After stepping back from his role at Colliers International's New York Tri-State Region for several years due to personal matters, Michael Cohen is back at the helm. Effective January 1, 2012, Cohen officially resumed his role as president of the office.Real Estate Forum's Carl Gaines caught up with Cohen recently to find out where he hopes to take the firm in the future. Baseball metaphors abounded.

REAL ESTATE FORUM: What do you focus on here?

MICHAEL COHEN: I'm a classic player coach,which means that I have client responsibility as well asadministrative responsibility. Like any other executive, it means Ihave to surround myself with great, qualified people to assist inboth spheres. Fortunately I have a great COO, Joe Caridi, who helpsme in running the company. Insofar as managing clients' business, Ihave the 120 brokers in our tristate area to pick and choose fromto assist me on assignments. There are a lot of great people hereand I get to work with them all. Some firms have teams and silos.Here, we are the antithesis of that structure.