How long have you been a BOMA New York member and how did you first get involved with the Association?
I’ve been a member of BOMA for more than six years.  As one of the best-known real estate organizations in New York, it has always been something I wanted to be involved in.

What are some of your responsibilities as a member of BOMA New York’s Board of Directors? 
The Board is ultimately responsible for the direction of the organization and its financial health through focus on stated strategic goals.  This is done by executing on the decisions of prior Board members, thinking critically on how current events impact those decisions and planning for the future.  In this way, each Board Member is building on their predecessor’s efforts.

Prior to Covid-19, what was your favorite BOMA New York event and why?
I am a big fan of the Fall networking event at 230 5th Avenue.  Aside from the fantastic rooftop location, it’s always been well attended and a great opportunity to network and see familiar faces.  I hope we can do it again in 2021.

You oversee a large portfolio in Times Square and Penn Station.  Do you have portfolio goals or is it building specific?
Vornado has some big plans for the Penn Station area and you can see some of that taking place now with the construction of the new transit entrance on 33rd Street, the ‘Bustle’ redesign of Penn 2 and the ultimate combination of Penn 1 with Penn 2 into a single 4.2M square foot complex.  Aside from my individual responsibilities, I think everyone from Vornado is focused on the larger goal of transforming the neighborhood into a new and exciting destination atop the nation’s busiest transit hub.

Vornado just landed a 730k SF lease with Facebook.  What is it about a Vornado building that has been attracting companies back to Penn Station?
It helps to appreciate that Facebook and Vornado have had a relationship via their tenancy at 770 Broadway since 2013.  Facebook occupied a significant block of space there and have been expanding, which is a testament to the strength of the Vornado team at 770 and the company as a whole.

Farley is a truly unique double-block opportunity to create a campus environment akin to how many tech firms operate on the West Coast.  Facebook, and other companies, recognized the value this opportunity brings to their employees, as well as appreciates that Vornado is the right partner with in-house teams working on the development, leasing and management to make this lease a great success.

How has your experience as a financial analyst helped as a portfolio manager?
My time as an analyst was quite valuable for my professional development.  Working to solve complex financial/accounting issues required a significant amount of legwork and reading countless leases.  I quickly learned that these were the defining documents, not only for completing transactions, but also how someone in my current role can effectively manage existing tenants and resolve issues that arise on any given day.

What’s your advice to someone starting out in the commercial real estate industry?
Learn, learn, learn.  It’s easier said than done, but raising your hand to gain exposure to unfamiliar business lines within CRE is something that will benefit you in the long run.

When you are not working, what do you enjoy doing with your spare time?
I have 10-year old twins at home.  So, much of my spare time is spent with them.  As a family, we enjoy spending time on Long Island Sound and skiing in the winter.

What are you doing different during the pandemic and have you started any new hobbies?
I’m not sure if you can call them hobbies but the pandemic has forced me to be a part-time 4th grade teacher, IT helpdesk tech for when the WIFI is overloaded and non-union electrician due to the recent tropical storm.  It’s been a strange year, to say the least.

What’s your favorite movie?
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

What’s your favorite book?
“A Short History of Nearly Everything” by Bill Bryson