THE COOPERATOR
HONORS NYARM PRESIDENT P. LEONARD JONES
AS THE CO-OP & CONDO COMMUNITY'S MAN OF THE YEAR
ALSO ANNOUNCED
ARE LEADERSHIP IN MANAGEMENT AWARDS FOR THREE FIRMS:
INSIGNIA RESIDENTIAL GROUP
MARK GREENBERG REAL ESTATE,
PRECISION PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
P. Leonard ("Len") Jones, president of the New York Association of Realty Managers (NYARM) has been selected by The Cooperator as the Co-op and Condo Community's Man of the Year for 1999, announces Matt Kovner, publisher of the monthly publication.
Jones will be honored at The Cooperator's Awards Banquet and Benefit on March 25th at the New York Hilton, following the 12th Annual Co-op & Condo Expo.
"Len Jones truly deserves to be acknowledged for his role in promoting professionalism and ethics in co-op and condo management," says Mr. Kovner. "In addition, this is NYARM's 40th anniversary, so it is even more appropriate to honor the man at the helm of this highly effective organization dedicated to the advancement of the real estate management profession."
A 35-year veteran of property management, Jones is currently the general manager of Clinton Hill Apartments in Brooklyn, an Insignia Residential Group property.
In addition to honoring Mr. Jones at the event, three property management firms will receive the coveted Leadership in Management Award for demonstrating outstanding service to their client buildings. This year's recipients are Insignia Residential Group of New York and New Jersey; Port Washington-based Mark Greenberg Real Estate; and Precision Property Management, located in Queens. It is worth noting that all recipients of this year#s awards are NYARM members.
Insignia Residential Group was selected because of its quick response time during a late night five-alarm fire at a Bronx co-op, Executive Towers, in 1996. Thanks to the immediate actions of senior account executive Vernon Grant and assistant account executive Desi Ndreu, they were able to secure temporary housing for the four families whose homes bore the brunt of the damage, and by dawn a 45-man crew was assembled for clean-up and inspection efforts. In addition, the firm completed major capital improvements to the building while keeping expenses under control.
Award-winner Mark Greenberg Real Estate (MGRE) orchestrated an outstanding financial turnaround for a 929-unit co-op in Kew Garden Hills, Queens. When MGRE took over the management in 1996, the co-op faced $1.5 million in unpaid bills. Largely through the efforts of the MGRE team, headed by vice president James Goldstick, the co-op today has a growing reserve fund that is expected to exceed $750,000 by June 1999.
Precision Management's
award is for the speedy physical and financial transformation
of Parkway Village in Jamaica, Queens. When Precision president
Vincent Occhipinti assumed responsibility for the 700-unit co-op
last year, there were leaking roofs and a malfunctioning heating
system. With Precision's "take charge" attitude, the
co-op now has a new gas distribution source and computerized heating
system, and gas costs have been reduced by $200,000. In addition,
the roofs have been repaired and a $12,000 purchase of a backhoe
to repair leaking underground steam pipes has saved the co-op
another $80,000. All in one year!
Following the dinner and awards presentations, the evening will
conclude with a silent auction featuring dozens of pieces of artwork,
sports memorabilia, and much more, to benefit The Partnership
for the Homeless, an organization providing critical services
to homeless men, women, and families.
The Cooperator - the premier publication for co-op and condo owners, board members, and professionals -- sponsors an industry-wide banquet and fundraising event every year following the Expo.
This year's Expo
will feature over 100 exhibition booths, a series of free seminars,
and the popular "Free Advice" booths where attendees
can consult with specialists in co-op and condo law, management,
insurance, accounting, brokerage, architecture and engineering.
Admission to the Expo and all seminars is free, but pre-registration
is required. To register for the 12th Annual Co-op and Condo Expo,
call (800) 355-3755. Tickets for the 1999 Awards Banquet and Benefit
Auction are $150 per seat or $1,500 per table, and proceeds from
both the dinner and auction will be donated to The Partnership
for the Homeless. Reservations for the Banquet are required. For
more information about the Awards Banquet and Benefit Auction
or to purchase tickets, call (800) COOP-404.