All-rounder Neibart loves working in the fast lane.

If there's one thing that Lee Neibart has never let happen to himself in the real estate industry, it was to get pigeon-holed into a particular facet of the business.

Good thing. Having been a senior partner at Apollo Real Estate Advisors since 1993, Neibart's breadth of experience and versatility has allowed the real estate investment firm to partake in a myriad of very different deals, from investing in hotels in Hawaii, to office space in London, to golf courses in the southeast and, most recently, the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle.

And while the Neibert's dynamic style certainly keeps things interesting around the office, based on Apollo' success, it's also very profitable.

In the last 11 years, Apollo has overseen the investment of eight real estate funds totaling more than $4.5 billion in equity. The firm has delivered returns of 18% to as high as 27% on almost all investments.

But although the success has certainly been nice, the camaraderie and mutual respect the partners share has been one of the most gratifying elements for Neibart.

"Starting out with just four employees in 1993, it's been really amazing what we've been able to accomplish," Neibart said.

"Being a part of this team and building a business from scratch has been such a gratifying experience. The six senior members have been together for 11 years and we're all there for each other, to support one another. That's unusual in business."

Apollo's tight knit leadership allows it to do what other, more highly structured firms can't--move quickly on deals.

Neibart relishes the fact that usually within ten minutes notice, he can call a meeting to discuss a late breaking opportunity with Apollo's partners. Oftentimes, it is quick moving deals that can be the most profitable for the firm and its investors.

"There are times when a seller wants to move from start to finish in about 30 days," Neibart said.

"Now that's fast. The advantage of being private and entrepreneurial is that we can do that. And we've benefited greatly from that ability."

Despite his prominent stature in the industry, Neibart still remembers what it was like just starting out and has been generous in extending his wealth of knowledge and experience to fledgling members of Apollo and also to students at NYU, where Neibart lectures for the real estate academy.

"Having once been a student myself, I have a great deal of joy dispensing knowledge," Neibart said. "Their eagerness to learn and gain insight reminds me a lot of the way I was."

"I stress to them the importance of getting to a place that gives the most exposure to as many deals as possible. I warn them not to get bogged down in only one aspect of the business. My suggestion has always been to be a generalist first and a specialist second."

Neibart's advice reflects on his own maturation and development in the business.

After graduating from Wisconsin with a degree in Political Science and then getting his MBA from NYU, he began working for Prudential just as they were constructing a Real Estate arm after having long been involved in mortgage loans.

In those years, Prudential was doing large-scale projects, so Neibart worked with some of the best developers and was involved in everything from leasing, to finance, to construction.

He helped oversee projects from beginning to end and developed knowledge in all areas.

Having accomplished so much in real estate, Neibart may show that he won't be pigeonholed career wise either. He has long had an ambition to be involved in politics at either the state or federal level.

But as long as there continues to be "opportunities in real estate to stimulate growth in areas that have been over-looked," don't expect the move anytime soon.

Apollo recently put together two $500 million funds, one domestic and one for European development. Neibart is excited at their potential.

"We believe the future in the US is in 24 hour, seven day a week cities; cities like New York that are always bustling and growing," he said.

"Europe continues to he a very active area as well, and we are continuing to find areas in need of the types of developments at which we excel, such as modern shopping centers."

Neibart currently resides with his wife Joyce, 22-year old son, Kenneth, and 19 year-old daughter, Alexa, in Pound Ridge, NY.