Jason Aster

CHAIR

Jason Aster is Vice President at KBA Lease Services where his duties include business development and client relations, with a primary focus on the New York market. Jason has coupled his legal background with experience in corporate communication to develop and implement strategies for KBA’s lease audit services. Prior to joining KBA, Jason practiced general corporate law and litigation in New York, representing major international banks and private lenders with a focus on real estate and structured finance. Jason attended both the University of Virginia School of Law and University of Virginia School of Arts and Sciences, where he obtained a degree in History, Sociology and a Juris Doctor.

Sheena Gohil

PRESIDENT

Sheena Gohil is a Director based in Colliers International's Midtown New York office. She focuses on providing brokerage and transaction management services to corporate/institutional clientele as well as small and medium sized professional service firms in varying industries. Prior to joining Colliers International, Sheena worked in Boston, where she was concentrated on both tenant and landlord representation. Sheena graduated from Boston University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Business administration with dual concentrations in Accounting and Finance.

Neil Austin

VICE PRESIDENT

Sara Francini

SECRETARY 

As Senior Director of Business Development for Skanska’s New York Metro Region, Sara develops new client relationships and strengthens existing ones. Prior to joining Skanska, Sara led business development efforts for STUDIOS Architecture and Holzman Moss Bottino Architecture. With a passion for connecting with and drawing out peers and colleagues, she also brings expertise in marketing strategy and organizational design and effectiveness. In addition to serving as CoreNet’s Chapter Secretary, Sara is an active member of the New York Building Congress and the Society for College & University Planning. Sara earned a Bachelor of Science and minor in Business Administration from Saint Michael’s College.

Dino Piccini

TREASURER

Dino serves as Executive Vice President, Global Occupier Services within the International Services Team of Cushman & Wakefield based out of New York. He is responsible for managing and expanding occupier services for corporate accounts on a national and international basis.

Dino has been in the commercial real estate industry for more than 30 years having joined Richard Ellis International in 1990 after his tenure with Chase Manhattan Bank.  He started with Chase in 1986 as Vice President in charge of Corporate Real Estate, responsible for all real estate activity of the bank, its subsidiaries and affiliates throughout the world.  Prior to joining Chase, Mr. Piccini was a project manager in the real estate department of PepsiCo in Purchase, NY as well as Air Products and Chemicals in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

From 2000 to 2011, he was President of Global Corporate Services at DTZ, where he led a global team that managed a number of occupier accounts. When the firm was purchased by UGL and subsequently merged with Cassidy Turley and Cushman & Wakefield, he remained on board serving as senior vice president and subsequently in the current role.

Dino currently serves as Treasurer for the New York City Chapter of CoreNet and was a Board Member and Treasurer of CoreNet Global from 2009 to 2012.

Jennifer Abbattista

SPECIAL EVENTS

Jennifer Abbattista is responsible for establishing and managing strategic relationships for Innovant with corporate end users, architects & designers, project managers, and construction managers.  She has over 20 years of experience working within the industry. Prior to joining Innovant, Jennifer worked for a furniture dealership and a major furniture manufacturer. Her responsibilities included sales and marketing and the development of workplace strategies and solutions to support the ever-changing workplace. Jennifer is a graduate of Syracuse University, School of Visual & Performing Arts, with a BFA in Interior Design.

Vito Bacarella

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

Vito Bacarella joined UBS in May of 2006 as Managing Director of Branch Real Estate for Wealth Management Americas. In his role, Vito oversees a 4.5 million square feet real estate portfolio spread over 400 locations in the US, spanning coast-to-coast, as well as South America.

Marc Chiapperino

SPONSORSHIP

Marc D. Chiapperino has over thirty years of professional experience in commercial real estate, engineering, and construction. Marc’s team- oriented approach and broad range of managerial, creative and technical talents have enabled clients to realize unsurpassed value from their project investment.

As a partner at VVA, LLC, for many years, Mr. Chiapperino has made vital contributions to the growth and success of the firm, as well as, their stature in the market place. He consistently demonstrates his leadership abilities by mentoring VVA staff and overseeing many of the firm’s highest profile clients. His broad range of technical knowledge, combined with his people and communication skills enable him to effectively orchestrate the entire project team to successfully deliver complex projects to the most demanding client objectives.

Debra Cole

WOMEN'S GROUP

As Client Relations Director for the New York Office of HLW International, Debra Cole builds industry relationships with a diverse range of clients including broadcast and media, financial corporations, technology, academic institutions and residential buildings. The New York industry face of HLW, Debra is a skilled business development executive and has more than 30 years of experience connecting clients, architects and consultants. Prior to joining HLW International, Debra led business development efforts at Perkins Will and prior to that at SOSH Architects. Debra currently serves on the Board of Directors for the New York City Chapter of CoreNet, as well as the Board of Directors for both CREW NY & the Women’s Builders Council and is an active member of IFMA, & New York Building Congress.  She serves on the leadership event committee of SHARE (Self Help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer) and the event committee for the Special Olympics Real Estate and Construction Gala. 

Kelley Douglass

MEMBERSHIP

Kelley Douglass is currently a Regional Sales Director for Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope and has over 25 years of experience helping clients optimize their workplace. Her current role is focused on an exciting new interior wall solution initiative while continuing to engage with the New York City Real Estate community to establish strategic relationship with distribution partners, end users, architects and designers, contractors and project managers. Prior to joining Oldcastle, Kelley worked for another leader in interior office construction, Dormakaba.

Gus Field

PROGRAMS

Gus Field joined Tishman Speyer in 2018 to lead leasing for the company's New York City portfolio, comprising approximately 22 million square feet. Previously, he served as Vice Chairman at Cushman & Wakefield Inc., where he was a leading commercial leasing broker for 30 years, active in both tenant representation and agency leasing. Leveraging this experience, his focus is on proactive outreach - to existing tenants in the Tishman Speyer portfolio, potential new tenants, and to the brokerage community - all to preserve and raise the Tishman Speyer brand in the uniquely competitive New York City market.  Gus received his BA from Harvard University, where he studied American History.

Karen Lalli

WORKSHOP

Karen leads all aspects of global facilities and real estate for Gerson Lehrman Group, a professional learning platform with offices in 22 locations and 14 countries.  In addition to site selection, real estate transactions, and design and construction, she has developed a global team to accommodate a rapidly growing company and is instrumental in introducing sustainability and wellness practices into the office environment. Prior to joining Gerson Lehrman Group, Karen was head of Transactions for Americas at American Express, and Director of Real Estate at the telecommunications firms RCN and Lightower. She holds a Bachelors degree in Architecture from University of Buffalo, a Masters in Strategic Facilities Planning from Cornell University and a MS in Real Estate from New York University.

Jeremy Libby

YOUNG LEADERS

Tommy O'Halloran

COMMUNITIES

In his role as Vice President in the NY Headquarters of Structure Tone, Tommy drives the strategic direction of the firm’s client relations on the local and global levels. For the last 10 years he has driven new business and maintained relationships with the firm’s clients, inclusive of high profile commercial landlords and tenants. During this time, he had been responsible for the procurement of over $250 million in new revenue streams. Prior to joining Structure Tone, he was an Associate Director and licensed NYS Real Estate broker in the Midtown office of Cushman & Wakefield. A graduate of Manhattan College with a BS in Political Science, Tom is an active volunteer in his local and professional communities, serving charitable causes such as the Inner- City Scholarship Fund and The Boy Scouts of America, among others.

Cindy Quan

EXTERNAL RELATIONS 

As Vice President in the Infrastructure Planning Group in Corporate Services and Real Estate, Cindy Quan oversees Goldman, Sachs & Co.’s global environmental initiatives including the green building portfolio and the firm’s carbon reduction strategy. She was responsible for the LEED Gold Certification of the World Headquarters building located in Downtown Manhattan at 200 West Street.  Cindy graduated with a BS in Facilities Management and Policy Analysis from Cornell University.

Barry Alton

ADVISOR

In his current role at Jefferies & Company, Inc., a full- service Investment Bank with a real estate portfolio of over 1 million square feet distributed across more than 30 cities through the US, Europe and Asia, Barry Alton is responsible for strategic planning, real estate transactions, project design and build, critical infrastructure and on-going maintenance of all sites within the company’s portfolio.  Previously, Barry was a Vice President and Manager of Premises and Logistics at BNP Paribas. His early career as a Mechanical Engineer led him into corporate real estate while working closely with landlords and tenants on creative infrastructure projects.

Paul Darrah

ADVISOR

Paul Darrah is Director of Real Estate for Google where he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of real estate strategy, design and development in New York.  This includes delivering innovative workplace solutions and amenities that enable Googlers to thrive, while accommodating Google's continued growth in New York City. Prior to joining Google, Paul was Director of Corporate Services and Real Estate for Bridgewater LP, as well as Director of Real Estate for Lehman Brothers and Bloomberg, managing their global portfolio and delivering 731 Lexington Avenue.  Paul received his Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech and started his career in NYC as an architect for Brennan Beer Gorman, also opening offices in Washington DC and Kuala Lumpur. 

Lou D'Avanzo

ADVISOR

Lou D’Avanzo is a Vice Chairman at Cushman & Wakefield, the world’s largest independent real estate services firm and is one of the firm’s leading brokerage professionals. After beginning his career there in 1991, Lou has advised many of the world’s largest financial institutions, hedge funds, private equity firms, law firms and telecommunications firms on their real estate occupancy requirements worldwide. He received his MBA in Real Estate and Corporate Finance from Columbia University.

Dan Fishbein

ADVISOR

As the head of Global Real Estate at CIT, Dan Fishbein is responsible for strategic real estate planning, transactions management, subleasing, and lease administration for CIT locations worldwide.  As part of his role, he also participates in business unit acquisitions and dispositions.  Dan’s past experience includes seven years as Director of Real Estate at The Vanguard Group and asset management responsibilities for investment real estate at BNY Mellon and The Rubenstein Company.  He began his career at Boston’s Economic Development Industrial Corporation rising to the position of Director, Real Estate and Planning.  After graduating from Boston University, Dan received a Master of City Planning degree from the University of Pennsylvania.  Dan has held leadership roles in CoreNet Global since 1994.

Lauren Nanna

ADVISOR

Lauren Nanna is Director of Global Administration of General Atlantic. She is responsible for managing all the Executive Assistants in the firm, as well as handling Real Estate, Travel and General Office Administration. Prior to joining General Atlantic, Lauren worked as a Senior Associate at VVA Project Managers & Consultants where she garnered her extensive experience in project management, engineering, construction and land development. Lauren has a BS from the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Marcus Rayner

ADVISOR

Marcus Rayner has more than 30 years of real estate experience and is a recognized leader in our industry. He specializes in strategic planning and execution for tenants and has completed transactions for more than 9 million square feet of space in New York alone. Prior to joining Colliers, Marcus was a Managing Principal of Cresa from 2001 to 2014. He began his career in the United Kingdom as a Chartered Surveyor with Weatherall Green & Smith (now BNP Paribas Real Estate).  He relocated to New York City in 1987 to manage its U.S. business before merging with Cresa. He went onto build Cresa’s tenant representation business in New York from the ground up to approximately 40 employees by the end of 2014.

Gina Rizzo

ADVISOR

Gina Rizzo is Global Client Relations for Herman Miller and has over 25 years of experience in providing solutions to the changing workplace environment. Gina is responsible for the marketing and new business efforts globally within the corporate real estate community and concentrates on building and maintaining relationships early in the process with top decision makers. To assure a strong partnership between Herman Miller and the client, Gina teams with Herman Miller’s global resources to bring an effective and long-term solution for the corporate environment.

Dale Schlather

ADVISOR

Dale joined Cushman Realty Corporation in 1986 as National Director of Financial Services based in Los Angeles. In 1991, Mr. Schlather founded the San Diego office of Cushman Realty where he was a Senior Broker for three years.  In 1994, Mr. Schlather relocated to the New York City office of Cushman Realty where he was Senior Managing Director.  In 2001, following the merger of Cushman Realty with Cushman & Wakefield. Mr. Schlather joined the Midtown office of  Cushman & Wakefield as Senior Director.  In 2012 Mr. Schlather was promoted to Executive Vice Chairman and was the Top Producing Broker for Cushman & Wakefield.  He is also chairman of Cushman & Wakefield’s Tenant Advisory Group Globally.

During his 32 year career at Cushman & Wakefield, Mr. Schlather has been responsible for the financial structuring, analysis and negotiation of major corporate and institutional relocations involving the assessment of current leasehold interests and the feasibility of lease/equity transactions, development opportunities and joint venture partnerships. He has played an integral role in the structuring, analysis, and implementation of over 40 million square feet of lease/purchase transactions in over 50 cities across the United States and internationally, as a tenant representation broker

Pay Wu

ADVISOR

Pay Wu is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years in corporate estate management and advisory. As the Executive Managing Director for Strategic Consulting, she heads up consulting services for the Tristate region, Cushman & Wakefield largest region of corporate clients. Adept at solving complex challenges across portfolio, workplace and location strategies, Pay brings forth her deep operational experiences in CRE and seamlessly integrated across C&W’s broad real estate brokerage and occupier services business to drive value for clients.

Prior to Cushman & Wakefield, Pay served as Senior Vice President, Head of North American Real Estate Client Relationship Management for TD Bank’s Corporate portfolio (11 MM SF). She was accountable for end to end Corporate client relationship experience of Enterprise Real Estate strategy, planning, business decision, translation of business strategies into workplace strategies (TD Flex Workplace), projects and occupancy services. In addition. Pay also served as VP of Americas and Global Bluework for American Express, as well as 10+ years in Management Consulting for both Deloitte and Arthur Andersen.

Pay is a frequent speaker in industry events and published author of numerous articles. She is an MCR workplace and technology instructor on the CoreNet MCR faculty and currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors for the NYC Chapter of CoreNet Global.