled $2.2 billion and achieved net IRRs at the fund level from 9-24%. While at Shorenstein, Gentry was responsible for running east coast acquisitions for the firm’s Capital Transactions Group and served as a member of the Executive Committee. She led the team to purchase office properties across the nation specializing in Midwest and East Coast markets. She acquired approximately 16 million sf of office properties valued at nearly $4.0 billion and raised over $1.8 billion in debt financing.
Prior to Shorenstein, Gentry worked for Hines as Assistant Project Manager (1990-1993) where she coordinated planning, approvals and construction of a $100 million complex for Bristol Myers Squibb Company in Princeton, NJ. After graduating from college she joined PaineWebber Incorporated (1986-1988) where she participated in more than $3 billion of financings and worked on initial public offerings of 6 closed-end bond funds.
Education
Georgetown University – BA – History/Computer Science – 1986
Columbia University – MBA – Real Estate and Finance – 1990
Series 7, 24, 63 Licenses
Professional Interests and Activities
- Full member of Urban Land Institute. Vice Chairman of UDMUC Blue Product Council and former Chairman. Past member of ULI NY District Council Executive Committee and former Co-Chair of Programming Committee.
- Member of WX (Women Executives in Real Estate). Former mentor.
- Member of the Columbia Business School Real Estate Advisory Board and Columbia Business School Real Estate Circle. Former Chairman of Marketing and Communications Committee.
- Former Member of the Board of Trustees at Kent Place School in Summit, NJ. Former Member of its Finance and Audit Committees and past Chairman of its Real Estate Committee.
- Former Member of the Board of Trustees of The Peck School in Morristown, New Jersey. Former Member of its Finance and Buildings & Grounds Committees.
- Former Member of the Lincoln Center Real Estate and Construction Council.
- Former Member of the Real Estate Board of New York.
- Licensed real estate sales person in Georgia since 1985.
- Past Trustee of George F. Baker Scholarship Program Georgetown University and past Co-Chairman of the Board.
- Guest lecturer and case author for Columbia Graduate School of Business. Guest lecturer at Yale University and University of Pennsylvania.
Nancy Lashine ’81
Park Madison Partners
Biography
With more than 25 years of real estate experience, including providing placement and strategic consulting services both as principal and agent, Ms. Lashine brings senior-level attention to every client assignment.
As a strategic consultant within the real estate industry, Ms. Lashine has advised leading institutional real estate investment advisors and managers on product development and expansion, the implementation of institutional marketing initiatives, and the organization of professional teams. She has also been directly involved in the formation of investment products across the equity and debt markets and along the risk-return spectrum from core funds to opportunity funds.
Ms. Lashine earned a BFA in Dance Theatre from Case Western Reserve University and an MBA from Columbia Business School, where she graduated with majors in finance and marketing. She is a member of ULI and WX (Executive Women in Real Estate) and is a past board member of Pension Real Estate Association.
As a strategic consultant within the real estate industry, Ms. Lashine has advised leading institutional real estate investment advisors and managers on product development and expansion, the implementation of institutional marketing initiatives, and the organization of professional teams. She has also been directly involved in the formation of investment products across the equity and debt markets and along the risk-return spectrum from core funds to opportunity funds.
Ms. Lashine earned a BFA in Dance Theatre from Case Western Reserve University and an MBA from Columbia Business School, where she graduated with majors in finance and marketing. She is a member of ULI and WX (Executive Women in Real Estate) and is a past board member of Pension Real Estate Association.
Scott Meyer ’14
PTM Partners
Biography
Scott Meyer is the Managing Principal, Chief Investment Officer, and an Investment Committee Member of the PTM Partners. Previously, Scott was a Director at LeFrak in its’ Real Estate Acquisitions and Capital Markets Group. Scott was part of the LeFrak team that invested and committed to more than $4 billion in real estate to the South Florida market. Projects included SoLe Mia and the 1 Hotel & Homes South Beach. SoLe Mia is a master planned development in Miami that sits on 184 acres and is entitled for more than 4,400 residential units and 1.5 million square feet of commercial space. In addition to these projects, Scott led the firm's acquisitions efforts in South Florida and supported the firm's capital markets activity in New York, New Jersey, and California, which included securing over $1 billion in financings.
Prior to joining LeFrak in 2014, Scott spent five years with Hines in Washington, D.C. where he focused on the redevelopment of 1200 Nineteenth Street, a 330,000 sf Class A office building. Scott directed the management of the asset post renovation with an emphasis on the lease-up, stabilization of operations, and ultimate disposition of the property.
Scott graduated with Honors from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in History and Political Science and received his MBA from Columbia University. Scott is also on the board of Columbia Business School’s Real Estate Circle.
Prior to joining LeFrak in 2014, Scott spent five years with Hines in Washington, D.C. where he focused on the redevelopment of 1200 Nineteenth Street, a 330,000 sf Class A office building. Scott directed the management of the asset post renovation with an emphasis on the lease-up, stabilization of operations, and ultimate disposition of the property.
Scott graduated with Honors from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in History and Political Science and received his MBA from Columbia University. Scott is also on the board of Columbia Business School’s Real Estate Circle.
David Sherman ’82
Metropolitan Real Estate
Biography
David M. Sherman is a Co-founder and Managing Director of Metropolitan and Chairman of Metropolitan’s investment committee. Mr. Sherman has more than 30 years of real estate finance and analytical experience. In 2000, Mr. Sherman founded D. Sherman & Company, Inc., an advisory firm focused on strategic issues and transactions in the real estate securities industry.
Previously, Mr. Sherman was Managing Director of Salomon Smith Barney’s REIT research team, which covered more than 60 stocks and supported the firm’s $15 billion of REIT offering activity. At Smith Barney, Mr. Sherman created a new approach to evaluate global real estate securities and initiated global coverage of the sector. The team received recognition from Institutional Investor Magazine in 1998 and 1999. Mr. Sherman also held other positions in real estate finance, investment banking, and strategic planning at Smith Barney, The Harlan Company, First Boston, and Paine Webber, including acting as the Chief Financial Officer of Paine Webber Properties.
In addition, Mr. Sherman is the Co-Director of the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business Administration and the former Chairman of the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) Institute Committee. Previously, Mr. Sherman was an Adjunct Professor of Real Estate Finance at Columbia Business School for seven years. Over the years, Mr. Sherman has published numerous articles in periodicals including American Banker, PREA Quarterly, Shopping Center Business, and National Real Estate Investor. Mr. Sherman served as a panelist for Institutional Limited Partners Association for its first member educational webcast on private equity real estate. Mr. Sherman currently serves as an independent director on the board of Brookfield Residential Properties.
Mr. Sherman received an A.B. in Mathematical Economics (magna cum laude) from Brown University and an M.B.A. in Finance from Columbia Business School.
Previously, Mr. Sherman was Managing Director of Salomon Smith Barney’s REIT research team, which covered more than 60 stocks and supported the firm’s $15 billion of REIT offering activity. At Smith Barney, Mr. Sherman created a new approach to evaluate global real estate securities and initiated global coverage of the sector. The team received recognition from Institutional Investor Magazine in 1998 and 1999. Mr. Sherman also held other positions in real estate finance, investment banking, and strategic planning at Smith Barney, The Harlan Company, First Boston, and Paine Webber, including acting as the Chief Financial Officer of Paine Webber Properties.
In addition, Mr. Sherman is the Co-Director of the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business Administration and the former Chairman of the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) Institute Committee. Previously, Mr. Sherman was an Adjunct Professor of Real Estate Finance at Columbia Business School for seven years. Over the years, Mr. Sherman has published numerous articles in periodicals including American Banker, PREA Quarterly, Shopping Center Business, and National Real Estate Investor. Mr. Sherman served as a panelist for Institutional Limited Partners Association for its first member educational webcast on private equity real estate. Mr. Sherman currently serves as an independent director on the board of Brookfield Residential Properties.
Mr. Sherman received an A.B. in Mathematical Economics (magna cum laude) from Brown University and an M.B.A. in Finance from Columbia Business School.
Raphael Sidelsky ’99
W5 Group
Biography
Raphael Sidelsky is the head of real estate investing for W5 Group which has offices in New York, Miami and Switzerland. Established in 2009, W5 Group is Ralph Winter’s family office. After successfully building the European real estate business of a large US private equity firm, Mr. Winter founded CORESTATE Capital in 2006, which has become one of the leading listed European real estate investment managers with EUR 25 billion of AUM. In the real estate space, W5 Group invests across all asset classes and capital structures in both entity level, joint venture and direct investments in the US and Europe. Current investment areas include co-living (W5 is a significant investor in Medici Living), micro apartments, residential, office and lodging.
Mr. Sidelsky has worked on over $6 billion of direct, entity level and joint venture real estate investments across a broad array of sectors and markets in the United States and Caribbean. Prior to W5, he worked as a Senior Managing Director/co-head of equity investment at CIII Capital Partners ($8BN in AUM) and before that as a Managing Director at Fremont Realty Capital, the Bechtel Family Office. He began his career as an architect and worked in Tel Aviv, Berlin, Los Angeles, Johannesburg and then in New York for Skidmore Owings and Merrill. Mr. Sidelsky received a Bachelor of Architecture in South Africa and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He is a board member of the Columbia Business School Real Estate Circle.
Mr. Sidelsky has worked on over $6 billion of direct, entity level and joint venture real estate investments across a broad array of sectors and markets in the United States and Caribbean. Prior to W5, he worked as a Senior Managing Director/co-head of equity investment at CIII Capital Partners ($8BN in AUM) and before that as a Managing Director at Fremont Realty Capital, the Bechtel Family Office. He began his career as an architect and worked in Tel Aviv, Berlin, Los Angeles, Johannesburg and then in New York for Skidmore Owings and Merrill. Mr. Sidelsky received a Bachelor of Architecture in South Africa and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He is a board member of the Columbia Business School Real Estate Circle.
Brian Steinwurtzel ’04
GFP Real Estate
Biography
Along with his cousin Eric Gural, Brian R. Steinwurtzel is co-head and principal of Newmark Holdings, which owns and manages a portfolio of approximately 50 properties comprising over 10 million square feet primarily in the New York City metro area. The firm also handles thirdparty services for over 20 properties comprising over 3 million square feet. The portfolio’s ownership includes such properties as the Flatiron Building, 515 Madison Avenue, 10 Astor Place, 520 Eighth Avenue, 230 Fifth Avenue, The Film Center and the Actors’ Equity Building.
Mr. Steinwurtzel oversees all aspects of the company’s operations with a focus on new investments, financing, project management and
leasing activity. His team has averaged more than 1.0 million square feet of leasing per year, including Manhattan’s largest lease in 2009, which relocated The Gap to approximately 265,000 square feet at 40 Worth Street in Tribeca. Noteworthy recent projects include the
acquisitions of 40 Exchange Place in the Financial District, 10-27 46th Avenue and 11-05 44th Drive in Long Island City as well as 7 Bushwick Place and 285 North Sixth Street in Brooklyn. Mr. Steinwurtzel recently led the redevelopment of 1560 Broadway into a Class A retail and office building in Times Square and the lease-up of the 700,000-square-foot asset at 40 Worth Street. He is currently leading the repositioning of SoHo’s 560 and 594 Broadway, Hell’s Kitchen’s The Film Center Building and Midtown East’s 767 Lexington Avenue.
Prior to joining Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Mr. Steinwurtzel was an equity research analyst for Triene Inc., a Goldman Sachs Ventures firm. Previously, he worked as a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
An active member of the community, Mr. Steinwurtzel serves on the boards of Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, the Center for Family
Representation, Columbia Business School’s Real Estate Advisory Board, the East Midtown Partnership, LIFT-NY, Selfhelp Community
Services Inc., and the SoHo Broadway Initiative. He is also a member of the Columbia Business School Real Estate Circle, Hastings-on-
Hudson Infrastructure Committee and board of trustees for Cooper Union.
Mr. Steinwurtzel received his Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia Business School and his Bachelor of Science degree in
Business Administration from Washington University.
Mr. Steinwurtzel oversees all aspects of the company’s operations with a focus on new investments, financing, project management and
leasing activity. His team has averaged more than 1.0 million square feet of leasing per year, including Manhattan’s largest lease in 2009, which relocated The Gap to approximately 265,000 square feet at 40 Worth Street in Tribeca. Noteworthy recent projects include the
acquisitions of 40 Exchange Place in the Financial District, 10-27 46th Avenue and 11-05 44th Drive in Long Island City as well as 7 Bushwick Place and 285 North Sixth Street in Brooklyn. Mr. Steinwurtzel recently led the redevelopment of 1560 Broadway into a Class A retail and office building in Times Square and the lease-up of the 700,000-square-foot asset at 40 Worth Street. He is currently leading the repositioning of SoHo’s 560 and 594 Broadway, Hell’s Kitchen’s The Film Center Building and Midtown East’s 767 Lexington Avenue.
Prior to joining Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Mr. Steinwurtzel was an equity research analyst for Triene Inc., a Goldman Sachs Ventures firm. Previously, he worked as a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
An active member of the community, Mr. Steinwurtzel serves on the boards of Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, the Center for Family
Representation, Columbia Business School’s Real Estate Advisory Board, the East Midtown Partnership, LIFT-NY, Selfhelp Community
Services Inc., and the SoHo Broadway Initiative. He is also a member of the Columbia Business School Real Estate Circle, Hastings-on-
Hudson Infrastructure Committee and board of trustees for Cooper Union.
Mr. Steinwurtzel received his Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia Business School and his Bachelor of Science degree in
Business Administration from Washington University.
Jared Toothman ’12
Vornado Realty Trust
Biography
Jared handles acquisition, financing, pre-development, and asset management responsibilities across office, retail, residential, and hotel assets for Vornado Realty Trust and Vornado Capital Partners. At Vornado he has sourced, underwritten, and structured acquisitions in New York and Los Angeles, assembled development sites, negotiated financings for acquisition and construction loans, overseen asset management of three properties in Vornado’s private equity fund, and helped oversee Vornado’s signage portfolio.
Significant projects include 220 Central Park South, a 950 foot tall, 620,000 square foot luxury condominium under construction along Central Park South; Marriott Marquis Times Square (1535 Broadway), a blockfront retail and signage redevelopment located in the Times Square bowtie; and three office and retail development projects in Midtown South totaling 650,000 square feet.
Prior to joining Vornado, Jared worked as a Director of Financial Services at Eastern Consolidated, a New York focused investment sales firm. He started his career at Bear Stearns in an investment banking and capital markets rotation program. Jared received his BA from Duke University in Economics and his MBA from Columbia Business School where he was a Real Estate Circle and ICSC scholarship recipient.
Significant projects include 220 Central Park South, a 950 foot tall, 620,000 square foot luxury condominium under construction along Central Park South; Marriott Marquis Times Square (1535 Broadway), a blockfront retail and signage redevelopment located in the Times Square bowtie; and three office and retail development projects in Midtown South totaling 650,000 square feet.
Prior to joining Vornado, Jared worked as a Director of Financial Services at Eastern Consolidated, a New York focused investment sales firm. He started his career at Bear Stearns in an investment banking and capital markets rotation program. Jared received his BA from Duke University in Economics and his MBA from Columbia Business School where he was a Real Estate Circle and ICSC scholarship recipient.
Current Events
The Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate is pleased to share with you the Real Estate Circle Event Calendar. If you would like to attend one of the following member-only events as a guest, please contact Mary The Trieu.
Spring 2019
February 2019
Circle Breakfast: Opportunity Zones in Action
A dynamic panel discussion on Opportunity Zones investing from all perspectives with an insider look on real transactions. This exciting conversation on how to unravel the mystery was moderated by Gentry Hoit ’90, GAH Real Estate with, esteemed panelists: Lisa Brill, Shearman & Sterling, Samuel Chapin ’14, L+M development, Scott Meyer ’14, PTM Partners, and Mike Shulman, Shearman & Sterling.
Special thanks to Gentry Hoit ’90 and Scott Meyer ’14 for organizing this event.
February 2019
Circle Breakfast: Co-Living—New Frontiers
An exclusive conversation on co-living as a new segment of the real estate market, with perspectives from investors in the space. Distinguished speakers Matthew Baron ’07, President, Simon Baron Development, Brian Lee, Senior Director of Real Estate, Common, and Raphael Sidelsky ’99, Chief Investment Officer, W5 Group, provided an inside look in the co-living model based on their investments in leading companies such as Ollie, Common, and Quarters.
Special thanks to Raphael Sidelsky ’99 for organizing this event.
March 2019
Sites and Sounds Tour: 53W53
A unique opportunity for an insider look at the exciting new development of 53W53. An iconic residential condominium project that includes three floors of new exhibition space above the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). This exclusive tour was led by David Penick, Managing Director, and Tim Flynn, VP of Construction, Hines.
Special thanks to Tommy Craig ’82 and Hines for organizing and hosting this event.
April 2019
Distinguished Speaker Breakfast: Debra Cafaro, Chairman & CEO, Ventas
An exclusive conversation with Debra Cafaro, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Ventas, an S&P 500 company and real estate investment trust that owns approximately 1,200 healthcare, life science and senior living properties in North America and the United Kingdom and serves as the primary capital provider to leading healthcare companies. A recognized industry leader, Cafaro set and oversaw execution of a long term strategy that has driven Ventas’s market capitalization to $26 billion at its peak from $200 million since her leadership began in 1999. Widely-acclaimed for her strategic vision, Cafaro has received multiple professional recognitions. In addition to her work at Ventas, Cafaro is broadly engaged across business, public policy, academic, sports and non-profit sectors.
Special thanks to Cia Buckley Marakovits ’93 for organizing this event.
April 2019
Circle Event: The Robots Are Coming!
An exciting look at robotics in the real estate industry, a presentation with distinguished speakers, Zach Aarons '13, Co-Founder and Partner, MetaProp, Scott Peters, Co-Founder, Construction Robotics, and Platt Boyd, Founder and CEO, Branch Technologies. Followed by an evening reception to connect with classmates and fellow CBS alums.
Special thanks to Zach Aarons '13 and MetaProp for organizing and hosting this event.
May 2019
CBS Annual Real Estate Alumni Reception
This is the largest real estate alumni activity at the School! An evening when hundreds of alumni reconnected with former classmates and meet new friends and business colleagues at the Columbia Business School’s Annual Real Estate Alumni Reception.
The 2019 honorees included:
Distinguished Real Estate Partner: Matthew Lustig
Distinguished Real Estate Faculty: Camille Douglas, Michael Giliberto, Andrew Jacobs ’96
Past Events
Fall 2018
December 2018
Real Estate Symposium
The 11th annual Real Estate Symposium, an exclusive Columbia Business School alumni-only educational forum took place on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at the Princeton Club of New York.
November 2018
Sites & Sounds Tour: 56 Leonard
This tour, organized exclusively for the Columbia Real Estate Circle, was a unique opportunity for an inside look at the development at 56 Leonard. The tour was lead by Izak Senbahar of Alexico Group, and David Beznos, Dune Real Estate Partners, who generously offered to provide an overview of the design.
October 2018
Real Estate Tech Roundtable: Real Estate Tokenization and ICOs
A conversation with Mohammah Shaikh, CEO and Co-Founder, Meridio, a blockchain-based platform for creating, managing, and trading fractional ownership shares in real estate assets, and Jonathan Weibrecht, Director of Real Estate Capital Markets, Harbor, a global leader in security token issuance and innovation.
September 2018
Distinguished Speaker Breakfast: Nick Bienstock ’96 & Steven Orbuch
With Nicholas Bienstock ’96, Co-Managing Partner, Savanna, and Steven Orbuch, Founder and President, Oz Real Estate, this dynamic discussion covered topics on investment strategies and opportunities.
September 2018
Sites & Sounds Tour: Domino Sugar Factory
This was a unique opportunity for an inside look at the exciting development of the former Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg. Vishaan Chakrabarti, Architect and Founder of PAU, generously offered to provide an overview of the design of the first series of waterfront buildings at 325 Kent Ave, as well as the newly developed Domino Park.
Summer 2018
July 2018
Summer Happy Hour
The Paul Milstein Center hosted its first Real Estate Circle Summer Happy Hour at the Empire Hotel Rooftop Bar in July 2018. We kicked-off our new upcoming Circle programs with this member appreciation event! It was a great opportunity to connect with members and alumni casually over drinks and appetizers this summer.
Spring 2018
May 2018
Pre-Event Cocktails and Networking
With Columbia Business School’s Distinguished Real Estate Partner honoree David Neithercut ’82 before the Annual Real Estate Alumni Reception.
April 2018
Sites & Sounds Tour: 61 Ninth Avenue & 512 West 22nd Street
Hosted by Vornado Realty. Blending industrial elements of West Chelsea's past with ultra-modern, state-of-the-art design and set the heart of Google's Manhattan Campus, with prominent views west toward the Hudson River—an exclusive tour of these brand new properties, and networking along the High Line!
April 2018
Real Estate Circle Academy Breakfast
Featuring Professor Bruce Greenwald, Robert Heilbrunn Professor of Finance and Asset Management at Columbia Business School.
Described by the New York Times as "a guru to Wall Street's gurus," Greenwald is an authority on value investing with additional expertise in productivity and the economics of information.
March 2018
Distinguished Speaker Lunch
A discussion with Richard LeFrak, Chairman and CEO and Harrison LeFrak ’98, Vice Chairman of LeFrak, a preeminent, family-owned property company committed to community development and long term ownership.
Beyond property, LeFrak investments are geographically diverse and span many business sectors with significant investments in securities, private businesses and energy. LeFrak regularly enhances its real estate and non-real estate asset base with opportunistic investments across the United States and around the globe.
February 2018
Distinguished Speaker Breakfast: Discussion on Global Investing
With Hilary Spann, Managing Director, Head of Americas, Real Estate Investments at CPP Investment Board and Steven Hason, Managing Director, Co-Head Americas Real Estate APG Asset Management US Inc.
January 2018
Sites & Sounds Tour: Essex Crossing, hosted by L+M Development
An unprecedented development in the heart of the Lower East Side. Spread over 1.9 million square feet, Essex Crossing comprises nine sites with over 1,000 new residences, 450,000 square feet of retail, 400,000 square feet of office space, community attractions, and green spaces. These nine sites represent one of the most significant urban renewal developments in the history of New York City. This tour, organized exclusively for the Columbia Real Estate Circle, was a unique opportunity for an inside look at the exciting development of the Essex Crossing megaproject.
Fall 2017
Circle Academy Breakfast
How Real Estate Staucks Up Among Capital Market Alternatives
Craig Leupold ’92, Chief Executive Officer, Green Street Advisors
Spring 2017
Circle Academy Breakfast
Scott Rechler, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, RXR Realty
Fall 2016
Circle Academy Breakfast
Power at Ground Zero: Politics, Money, and the Rebuilding of Lower Manhattan
Featuring a presentation by Lynne B. Sagalyn, Earle W. Kazis and Benjamin Schore Professor Emerita and Founding Director, The Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate, Columbia Business School
Spring 2016
Circle Academy Breakfast
The REIT World Today: Benefits & Headwinds
David B. Henry, Co-Founder, Peaceable Street Capital; Retired Vice Chairman, Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Kimco Realty
Fall 2015
Circle Academy Breakfast
The Changing Structure of the Real Estate Investment Industry
David M. Sherman ’82, Co-Founder, President, and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Metropolitan Real Estate
Spring 2015
Circle Academy Breakfast
Secular Opportunities in Today’s Real Estate Markets
Richard J. Mack, Law ’93, Founder and CEO, Mack Real Estate Group
Fall 2014
Circle Academy Breakfast
The Current US Private Equity Market
Stephen J. Furnary, Chairman and CEO, Clarion Partners
Circle Academy Breakfast
Real Estate Under the Alternatives Umbrella
Marjorie Tsang, Law ’85, Director of Strategic Research and Solutions, New York State Common Retirement Fund
Fall 2013
Circle Academy Breakfast
GSE Reform
Hugh Frater ’85, Chief Executive Officer, Berkadia
Spring 2013
Circle Academy Breakfast
CRE Debt: Have Markets Normalized?
Spencer Haber, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, H/2 Capital Partners
Fall 2012
Circle Academy Breakfast
Martin Cicco, CC ’78, Senior Managing Director and Head of Real Estate, Evercore Partners
Spring 2012
Circle Academy Breakfast
Being a Real Estate Entrepreneur, Young!
Mark Caplan ’84, President, Time Group:
Fall 2011
Circle Academy Breakfast
Challenges to Effective Renegotiation of Residential Mortgages
Tomasz Piskorski, Edward S. Gordon Professor of Real Estate, Columbia Business School.
Spring 2011
Circle Academy Breakfast
An Interactive Case Study: Liquidity in a Credit Drought: Equity Residential (EQR)
David Neithercut ’82, President and CEO, Equity Residential
Fall 2010
Circle Academy Breakfast
Housing, Credit, Real Estate, and the Economy
Chris Mayer, Co-Director, Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate and Paul Milstein Professor of Real Estate, Columbia Business School
Spring 2010
Circle Academy Breakfast
Distressed Debt Investing: The Hancock Tower & Garage (a real estate case study)
Lynne B. Sagalyn, Earle W. Kazis and Benjamin Schore Professor Emerita of Real Estate, Columbia Business School
Fall 2009
Circle Academy Breakfast
Distressed Real Estate
John Klopp, CEO, Capital Trust, Inc.
Spring 2009
Circle Academy Breakfast
A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder
Eric Abrahamson, Professor of Management, Columbia Business School
Fall 2008
Circle Academy Breakfast
The Venturesome Economy
Amar Bhide, Lawrence D. Glaubinger Professor of Business, Columbia Business School
Summer 2008
Circle Academy Breakfast
Are Short Sellers Evil?
Charles Jones, Professor of Finance and Economics, Columbia Business School
Spring 2008
Circle Academy Breakfast
Strategic Intuition: The Creative Spark in Human Achievement
William Duggan, Professor of Management, Columbia Business School
Fall 2007
Circle Academy Breakfast
Macroeconomic and Monetary Studies Function
Richard Peach, Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Summer 2007
Circle Academy Breakfast
Is Good Governance always Good for the Shareholders?
Matthew Rhodes-Kropf, Daniel W. Stanton Associate Professor of Business, Columbia Business School
Spring 2007
Circle Academy Breakfast
Bubbles, Fundamentals and Superstar Cities: The Future Path of High Real Estate Prices
Chris Mayer, Co-Director, Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate and Paul Milstein Professor of Real Estate, Columbia Business School
Winter 2007
Circle Academy Breakfast
Long Term Trends in Globalized Interest Rates
Bruce Greenwald, Robert Heilbrunn Professor of Finance and Asset Management, Columbia Business School
Join the Real Estate Circle
Learn more about the advantages of joining the Real Estate Circle.
Starting in July 2019, four levels of commitment are available and renew annually:
- Circle Leader (for graduates of more than 5 years)
- Circle Associate (for graduates within the last 5 years)
- Non-Resident (for graduates 7,000 mils from NYC)
- Recent Graduate (first year following graduation only)
If you would like to join Columbia Business School's Real Estate Circle, please complete the commitment form or contact Kristin Svenningsen for more information.
Kristin Svenningsen
Managing Director
kjs2149@gsb.columbia.edu
(212) 854-8556
