An Evening to Remember
The 6th Annual President's Awards Dinner of NAIOP New Jersey coincided with the 40th anniversary of the association. More than 250 commercial real estate professionals gathered at the Short Hills Hilton on November 8 to celebrate the past, present, and future. A highlight of the evening was a nostalgic slide presentation chronicling association members and events from the beginning to the present.
The founding of NAIOP New Jersey traces to 1970, when Frank Visceglia invited David S. Steiner to lunch to discuss the regulatory environment in New Jersey. While the industry was represented at the national level, Visceglia felt the need for representation at the state level.
"The national organization owes this chapter a debt of gratitude for its leadership," said Thomas J. Bisacquino, president of NAIOP Corporate, noting that NAIOP New Jersey has provided more national chairmen than any other chapter. Co-founder David Steiner served in that role in 1972-73, followed by Frank D. Visceglia in 1990, Anne Evans Estabrook in 2001, Joseph S. Taylor in 2005, and incoming chairman S. Alex Klatskin in 2011.
"NAIOP New Jersey has set the standard for all," said Estabrook of Elberon Development Co., the dinner co-chair with Joseph Taylor of Matrix Development Group. "Tonight, I see many who were members at the beginning, sitting alongside the next generation."
"This is a dream come true," said Steiner. "We have been able to work together to accomplish much even as we were and are competitors. Our efforts have paid off, and I am proud to have been part of this organization's creation."
Legacy Award honorees were co-founders David S. Steiner of Steiner Equities Group and Frank Visceglia of Federal Business Centers (posthumously). Pillar Awards honored Charles Klatskin of Forsgate Industrial Partners and David T. Houston of Cassidy Turley (posthumously), cited for their decades of continuous membership and high-profile involvement in the organization and industry.
David Gockel and his firm, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, received the Advocacy Award for their support of DPAC and efforts in crafting landmark legislation. The Volunteer of the Year Award honored Rick Marchisio of Lee & Associates. And the Rising Star Award cited Vivek Singh of Podvey, Meanor, Catenacci, Hildner, Cocoziello & Chattman for his efforts with the association's Developing Leaders program.
The program also included awarding of the Frank D. Visceglia Memorial Scholarship, in support of educational opportunities for Eagle Scouts, to Andrew Kurt Deutchman of Westfield, N.J., presented by Nicole Visceglia-Rodgers of the Frank Visceglia Foundation.
"Our honorees have made substantial contributions to NAIOP New Jersey, the real estate industry, and the State of New Jersey," said Michael McGuinness, chief executive officer of NAIOP New Jersey. "Times have changed, but many of the issues remain the same, and NAIOP New Jersey will remain an important advocate for the entire business community for many years to come."
Photos by Gary Gellman, Gellman Images
Text by Eric Peterson, Caryl Communications
