REBNY 17 REBNY’s seven honorees for 2017 pose with John H. Banks, III, REBNY president (fourth from the left).

NEW YORK CITY—The Real Estate Board of New York honored top industry leaders among its membership Thursday night at its 121st annual banquet. The city’s largest industry lobbying organization shone a spotlight on Carl Weisbrod, chairman of the NYC Planning Commission and director of the NYC Dept. of City Planning, who recently announced his retirement.

Weisbrod received The John E. Zuccotti Public Service award, which was presented with his honor by presented by REBNY chairman Rob Speyer, Suzan Zuccotti, and Ric Clark of Brookfield Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners.

Other award recipients included MaryAnne Gilmartin, president and CEO, of Forest City Ratner Cos., who was honored with The Bernard H. Mendik Lifetime Leadership in Real Estate award; Marc Holliday, CEO of SL Green Realty Corp., The Harry B. Helmsley Distinguished New Yorker award; Jed Walentas, CEO of Two Trees Management Co., received The Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian award; Peter Riguardi, president of the New York tri-state region, JLL, The Louis Smadbeck Broker Recognition award; Bill Dacunto, EVP of operations, Silverstein Properties, The George M. Brooker Management Executive of the Year award; and Lindsay Ornstein, partner, Transwestern, The Young Real Estate Professional of the Year award.

According to REBNY, The Mendik award went to Gilmartin for her accomplishments in the profession, leadership, and service to the real estate industry over the course of her distinguished career. The Helmsley award acknowledged Holliday for his invaluable contributions to New York’s civic welfare and the real estate community. The Gerrety Humanitarian award recognized Walentas for “meritorious service to the community.”

The Smadbeck award—presented to Riguardi by Bob Knakal and James Nelson of Cushman & Wakefield—celebrates a commercial broker with exceptional personal and professional integrity, leadership, prominence in the brokerage community, and service to REBNY’s committees.

Larry Silverstein presented Dacunto with the Brooker award, which recognizes individuals of superior accomplishment in property management based on outstanding professionalism, civic achievement, and contributions to the real estate industry.

Ornstein was presented with The Young Real Estate Professional of the Year award by Bill Montana of Savills Studley. The award is selected by the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association of New York and honors a member who exemplifies strong integrity, professionalism, and personal ethics.

“We established the John E. Zuccotti public service award in honor of our friend, a statesman in every sense of the word,” said Rob Speyer, REBNY chairman. “In the spirit of John’s Zuccotti legacy, we recognize NYC Planning chairman Carl Weisbrod for his outstanding career in public service. Carl’s contributions to our city span five mayors. He revitalized Times Square, founded the Downtown Alliance, helped us rebuild after 9/11, and most recently, announced the rezoning of Midtown East.”

Banquet attendees—comprised of real estate industry leaders and professionals as well as city and state dignitaries—gathered to celebrate Weisbrod’s achievements along with the outstanding professional success and exceptional contributions of MaryAnne Gilmartin, Marc Holliday, Jed Walentas, Peter Riguardi, Bill Dacunto, and Lindsay Ornstein at the time-honored networking event sponsored by FTI Consulting and Xceligent.

“The great turnout at our 121st Annual Banquet is a sign of the strength and unity of the real estate industry,” said John H. Banks, III, REBNY president. “As we move forward, we will continue to focus on progress, understanding that the success of our endeavors and our members means the success of New York City. Together we lead the way for a brighter 2017.”

The dinner program concluded with an educational video on New York’s growing transit infrastructure, assembled with assistance from the Association for a Better New York, MTA Capital Construction, and the office of Senator Charles Schumer.