MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL.

Andrew L. Herz (photo) and Robert M. Safron have been selected for inclusion in the 2000 Guide to the World Leading Real Estate Lawyers. Herz and Safron are the senior real estate partners of the New York law firm of Richards & O'Neil, LLP, the only law firm in New York with less than 100 lawyers to have two of its partners selected for inclusion. It is also one of only four firms to have two members selected both for inclusion on the list of leading real estate lawyers and as members of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.

The Guide was compiled based upon nominations solicited from over 2,500 attorneys and other individuals throughout the world. The final selection of the 62 New York lawyers as specialists in real estate law was based upon interviews and other forms of independent verification.

Herz serves as co-chair of the Office Leasing Committee of the American Bar Association, the chair of the Leasing Committee of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers anti was formerly chair of the Commercial Leasing Committee of the New York State Bar Association. He formerly served as chair of the American Bar Association's Committee of Asset Management, and has lectured on real estate topics for the New York University Real Estate Institute, the National Association of Corporate Real Estate Executives, and numerous other bar associations and industry groups. Prior to joining Richards & O'Neil. Herz was general counsel of the New York State Mortgage Loan Enforcement and Administration Corporation. He earned his bachelors degree from Columbia College in 1968 and his law degree from Columbia Law School in 1971, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Robert Safron (photo) is a former member of the Committee on Real Property Law of the Bar Association of the City of New York (and chaired the Subcommitt ees on Zoning Lot Mergers and Mortgage Loan Opinion Letters), the Commercial Leasing Committee of the New York State Bar Association and a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. He earned his bachelors degree from Brandeis University in 1966 and his law degree (cum laude) from New York University in 1969, where he was a member of the New York University Law Review and a Pomeroy Scholar.

Gensler... Architecture, Design & Planning Worldwide has announced that Andrew McQuilkin (photo) has joined the firm's New York office as director of Store Planning. An expert in the design of department stores and large retail stores, Andrew will leverage Gensler's expertise in branding and specialty store design to build the firm's department store design practice.

Ranked by Visual Merchandising + Store Design as the nation's sixth largest retail design firm, Gensler has built a significant retail design practice and has earned a reputation for client service and innovative design. With the addition of McQuilkin, Gensler enters the department store design business.

Previously a vice president and director of design with New York-based Fitzpatrick Design Group, Andrew's clients have included Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bugle Boy, The New York Botanical Garden, Laura Ashley, and KayBee Toy Stores. Andrew's work has been published in Interior Design, Display & Design Ideas, Retail Store Image, Chain Store Age, Visual Merchandising + Store Design, Women's Wear Daily and Identity. His work has also been recognized by over a dozen retail design award committees. The International Interior Design Association and Interior Design Magazine honored Andrew with a 1995 Outstanding Achievement Award for his work on the Saks Fifth Avenue store at Shorthills Mall in New Jersey.

One of Andrew's key objectives at Gensler is to respond to the current crisis in department store design - how to create a shopping experience that competes with specialty stores and online retailers - by developing the "Department Store of the Future." Andrew's experience has given him a thorough understanding of how store design helps attract and engage customers especially young customers.

Winick Realty Group announees that Diana D. Boutross (photo), a senior managing director specializing in Retail and Asset Sales for the firm. Boutross is recognized throughout the real estate industry, and has over 20 years of experience with notable transactions in all areas of real estate. She will be responsible for the development of corporate retail accounts at Winick.

Boutross began her career as the personal assistant to Dr. Henry Kissinger, and has since climbed the corporate real estate ladder, with extensive experience in handling transactions for national retail tenants and upscale restaurant entrepreneurs. Prior to joining Winick, Boutross served as the real estate manager for the Northeast Region at Baskin Robbins Ice Cream. and was responsible for Baskin Robbins/Dunkin Donuts combination stores throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. These "co-branding" initiatives included the development and redevelopment of 400 multi-unit stores, and proved to be a winning retail combination.

Often described as being "born in retail," her prior positions include being part-owner in Tristar Property Management Corporation. Some of her larger deals include the negotiation of a 49-year net lease at 55 West 44th Street and a 32,000 square-foot commercial office building in the world renowned and heavily trafficked Times Square district. The latter property was first sold to investors and then net leased for a boutique hotel development of approximately 53,000 square feet. She was also involved in the sale of 1 East 42nd Street to Olympic Airways, an 80,000 square-foot office building and townhouse with entrances on 42nd and 43rd Street.

Cory Zelnik, Winick Realty Group's executive vice president, said "Since joining Winick, Boutross has complemented our existing corporate retail accounts and has begun to handle deals throughout the five boroughs. Her skill in assembling difficult and unusual sites will add to Winick's already wide array of real estate capabilities, and we are delighted that she has joined our team."

A graduate of Pace University, Boutross has been a licensed real estate broker since 1976. Her current professional memberships include the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and Women in Retail Real Estate (WIRRE).

1st Rochdale Cooperative Group, Ltd., one of the fastest growing energy services companies serving New York City and Westchester County, NY has recently named Thomas Thompson (photo) its director of strategic business development and Robert E. Com-stock, Jr. as its CFO. "With Tommy Thompson's and Bob Comstock's combined half-century of expertise, 1st Rochdale is uniquely positioned to offer its full range of energy services, including traditional and alternative fuels, to more consumers, more affordable," said Allen L. Thurgood, the CEO and vice president of 1st Rochdale Cooperative Group. "We are also positioned to expand our reach geographically, to serve consumers across 14 Eastern states."

A distinguished spokesman for the use of alternative a renewable energy sources in concert with traditional fossil fuels, Thompson served as executive director of the Greenfield, MA-based Northeast Sustainable Energy Association prior to joining 1st Rochdale. His responsibilities include implementing 1st Rochdale's distributed electric fuel cell generation system and overseeing the company's energy management and conservation initiatives.

Robert Comstock, Jr. (photo) brings to 1st Rochdale senior executive experience in financial management, general administration, facility management, procurement and human resources. He previously served as vice president of finance and administration, North America and Caribbean, for Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronaunques (SITA). Comstock worked at SITA, the world's largest private telecommunications network operator, for 12 years.

Comstock's responsibilities include a leadership role in the expansion of Twin Pines Fuels Corporation, 1st Rochdale's subsidiary, launched last November to provide heating oil and natural gas to consumers across 14 stares, stretching from Maine to Virginia. Twin Pines' new oil storage terminal and natural gas business are headquartered in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx, NY.

Comstock resides in Westfield, NJ with his wife Frances. They have two children.

Ronald M. Mahr, SIOR, president of Weichert Commercial Realtors, announces the appointment of Charles Fern (photo) and Joel Lubin to the positions of executive vice president of Weichert Commercial Realtors. Lubin and Fern joined Weichert four years ago, continuing an 11-year career specializing in sales and leasing of industrial real estate in Middlesex County. Since joining Weichert Commercial they have been the company's top producing brokers each year. Mahr said their dedication and hard work have helped the company achieve and exceed its sales goals each year.

Fern and Lubin's timely promotion is highlighted by a rash of major industrial lease and sale transactions, including a 330,000 square-foot lease to Cooper Tire Corporation, a 148,000 square-foot lease to Franco Apparel, a 73,000 square-foot sale to Federal Business Centers, a 115,000 square-foot lease to John Wiley & Sons, a 102,000 square-foot lease for Cabot Industrial Trust, a 116,000 square-foot lease for Schenkman & Kushner, the sale of an 85,000 square-foot building to Schenkman & Kushner, a 40-acre sale for First industrial Realty Trust, a 180,000 square-foot lease for United States Land Resources, 100,000 square foot lease for Heller Construction, a 121,000 square-foot lease for Vornado Realty Trust, 230,000 square feet leased for Frank Greek, 100,000 square feet leased for Levin Management, an 88,000 square-foot sale for Lolly Togs, a 68,000 square-foot lease for Shaklee Corporation, a 192,000 square-foot lease for the Morris Companies, and 147,000 square feet leased to Hillside Warehouse. Charles Fern and Joel Lubin (photo) have been working as a team for over 15 years. They have personally leased and sold over 15 million square feet of industrial space in the mid- to late-1990's.

Brian D. Gell (photo), a veteran of the commercial real estate industry with over 15 years of experience, has been named executive managing director of Insignia/ESG.

Gel began his career with Insignia/ESG in 1984. He has distinguished himself as one of the industry's leading brokers, specializing in both owner and tenant representation. During his career, he has represented numerous institutional and entrepreneurial owners, including Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association, Taconic Investment Partners, The Macklowe Organization and Emigrant Savings Bank. In addition, Gell represents tenants both locally and nationally. His clients include Royal & Sun Alliance, Josephthal & Company and the Association for the Help of Retarded Children.