RIPCO Real Estate has recruited Betty Castro as managing partner for the firm’s Manhattan and Brooklyn markets. Prior to joining RIPCO, Castro was the managing director of leasing in the Manhattan market and prior to that ran the Brooklyn and Queens markets for Cushman & Wakefield since 2015.

Castro has over 25 years of expertise in managing and developing client focused sales teams and innovating and implementing successful strategic plans.

“At RIPCO, we continue to actively recruit top talent and with Betty’s well-respected knowledge of Manhattan and the outer boroughs, we are confident she’ll be a great asset to the team,” says Mark Kaplan, Chief Operating Officer of RIPCO, in prepared comments. “Her close relationships with brokerage professionals and clients as well as her expertise in strategic business plans makes her a trusted mentor and leader, which will further help attract additional team members.”

While at Cushman & Wakefield, Castro focused on growing market share and adding service lines in areas such as office, retail, and industrial leasing, capital markets and property management. In 2019, Castro’s leadership helped surpass the Downtown Manhattan market’s revenue goal by over 60%.

Castro is also currently president of the New York chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW). Castro was awarded the Star Network Award of “Powerful Women in Queens” in 2017 and 2018, Star Network Award of “Powerful Women in Brooklyn” in 2016 and 2017, and CREW Network Star Award in 2019. As part of her new role at RIPCO, Castro will also focus on advancing the company’s DE&I initiatives.