REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CELEBRATE THE POWER OF SOCIAL IMPACT TO BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES

With Looming Economic Uncertainty, Executive Leadership in Real Estate Recalibrate to Prioritize Social Impact

NEW YORK, N Y– Wednesday, February 1, 2023 -- Commercial Observer, the premier media and information services company that informs and connects commercial real estate leaders, announced the launch of its CRE IMPACT Initiative, a multi-platform content series dedicated to creating and advancing the national agenda on the importance of social impact to build stronger and more sustainable communities – for all. The series is being launched in partnership with RXR, one of New York’s largest residential and commercial property owners with a growing national platform. Throughout the series, firms will have the opportunity to tell their social impact story before a national audience.

“This is timely, mission-critical content for New York City and the quality of life issues that remain key priorities for cities across the nation,” said Max Gross, Editor-in-Chief, Commercial Observer. “ESG and corporate responsibility are often the first items to be cut from budgets during a receding market. Today’s industry conditions demand greater opportunities for diverse talent, social impact, and innovative solutions for combating the climate crisis.”

The 2023 CRE IMPACT Series will be built around a calendar of core issues, including Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Pride, Earth Day, and Climate Week. Commercial Observer’s newly created initiative is designed to create a clear path for change. It will be made in partnership with The Real Estate Executive Council - REEX Programs, Project Destined, and Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) New York, uniting leading trade associations, corporations, and real estate industry leaders.

At a time when many believe market conditions will become more challenging, the CRE IMPACT Series will consist of editorial coverage, case studies examining data-proven business models, candid conversations with top business executives, video interviews with influential leaders and community advocates, op-eds, and profiles of trailblazing executives leading the charge for DEI and climate action.

“We’re living in an age of increasing interconnectivity, and our collective efforts can lead to real, long-lasting business and societal improvements,” stated Commercial Observer CEO James R Freiman. “Smart business goes above and beyond securing the biggest deals and developments. There has been a shift and call to action for companies to stamp their social imprint in the world, and at Commercial Observer, we have a powerful platform to achieve this in the real estate industry.”

LEADING CRE OWNER & INVESTMENT FIRM, RXR, JOINS IMPACT SERIES AS A FOUNDING PARTNER
RXR, a leading real estate owner and investment firm committed to building socially, economically, and environmentally responsible communities, is joining Commercial Observer’s IMPACT Series as a Founding Partner.

“The success of the real estate industry is directly tied to the success of the communities where we operate. And few industries play as big of a role in building stronger communities – from places of work to where people call home – than real estate,” said Scott Rechler, CEO & Chairman, RXR. “At RXR, we’re proud to join the Commercial Observer’s IMPACT Series and to share our experience in creating stronger and more sustainable communities within our company and throughout our portfolio.”

“We’re thrilled to have such a committed and future-looking partner as RXR to launch the series,” stated Robyn Reiss, Executive Director, Commercial Observer. “RXR has been a steadfast champion of advancing DEI, ESG, and climate action initiatives in real estate. They are at the forefront of leading the real estate evolution, and they’re bringing the communities they serve with them. Their insights and perspective will be invaluable to our readers and viewers.”

For opportunities to tell your Social Impact story and participate in the Commercial Observer’s National IMPACT Series, please contact partnerships@commercialobserver.com, or visit the IMPACT Series website at https://commercialobserver.com/impact/.

ABOUT COMMERCIAL OBSERVER

Commercial Observer is the leading commercial real estate media and information services company, delivering high-impact content, events, and platforms designed to connect and inform industry participants of key trends and people defining the global real estate landscape. Commercial Observer reaches a national audience of the most active real estate owners/developers, corporate occupiers, brokers, investors, lenders, leasing professionals, tech firms, public officials, contractors, architects, attorneys, and accountants, as well as other business owners and key decision-makers impacting the trajectory of the building industry. The company holds its reporting to the highest editorial standards with a strong commitment to fairness and accuracy.  Commercial Observer is a unit of Observer Media, a company which informs and connects leaders in industries undergoing disruption to help them innovate, grow and make smarter decisions.

Commercial Observer

NEW YORK, September 30, 2022 -- Commercial Observer, the premier media and information services company informing and connecting leaders in the commercial real estate industry, and real estate intelligence platform CREtech have announced a strategic partnership for the 2022 CREtech New York Conference, October 12-13, at Pier 36.

CREtech has announced that Commercial Observer has joined the 2022 CREtech New York Conference as CREtech’s official Content Partner, driving world-class content and discussions around the cutting-edge innovations and technologies transforming the built world.

The strategic partnership will launch with a Commercial Observe live broadcasted Power Briefing on October 6 at 2:00 PM ET. The Power Briefing will be hosted by Max Gross, Editor-in-Chief, Commercial Observer and will feature Laura Hines-Pierce, Co-CEO, Hines and Michael Beckerman, CEO, CREtech.

As the official Content Partner of the conference, Max Gross will moderate the CREtech New York opening keynote with Laura Hines-Pierce on October 12 at 9:30 AM ET.

“Innovation is happening at such an accelerated pace that it has prompted the real estate industry to really reimagine how it does business,” stated Gross. “We’re thrilled to partner with CREtech and to fuel conversations around the future of the industry,  as well as how leaders need to be thinking to ensure they’re future-proofing their portfolio and are taking an active role in unveiling the next iteration of real estate.”

“Partnering with Commercial Observer will allow CREtech New York to take the conference’s content to the next level,” said Beckerman.  “CREtech and Commercial Observer are at the intersection of real estate and technology and our partnership will heighten the overall event experience through thought-provoking dialogue and the introduction of new participants with the merging of our extensive networks.”

More information on the Commercial Observer and CREtech Power Briefing featuring Laura Hines-Pierce, Co-CEO, Hines can be found at  https://commercialobserver.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_srmG03laR6mp9XWQYUJG1g

CRETech New York information and event details can be found at: https://events.cretech.com/event/d6115969-afbc-4087-a102-33322bd7ef6b/websitePage:535c6eea-fe0f-4f83-b356-a57c21c713b4

About Commercial Observer:
Commercial Observer is the leading commercial real estate media and information services company, delivering high-impact content, events and platforms designed to connect and inform industry participants of key trends and people defining the global real estate landscape. Commercial Observer reaches a national audience of the most active real estate owners/developers, corporate occupiers, brokers, investors, lenders, leasing professionals, tech firms, public officials, contractors, architects, attorneys, and accountants, as well other business owners and key decision-makers impacting the trajectory of the building industry. The company holds its reporting to the highest editorial standards with a strong commitment to fairness and accuracy.  Commercial Observer is a unit of Observer Media, a company which informs and connects leaders in industries undergoing disruption  to help them innovate, grow and make smarter decisions.

Observer Media Names Jack Fordi its First-Ever Chief Revenue Officer and Staisey Divorski as Vice President of Marketing

New Positions to Further Accelerate Growth Across Portfolio of Brands after Record Year

NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Observer Media today announced two important appointments as the company continues to expand its platforms, products and team after achieving record growth in 2021 across its portfolio of brands including Observer, Commercial Observer and RealGraph. Jack Fordi has been named the company's first-ever Chief Revenue Officer and Staisey Divorski will become Vice President of Marketing.   

Michael Rose, CEO of Observer Media, explained "We have experienced record growth over the past 12 months across all lines of business — sponsorship and advertising, membership and subscriptions, events, performance marketing, data services and news. Jack and Staisey have exactly the right experience to not only accelerate the growth of our media, membership and data platforms, but also enable us to unlock value from our storied brands, data sets, content and community in novel ways. I'm thrilled to have them join the team."

Fordi is charged with revenue strategy, deepening client relationships, revenue diversification and growth, and leading revenue operations and platform partnerships across the company. He joins Observer Media with over 20 years of experience in digital media, events, SaaS, subscription and platform sales. Fordi was previously Senior Vice President for Questex, a $100MM B2B global business information company where he chaired the revenue committee and grew revenue over 400%. Prior to Questex, Fordi served as revenue leader at SmartBrief, Intralinks, Gannett and The Chronicle. He is also a co-founder and partner with Chute Partners, a private and secure social media platform for teens and young adults with special needs.

Divorski will oversee sales, product and membership marketing, branding and corporate communications, audience data and insights, and will ensure the continued success of our growing events business. She joins Observer Media with over a decade of experience developing transformational programs for high-growth media and technology companies. Divorski was previously Vice President of Marketing at Spectrio, one of the nation's leading digital signage software companies, and at Enplug Digital Signage Software where she helped grow and position the company for exit. Divorski also served as Vice President of Marketing for SRAX, where she led all marketing strategies for the launch of BIGtoken, a consumer-powered blockchain data marketplace. Staisey holds a B.A. from Columbia University and a Ph.D. from UCLA.

About Observer Media
Observer Media is a diversified media, information and services company with interests in digital media such as Observer and Commercial Observer, and information platforms including RealGraph. Observer Media seeks to build brands and businesses that utilize technology and media to empower influential business executives.

Contact:
Vivian Louthan
Observer Media
vlouthan@observermedia.com

Related Links:
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Observer Expands Editorial Team Naming James Ledbetter Executive Editor and Oliver Staley Senior Business Editor

Former Inc. Magazine, Sequoia Capital, Quartz and Bloomberg Journalists to Power its Entry into Premium Subscription Products Aimed at Industry Leaders and Disruptors

NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Observer Media announced today the expansion of its editorial team under Editor-in-Chief Meg Marco with two new hires. James Ledbetter, former Editor in Chief of Inc. Magazine and Head of Content at Sequoia Capital will join as Executive Editor, and Oliver Staley, former Quartz editor and Bloomberg reporter joins as Senior Business Editor. Observer has also acquired Ledbetter's acclaimed paid newsletter FIN, focused on decentralized finance and fintech. FIN will become the core of a series of premium subscription products Observer will debut in 2022 as part of its relaunch.

Observer Editor in Chief Meg Marco said "I'm thrilled to have Jim and Oliver join our talented team. Jim has a gift for convening industry leaders and spotting trends and talent as they emerge. He is one of those editors who elevates everyone who works with him, so I'm excited that he'll be overseeing our relaunched power lists and rankings, live journalism and events, new formats and guest essays." Marco added, "Oliver's skill and commitment to thoughtful and ambitious business reporting will transform our coverage of business and power. I have not found an industry he does not know well or cannot think of a fresh way to approach. I am excited for how our journalism will grow in ambition with Jim and Oliver on board."

Observer Media CEO Michael Rose said, "After a record year of growth across all of our brands and platforms, I'm incredibly excited to welcome Jim and Oliver to the Observer team as we continue to invest in covering the powerful forces that shape our world in the unique Observer style."  Rose added "The addition of Jim and Oliver, the recent hiring of our first Chief Revenue Officer, Jack Fordi, and VP of Marketing, Staisey Divorski, and our investments in new products across Observer Media's entire portfolio of brands, shows our commitment to providing industry leaders and disruptors with the news, information, data and connections they need."

Ledbetter is an accomplished journalist and author who joins Observer from Clarim Media, where he served as chief content officer. Prior to this, he was the head of content at Sequoia Capital, editor in chief of Inc. Magazine, editor of Reuters.com, and held key positions at Slate, TIME and FORTUNE. In his previous tenure at Observer, he created the storied 'Off the Record' column, and his writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, The New Republic and dozens of others. Ledbetter is the author of six books and serves on the board of the non-profit Economic Hardship Reporting Project.

Prior to his work at Quartz, Staley spent nearly a decade at Bloomberg News in New York and London, covering a range of beats including the European financial crisis, the pharmaceutical industry, hotel and casino industries, and global higher education. His articles about US universities compromising their values in China won several national reporting awards and he serves on the board of governors for the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW).

About Observer
Observer is the essential source of news, data and insight about the powerful forces that shape the world.  Observer inspires and challenges an urban audience of global thinkers, business leaders and influential, highly engaged consumers.

About Observer Media
Observer Media is a diversified media, information and services company with interests in digital media such as Observer and Commercial Observer, and information platforms including Realgraph. Observer Media seeks to build brands and businesses that utilize technology and media to empower influential business executives. 

Contact:
Vivian Louthan
Observer Media
vlouthan@observermedia.com

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COMMERCIAL OBSERVER TO LAUNCH EXPANDED NATIONAL LIFE SCIENCE COVERAGE

National Media Leader Sees Booming Potential for Life Sciences Industry to Mobilize Economic Growth & Position the U.S. as the Global Frontrunner in Innovation & Scientific Advancement

NEW YORK – September 23, 2021 – Commercial Observer, the premier media and information services company that informs and connects leaders in the commercial real estate industry, is making significant investments in life sciences editorial coverage, data and products to support the growth and advancement of this critical industry. 

Life sciences and biotech real estate hit an upward stride over the past decade, and the past 17 months have served as a further catalyst for a life science real estate boom. The life sciences and biotech industries have proven to not only be recession-proof, but are on track for accelerated growth as the demand for lab space, R&D centers and innovation campuses steadily increases. 

 This high-growth industry has been critical to the U.S. economy throughout the pandemic crisis and has also provided the real estate community with a path towards expansion. The increasing demand for available life science research and laboratory space has led to a spur of new real estate developments at a much needed time as other asset classes have faced the challenges of the pandemic. Now, the development community will play a key role in providing science and biotech space to meet real estate inventory demands and support the continued growth of this essential industry.

 Commercial Observer is planning the launch of new life sciences-focused products and content, key profiles and features of the people, companies and technologies leading the sector forward, a regular newsletter, breaking news, events and virtual briefings, as well strategic partnerships forged to support the advancement of the life sciences real estate sector. CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, has signed on as a lead sponsor of the initiative. 

The media organization also hosted its Inaugural Life Sciences Forum in June 2021, welcoming premier life sciences and biotech brands and national real estate leaders to discuss location strategies and the formation of life science clusters, the campus effect and development of innovation hubs, the unique infrastructure and design needs of cutting-edge laboratories and the sector’s rapidly growing investment potential. planning the launch of new life sciences-focused products and content, including a monthly newsletter, as well as the announcement of strategic partnerships forged to support the advancement of the life science real estate sector.

About Commercial Observer:

Commercial Observer is the leading commercial real estate media and information services company, delivering high-impact content, events and platforms designed to connect and inform industry participants of key trends and people defining the global real estate landscape. Commercial Observer reaches a national audience of the most active real estate owners/developers, corporate occupiers, brokers, investors, lenders, leasing professionals, tech firms, public officials, contractors, architects, attorneys, and accountants, as well other business owners and key decision-makers impacting the trajectory of the building industry. The company holds its reporting to the highest editorial standards with a strong commitment to fairness and accuracy.  Commercial Observer is a unit of Observer Media, a company which informs and connects leaders in industries undergoing disruption   to help them innovate, grow and make smarter decisions.

Contact:
Vivian Louthan
Observer Media
vlouthan@observermedia.com 

SOURCE Commercial Observer

Commercial Observer To Launch Proptech Newsletter And Expanded Technology Coverage

 National Media Leader Sees Widespread Impacts on Proptech and Technology on Future of Commercial Real Estate

NEW YORK – July 29th, 2021 – Commercial Observer, the premier media and information services company that informs and AND CONNECTS LEADERS IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE is expanding its proptech and technology coverage with a weekly newsletter and additional content on this vital issue for real estate. Phil Russo, Co-Founder of Metaprop and an ongoing investor with the organization will lead editorial coverage of the proptech industry for the Observer Media team.

The past year has sparked a new wave of game-changing technologies. The reality of what is possible for commercial real estate has been forever altered as cutting-edge solutions are continuously being introduced. The winners and the losers are being separated by those who are adapting and leveraging these advancements, and those who are not.

The Pandemic Drove Technology and Innovation
Covid was an accelerant for innovation, resulting in a decade’s worth of technological advancements condensed to a year. The industry had to embrace new technologies, solutions and platforms if it intended to thrive in the post-Covid world.

The savviest investors are not just following the money – they are setting investment trends. Companies like VTS, Sonder, Procore, Latch and so many others have already begun changing the way property is viewed, rented, built and used.  Venture capital firms everywhere have tried to identify the next handful of startups that will reach this status and start-up competitions, incubators and demo days are now attended not just by real estate leaders but by some of the world’s largest investment firms.  In addition to editorial coverage, the Commercial Observer will host an annual innovation event series featuring marque industry events such as Ignite, a leading event featuring the latest in technology, proptech investment and real estate trends and the annual Innovators event, hosted annual in junction with a national Innovator Awards program which began in 2019, among other ongoing national programs and thought leadership conferences.

About Commercial Observer:
Commercial Observer is the leading commercial real estate media and information services company, delivering high-impact content, events and platforms designed to connect and inform industry participants of key trends and people defining the global real estate landscape. Commercial Observer reaches a national audience of the most active real estate owners/developers, corporate occupiers, brokers, investors, lenders, leasing professionals, tech firms, public officials, contractors, architects, attorneys, and accountants, as well other business owners and key decision-makers impacting the trajectory of the building industry. The company holds its reporting to the highest editorial standards with a strong commitment to fairness and accuracy.  Commercial Observer is a unit of Observer Media, a company which informs and connects leaders in commercial real estate  to help them innovate, grow and make smarter decisions.

 Contact:
Vivian Louthan
Observer Media
vlouthan@observermedia.com 

SOURCE Commercial Observer

Commercial Observer Announces 2021 CRE Power Rankings Honoring Changemakers At Industry Inflection Point

Larry Silverstein to Open 14th Annual Power Gala to Reflect on 20th Anniversary of 9/11 & What Recovery & Resilience Mean Today.

NEW YORK, July 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Commercial Observer, the premier media and information services company that informs and connects leaders in the commercial real estate industry, has announced its 2021 14th Annual Power 100, 9th Annual Power Finance, and 3rd Annual Power DC lists. 

2021 POWER GALA TO ADDRESS URBAN RESILIENCE & RECOVERY
Larry SIlverstein, Chairman of SIlverstein Properties, will serve as a keynote speaker at the 14th Annual Power Gala's special, in-person Honoree Reception on September 29th. This being the 20th anniversary of September 11th, the Honoree Reception will be hosted in Downtown New York City and Silverstein will deliver opening remarks to reflect on the importance of resiliency, recovery and moving forward together.

"We look forward to convening the industry's top thought leaders after a year of unprecedented changes," said Observer Media CEO, Michael Rose. "Advancing the commercial real estate industry by informing and connecting top business- and thought-leaders is paramount to our mission. Mr. Silverstein opening the gala and providing a call to action for everyone to once again unite and rebuild stronger is the symbol of gravitas and ambition that this moment deserves."

The September 29th Honoree Reception will be followed by a national, industry-wide virtual program on September 30th. The program will highlight the industry's top priorities and will build on a wave of innovation that is catapulting CRE forward. 

A NEW BENCHMARK FOR EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP EMERGES FROM A PIVOTAL YEAR
The Commercial Observer Power lists are among the most coveted and sought after recognitions in the commercial real estate industry. The annual lists honor the commercial real estate owners/developers, investors, brokers, corporate heads of real estate, advisory firms, lenders, REITs. Lawyers, public officials and other key influencers behind the largest deals, developments, and transactions across the U.S., as well as the public officials establishing the policies and procedures that are driving the future of urban planning and smart cities. The 2021 Power lists also welcomed new honorees from emerging sectors transforming the commercial real estate landscape such as proptech, cannabis retail and SPACs.

The past 15 months have given rise to a new standard in leadership and excellence, driven by those who possessed an unwavering commitment to better the industry and the communities it serves. The 2021 Power lists recognize the visionaries who sparked innovation, fueled economic activity by supporting high-growth industries, elevated the importance of diversity and inclusion in the industry, and were especially skilled at creating new dealmaking opportunities. 

"While the past year has brought its challenges, it has also allowed strategic thinkers to identify the right opportunities to improve and advance commercial real estate," said Commercial Observer Editor-in-Chief, Max Gross. "In organizing this year's lists, we took a close look at the executives and policymakers who set the new standard in leadership. We wanted to recognize those who led with clarity and the future in mind.".

TOP 2021 POWER HONOREES 

Power 100
Power 100 recognizes the national owners/developers, investors, corporate tenants, brokers, financiers, lawyers, architects, contractors, alternative lenders, policymakers, and other key influencers driving the future of commercial real estate. This year's top honorees include:

• Jonathan Gray, COO and President, and Ken Caplan and Kathleen McCarthy, Co-Heads of Real Estate at Blackstone

• Scott Rechler, Chairman & CEO, RXR Realty

• Steven Roth, Chairman & CEO, Vornado Realty Trust

• Marc Holliday, CEO, and Andrew Mathias, President, SL Green Realty Corp.

• Rob Speyer, President & CEO, Tishman Speyer

• Brian Kingston, Managing Partner & CEO; Lowell Baron, Managing Partner & CIO; Bill Powell, Managing Partner & COO; and Ben Brown, Managing Partner & U.S. Head of Real Estate, Brookfield Property Partners

• Douglas Durst, Chairman and Jonathan "Jody" Durst, President, The Durst Organization

• Larry Silverstein, Chairman and Marty Burger, CEO, Silverstein Properties

• Tommy Craig, Senior Managing Director, Hines

• Stephen Ross, Chairman & Founder; Jeff Blau, CEO; and Bruce Beal, President, Related Companies

The 2021 Power 100 list also included a record number of newcomers on the list, including:

• Melissa Roman Burch, Executive General Manager, Lendlease

• Michael Hackman, CEO, Hackman Capital Partners

• David Solomon, Chairman & CEO; Stephanie Cohen, Global Co-Head of Consumer & Wealth Management; and Sherry Wang and Daniel Alger, Co-Heads of the Urban Investment Group, Goldman Sachs

• Jorge Perez, Chairman & CEO and Jon Paul Perez, President, Related Group

• Jenny Wong, Managing Director, of Innovation, Tishman Speyer

• Cedric Bobo, Co-Founder, Project Destined

The complete Power 100 listing can be found here. 

Power Finance
The Power Finance list recognizes leading banks, lenders, advisory firms, investors, mortgage REITs, life companies, government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), and other key decision-makers influencing the capital stack. This year's top honorees include:

• Debby Jenkins, Executive Vice President & Head of Multifamily and Rich Martinez, Senior Vice President, Multifamily Production & Sales, Freddie Mac

• Michele Evans, Executive Vice President & Head of Multifamily, Fannie Mae

• Brian Baker, Global Head of Commercial Mortgages, JPMorgan Securities; Al Brooks, Head of JPMorgan Chase Commercial Real Estate; and Chad Tredway, Head of Real Estate Banking, JPMorgan Chase

• Katie Keenan, President, Blackstone Mortgage Trust; Michael Nash, Co-Founder & Chairman, Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies; Stephen Plavin, CEO, Blackstone Mortgage Trust; Jonathan Pollack, Global Head, Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies; and Senior Managing Director, Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies, Blackstone

• David Bouton and Joseph Dyckman, Co-Heads of U.S. CMBS, Citigroup

• Margaret Anadu, Global Head of Sustainability & Impact, and Ted Borter and Miriam Wheeler, Co-Heads of the Americas Real Estate Financing Group, Goldman Sachs

The complete Power Finance listing can be found here. 

Power D.C.
The Power D.C. list recognizes the Capital's top real estate executives and policymakers transforming both the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) region and national trends and policies. Among those honored include:

• Holly Sullivan, Director of Worldwide Economic Development, Amazon

• Gina Baker Chambers, Principal & Portfolio Manager, Artemis

• Art Santry, Vice Chair and Kurt Richter, Vice Chair, Cushman & Wakefield

• Katy Kale, Acting Administrator, and Robin Carnahan, Administrator-Designate, General Services Administration

• Marcia Fudge, U.S. Secretary of Housing & Urban Development

• Muriel Bowser, Mayor of District of Columbia, D.C.

• Kyle Schoppman, President, Mid-Atlantic Division, CBRE

• Sadvhi Subramanian, Senior Vice President, Capital One

• Robert Stewart, Chairman and Matt Kelly, CEO, JBG Smith

• Hillary Allard Goldfarb, Senior Vice President & Regional Development Officer, Rockefeller Group

• Peter Otteni and Jake Stroman, Co-Heads of the Washington Office, Boston Properties

The complete Power D.C. listing can be found here.

ABOUT COMMERCIAL OBSERVER
Commercial Observer is the leading commercial real estate media and information services company, delivering high-impact content, events and platforms designed to connect and inform industry participants of key trends and people defining the global real estate landscape. Commercial Observer reaches a national audience of the most active real estate owners/developers, corporate occupiers, brokers, investors, lenders, leasing professionals, tech firms, public officials, contractors, architects, attorneys, and accountants, as well other business owners and key decision-makers impacting the trajectory of the building industry. The company holds its reporting to the highest editorial standards with a strong commitment to fairness and accuracy. Commercial Observer is a unit of Observer Media, a company which informs and connects leaders in commercial real estate to help them innovate, grow and make smarter decisions.

Contact:
Vivian Louthan
vlouthan@observermedia.com

SOURCE Commercial Observer

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Meg Marco Named Observer Editor-in-Chief
Former ProPublica, Wall Street Journal and Gawker Media Editor to Lead the Observer’s Multi-Platform Editorial Operations

 NEW YORK, NY, July 13, 2021 -- Observer Media CEO Michael Rose announced today that Meg Marco has been named the Editor-in-Chief of the Observer.  Marco will lead all editorial operations for the storied Observer brand as it relaunches later this year with a renewed focus on original reporting and coverage of the powerful across key media channels.

 Marco comes to Observer from ProPublica, where she was the senior editor managing audience strategy, social and editorial newsletters. She was also a co-editor of the coronavirus coverage that was a finalist for the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Public Interest. Under her leadership ProPublica’s audience team won a number of awards, including the 2021 National Magazine Award for Social Media for “Grace: A Failure of Michigan’s Juvenile Justice System.”  During her time at ProPublica, its on and off-platform readership increased dramatically each year, and newsletter subscribers grew by over 200%.

 “Meg has a unique mix of sharp story-telling, audience-development, technical and creative skills that intersect perfectly with the Observer’s journalistic mission. She sees around corners, understands the digital and physical media ecosystem, and knows what it means to build a modern, award-winning editorial organization.” said Rose.  "Her immediate priority will be to expand the newsroom, reestablishing Observer as a brand known for original reporting and a focus on the powerful. She's an intellectual, funny powerhouse who will build a great team, and inspire us all to do better.”

 “I can't imagine a more important or interesting time to relaunch the Observer,” said Marco, "The late David Carr once said that the Observer 'let those in the know know what else they should know about.' I'm honored to have the chance to reimagine the publication that launched the careers of so many journalists who have both inspired and influenced me over the years, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to bring that legacy into the future.”

 Marco was previously a masthead editor at The Wall Street Journal where she oversaw Digital Content Strategy, including the multi-platform expansion of the Future of Everything franchise and the digital launch of the weekend section Exchange. During her time at the Journal, she founded and staffed the WSJ Media Science Lab, a center for AI and machine learning in the newsroom, and her team successfully relaunched over 30 newsletters.

 She is formerly the editor and head of product of Consumerist, a Gawker Media site that was later acquired by Consumer Reports. During her tenure, Consumerist produced deeply reported coverage of topics such as fraud, surprise medical bills, for-profit colleges, telecom policy, consumer privacy and product safety. She is also the author of Field Guide to the Apocalypse, a satirical guide to surviving the end of the world published by Simon & Schuster in 2005, well in advance of the actual end times.

 As Observer invests in expanding its team, Marco has also announced several new roles.  Effective immediately Observer is hiring a business editor, visuals editor, a copy and standards editor, a strategy editor, and a media reporter.  Interested candidates can apply at https://www.observermedia.com/careers  Questions? Write to: editor@observer.com

 About Observer
Observer is a digital media company, chronicling the world's power players in the arts, entertainment and media, and business innovation.  Through credible, authoritative and thought-leadership content, Observer inspires and challenges an urban audience of global thinkers, business leaders and influential, highly engaged consumers.

 About Observer Media
Observer Media is a diversified media, information and services company with interests in digital media such as Observer and Commercial Observer, and information platforms including Realgraph. Observer Media seeks to build brands and businesses that utilize technology and media to empower influential business executives. 

 Contact:
Vivian Louthan
Observer Media
vlouthan@observermedia.com

Related Links:
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COMMERCIAL OBSERVER EXPANDS ITS AWARD-WINNING COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE COVERAGE ACROSS KEY U.S. CITIES 
NEW YORK (February 16, 2021) - Commercial Observer, the premier media and information services company that informs and connects leaders in the commercial real estate industry, has announced it is significantly expanding its existing presence and coverage in key cities and areas throughout the U.S., including Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and South Florida with new markets to follow by the end of 2021.

Commercial Observer has launched an aggressive expansion plan that includes new products, services, and events and programs in these markets. The announcement comes as Commercial Observer also builds on its editorial team, welcoming new reporters, data journalists, and correspondents to provide additional coverage and exclusive, in-depth reporting on all aspects of the commercial real estate industry across major U.S. markets.

At a time when many companies have made the move to downsize, Commercial Observer states it is investing heavily in its internal and external growth. “As the industry continues to endure unprecedented business challenges, and is flooded with tons of resulting opportunities, experts are looking for key intel and market insights to help them make informed decisions. We see this as an important function of our job as a media company and look forward to connecting with a more national audience” said Editor-in-Chief, Max Gross.

Los Angeles, South Florida and Washington D.C. are all driving the national growth of the commercial real estate industry. California and South Florida had booming markets pre-Covid and have recently had an influx of market activity as companies looking for sunnier pastures have announced office relocations and portfolio expansions along the West Coast and in cities like Miami. Washington D.C. is ushering in several large-scale developments and welcoming new industries supporting innovation and economic growth, including life sciences and technology. 

“These regions are showing outsized growth and innovation as a resurgent commercial real estate industry takes shape post-COVID.  Each is showing strong activity and taking a leading role in smart city development. It’s important to us that we have the smartest feet on the ground to cover and make sense of these fast-changing developments and breakthrough industry trends as they unfold” stated Observer Media CEO, Michael Rose. 

In addition to its breaking news coverage, Commercial Observer has announced new regional forums and events, and daily newsletters in all three markets that will deliver national commercial real estate news directly to tens of thousands of leading industry professionals across the country.

ABOUT COMMERCIAL OBSERVER

Commercial Observer is the leading commercial real estate media and information services company, delivering high-impact content, events, and platforms designed to connect and inform industry participants of key trends and people defining the global real estate landscape. Commercial Observer reaches a national audience of the most active real estate owners/developers, corporate occupiers, brokers, investors, lenders, leasing professionals, tech firms, public officials, contractors, architects, attorneys, and accountants, as well other business owners and key decision-makers impacting the trajectory of the building industry. The company holds its reporting to the highest editorial standards with a strong commitment to fairness and accuracy.  Commercial Observer is a unit of Observer Media, a company that informs and connects leaders in industries undergoing transformation, to help them innovate, grow and make smarter decisions

COMMERCIAL OBSERVER & REBNY HOST HISTORIC PUBLIC SERVICE EVENT
CONVENING TOP LEADERS TO LAYOUT NYC’S RECOVERY PLANS

NEW YORK (February 2, 2021) - Commercial Observer, the premier media and information services company that informs and connects leaders in the commercial real estate industry, partnered with the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), New York’s leading real estate advocacy and trade organization, to host a historic “Celebration of Public Service” event on Thursday, January 28, 2021.

The event came together virtually in the midst of the pandemic to jumpstart 2021 with a discussion on the City’s recovery plans.  The program brought together New York’s most influential business leaders and City and State officials to make one message clear: collaboration and public service by adept leaders are putting New York City on the path to recovery and it will thrive again.  The event was supported by some of the largest firms in the real estate industry, including Presenting Sponsor, JPMorgan Chase.

“Our brand was built in New York City, we are headquartered in New York City and as we’ve grown to serve a national audience we haven’t forgotten our roots. We remain champions of and are deeply invested in the City’s long-term success.  We felt it was critical to kick off 2021 with concrete ideas and plans from the people creating positive change and to showcase the many reasons why New York, led by its commercial real estate industry, is a vital lifeline in the global economy and is poised to thrive in the near future.  There was no better partner than REBNY to help bring top leaders together and share these insights with the broader industry,” said Observer Media CEO, Michael Rose.

Iconic real estate leaders and public officials joined Commercial Observer’s editorial team to discuss the importance of keeping top talent in New York City by increasing diversity and equity across industries, using cutting-edge real estate designs to introduce dynamic live/work/play environments and attracting high-growth industries like life sciences and technology. In addition, the theme of public service highlighted the unique contributions of the real estate community--and its shared responsibility to go beyond business to positively impact our communities and ensure New York’s future.

During a special leadership presentation with Jay Neveloff (Kramer Levin), Mary Ann Tighe (CBRE), and Anthony Malkin (Empire State Realty Trust), Chase Garbarino, CEO & Co-Founder of HqO pointed out that recent movement to coastal cities in warmer climates is unlikely to deter the City’s growth or erase the centuries worth of art and culture that has made New York a world-class destination. “Culture takes decades, centuries to compound, and New York City’s can’t just be replicated, it’s not going to pop up just anywhere,” Garbarino added.

“There is a lot of smart, important progress underway in the City and we saw an opportunity to partner with REBNY and provide a platform for leaders to voice this to New York communities and constituents. We’re at a critical juncture in the City’s history and there are people pioneering the way forward by fortifying greater unity and shedding light on the areas that are going to drive long-lasting change, like sustainability, health, and wellness, and resiliency” stated Max Gross, Commercial Observer Editor-in-Chief.

The program also took a closer look at the key initiatives put in place by REBNY to help mitigate the continual public health concerns and business interruptions arising from the ongoing pandemic. From securing vital PPE materials to their recent announcement that vacant office spaces will be used to increase available testing and vaccine sites, REBNY has taken an invaluable role in making New York an example of effective COVID-19 responsiveness.

“The key to moving forward is collaboration,” stated REBNY President James Whelan. “We will continue working with government officials and other stakeholders to play our part in advancing a strong and equitable economic recovery that continues to position New York City as a global leader.”

A portion of the program proceeds will be donated to the virtual internship program launched by Project Destined in partnership with REBNY and CUNY. “We want to create the strongest possible future for this amazing city and to do that we need to ensure New York remains an attractive destination for global top talent, and that starts here at home.  Project Destined has designed powerful, interactive, and compelling educational programs led by top real estate companies that introduce the nation’s youth to professions in the industry. We’re thrilled to support this results-oriented program that is working to bring up a stronger, more diverse pipeline of talent,” said Michael Rose, Observer Media CEO.

The program opened with virtual red carpet interviews hosted by Commercial Observer editors Max Gross and Cathy Cunningham before welcoming Chad Tredway (JPMorgan Chase), James Whelan (REBNY), Douglas Durst (The Durst Organization), and Deputy Mayor Vicki Been (City of New York) for opening remarks. A special tribute was also given to the late New York City Mayor David Dinkins.

Notable program speakers included:

●      Vicki Been, Deputy Mayor, New York City
●      Charles Bendit, Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Taconic Investment Partners
●      Ben Brown, Head of US Office, Brookfield Properties
●      Alfred Cerullo III, President/CEO, Grand Central Partnership
●      Tommy Craig, Regional Officer & Partner, Hines
●      Douglas Durst, Chairman, The Durst Organization
●      David Falk, President, New York Tri-State Region, Newmark
●      Winston Fisher, Partner, Fisher Brothers
●      Chase Garbarino, Co-Founder & CEO, HqO
●      MaryAnne Gilmartin, Founder and CEO, Interim CEO, MAG Partners LP; Mack-Cali Realty Corporation
●      Ralph Herzka, Chairman and CEO, Meridian Capital Group
●      Leslie Himmel, Founder and Co-Managing Partner, Himmel + Meringoff Properties
●      Marc Holliday, Chief Executive Officer, SL Green Realty Corp.
●      Letitia James, Attorney General, State of New York
●      Bob Knakal, Chairman, NY Investment Sales, JLL
●      Thea Kruger, Senior Principal, Berdon LLP
●      Jessica Lappin, President, Alliance for Downtown New York
●      Haniel Lynn, CEO, Kastle Systems
●      Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman, President, CEO, Empire State Realty Trust
●      Jonathan Mechanic, Partner and Chairman of the Real Estate Department, Fried Frank
●      Nelson Mills, CEO, Columbia Property Trust
●      Joe Moinian, Founder & CEO, The Moinian Group
●      Laurent Morali, President, Kushner
●      Bruce Mosler, Chairman, Global Brokerage, Cushman & Wakefield
●      Jay A. Neveloff, Partner, Chair, Real Estate, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
●      Andrew Rigie, Executive Director, New York City Hospitality Alliance
●      Peter Riguardi, Chairman and President of the New York Region, JLL
●      Nadir Settles, Managing Director, New York Regional Head, Office, Americas, Nuveen
●      Larry Silverstein, Chairman, Silverstein Properties, Inc.
●      Mary Ann Tighe, Chief Executive Officer, New York Tri-State Region, CBRE
●      Chad Tredway, Managing Director - Head of Real Estate Banking, J.P. Morgan Chase
●      Carl Weisbrod, Senior Advisor, HR&A●      James Whelan, President, REBNY

Event sponsors included:

●      JPMorgan Chase (Presenting Sponsor)
●      Alliance for Downtown New York
●      Berdon LLP
●      CBRE
●      Colliers International
●      Columbia Property Trust
●      Cushman & Wakefield
●      Fisher Brothers
●      Fried Frank
●      Grand Central Partnership
●      Hines
●      HqO
●      JLL
●      Kastle Systems
●      Kramer Levin
●      Meridian Capital Group
●      Newmark
●      SL Green Realty Corp.

 ABOUT COMMERCIAL OBSERVER

Commercial Observer is the leading commercial real estate media and information services company, delivering high-impact content, events and platforms designed to connect and inform industry participants of key trends and people defining the global real estate landscape. Commercial Observer reaches a national audience of the most active real estate owners/developers, corporate occupiers, brokers, investors, lenders, leasing professionals, tech firms, public officials, contractors, architects, attorneys, and accountants, as well other business owners and key decision-makers impacting the trajectory of the building industry. The company holds its reporting to the highest editorial standards with a strong commitment to fairness and accuracy.  Commercial Observer is a unit of Observer Media, a company which informs and connects leaders in industries undergoing transformation, to help them innovate, grow and make smarter decisions. www.commercialobserver.com

 ABOUT THE REAL ESTATE OF BOARD OF NEW YORK

The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) is the City’s leading real estate trade association. Founded in 1896, REBNY represents commercial, residential, and institutional property owners, builders, managers, investors, brokers, and salespeople; banks, financial service companies, utilities, attorneys, architects, and contractors; corporations, co-partnerships, and individuals professionally interested in New York City real estate. REBNY conducts research on various civic matters including tax policy, city planning and zoning, rental conditions, land use policy, building codes, and other city, state, and federal legislation. REBNY regularly publishes market data, policy reports, and broker surveys. In addition, REBNY provides for its members: informational, technical, and technological resources; networking and charitable service opportunities; qualifying and continuing education courses; professional education programs, seminars, and designations; career-changing awards; legal advice; and a wide range of additional member benefits. For more information, please visit www.REBNY.com.