Rick Kaplan host of the NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Ngan Han President, Kristen Hurley Executive Director and Justin MacEachern of Gilbane Building. The group talks about how To help bring exposure to the ACE Mentor Program of Greater Boston, discuss the positive impacts that the organization has done over the years and to get more local firms involved.

Rick Kaplan Host of the NEREJ / NYREJ Podcasts Guest this week is Jonathan Garland Of JGE Architecture + Design / JGE Development LLC, In 2018 I founded two separate Boston-based, minority owned firms with a focus on commercial architecture and real estate development. Together the two firms form JGE, otherwise known as J. Garland Enterprises. Before launching into private practice, I served at director and associate principal level positions at design firms in Boston and New York. After nearly 25 years in the industry, I have been fortunate to work on an array of building and project types, ranging in scale, use, context and location. Some award winning and others on a very tight budget. Nonetheless they each provide an invaluable learning opportunity from which to grow, and in-turn convey to others. Our dual practices today share the belief that we bear a social responsibility to build, equitably, sustainably and contextually -- that in many ways defines our mission and allows us to evolve to more directly meet the needs of our communities.

Rick Kaplan Host of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Mitchell Korbey of Herrick, Feinstein LLP. Mitchell Talks about why City of Yes is a timely piece of legislation that, if approved, will dramatically change the city's housing landscape and make a big dent in the issue of affordable housing. I think your audience would find it interesting to hear about the specifics impacts of the finalized version on the city, and how this can serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives to spur housing development. More broadly, I can also talk about how zoning can be a tool to make progress in on pressing problems that impact both the city's real estate market and the economy.
Tell us a little about yourself and some accomplishments: I'm a partner, and chair of Herrick's Land Use & Zoning Group. Mitch is an accomplished urban planner and land use attorney with more than 30 years of experience in private practice and government service. Mitch is a former Commissioner of the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA), a former director of the Department of City Planning's (DCP) Brooklyn office, and a former deputy director of DCP’s Staten Island office.

Host Rick Kaplan of the NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast with Brett Mercer and Steven Chick of Greek Real Estate Partners. Brett talk about his believes that exploring the state of the industrial logistics market in the Northeast will provide valuable insight for members of the industry, from investors and developers to space occupiers. The industry finds itself at a critical moment, coming out of a restrictive rates environment and possibly moving into a period of greater investment and development activity with both existing and ground-up facilities. Discussing solutions to challenges faced by the industry is especially relevant as industry members seek to build and upgrade facilities to meet both the current and future demands of occupiers, preparing for new technology and an evolving landscape for power and distribution. Steven will provide detailed insight into the mechanics and processes that enable industrial real estate owners and developers to reimagine and reposition existing facilities that may benefit from upgrades to technology and layout that create greater efficiency and meet the specific needs of current industrial space occupiers. The design/build process provides a cost-effective approach to repositioning and to new developments and expansions, reducing time and delivering a product with greater utility and value to owners and occupiers.

Host Rick Kaplan of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Aeran Doron of Suffolk Construction. Aeran brings a unique perspective on the New York City construction industry for NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast listeners to enjoy. Aeran discusses how Suffolk is redefining the way they build through investments in innovative technology, data solutions, and artificial intelligence. Aeran also talks about current trends for the market, including the public sector, and about the new technology and Suffolk mentorship programs that are available for younger people interested in the industry.

Rick Kaplan Host of NEREJ / NYREJ Podcast interviews Kevin Deabler of Rode Architects. Kevin is a design professional who has been immersed in Boston’s building and design community for nearly two decades, Kevin is eager to connect with the NEREJ’s audience about the current landscape. He has been at the forefront of major projects and innovation at the intersection of design and sustainability, in and around Boston, and can offer a unique perspective for your listeners. He brings a passion for talking about architecture, design, and the real estate scene in Boston, and the timing is wonderful for him to join as a guest, as RODE Architects is in the midst of growth momentum with the acquisition of a fellow Boston firm, McMahon Architects, earlier this month.

Rick Kaplan host of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Randy Eckers of Reed Smith LLP. Randy has more than 20 years of experience as a real estate finance attorney, he represents large lending institutions, private equity funds, debt funds, banks, bond investors, C-PACE lenders and administrators, and property owners in a wide variety of commercial real estate financing, structured financing, and secondary market transactions. This past fall he was honored by the New York Real Estate Journal as visionary in the industry, and in February 2023 was named a top rainmaker in commercial real estate finance.

Rick Kaplan host of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews John Schultzel of Olympia Hospitality. John began his career working in hotels and restaurants after earning his B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1991 and a Master of Management in Hospitality from the Hotel School at Cornell University. After more than a decade in various operating roles, he migrated to asset management with Host Hotels and then joined Olympia in 2001. With a balanced understanding of owner and operator perspectives, John has guided Olympia’s new development and growth opportunities over the last 2 decades. In that time, Olympia Hospitality has distinguished itself as a leading operator of boutique hotels specializing in campus hospitality and leisure destinations.