Cooperator honors NYARM president as co-op/condo 'Man of the Year.'.

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 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," said 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 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.

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 coop 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.

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 sponsors an industry -wide banquet and fund-raising 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 [phone]. 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 he 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.