New REBNY directors look forward to roles.

The five new members elected to serve on the Real Estate Board of New York Commercial Board of Directors say they are looking forward to helping the organization further its goals as industry representatives.

Stephen Riker, vice chairman Colliers ABR, John Mambrino, corporate managing director at Studley, Simon Ziff, president of the Ackman Ziff Real Estate Group, Tara Stacom, executive vice president at Cushman and Wakefield, mad Robin Abrams, executive vice president and principal of The Lansco Corporation, were elected in December.

Robin Abrams, who represents, among others Citibank N.A., The Children's Place and Bang & Olufsen, has been with Lansco since 1979.

Active in both retail leasing and consulting, she is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and also serves as chairperson of REBNY's Store Leasing Committee.

Abrahms said she was honored to have been elected to the board and looking forward to developing her role at REBNY. "I've been active in REBNY for some time mad think it's a wonderful organization," she said. "It brings together different people that are active in our industry, great networking opportunities and the resources allow us to make things happen with regard to different issues involving real estate in the city."

Tara Stacom joined Cushman and Wakefield in 1980 and specializes in landlord leasing, tenant representation, investment sales and corporate finance transactions.

One of her firm's top ten brokers, she has attained nationwide recognition and been the lead broker in the lease up of more than a dozen properties.

Stacom, who also sits on REBNY's Ethics Committee and Leasing Brokers Committee, said, "Real estate has always been a major part of the city, and REBNY has done a superb job representing the best interests of our industry pertaining to matters of public policy.

"As a member of the Board, I hope to further the goals of the organization, and continue to uphold the tradition of strong representation for the industry."

Stephen Riker has been responsible for some of the city's most imaginative leasing and sale transactions during the past 30 years. For his complex W.R. Grace transaction, Riker was co-recipient of REBNY's Most Ingenious Deal of the Year award and, recently, he was awarded the Louis Smadbeck award for his outstanding contribution to the industry.

Over the past 12 years, Simon Ziff has structured over $3 billion of debt and equity financing on behalf of major real estate developers and owners nationwide.

A frequent panelist and speaker at numerous organizations and associations, Ziff, along with his partner, Larry Ackman, was awarded the Henry Hart Rice Award for New York's overall Most Ingenious Deal of the Year Award for the acquisition, construction and mezzanine financing for the Henry Hudson Hotel.

It was the first time in its 56-year history that the award had been presented for a financial transaction. The partners were honored again in 2002 with the Financing Deal of the Year award.

John Mambrino joined Studley in 1988 after having begun his real estate career with Huberth & Peters.

He has gone on to become an established market research specialist and project coordinator assisting partnerships and corporations in overall strategic planning, portfolio administration and the acquisition and disposition of facilities across the metropolitan area.

The five new members join 10 other members on the Commercial Board of Directors, which reviews the official acts and decisions of all other committees of the Commercial Division and takes whatever steps necessary to ensure the effective running of the division.

The other board members are: Paul J. Massey, Jr., (2005) Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer, Massey Knakal Realty Services; Kevin Danehy, (2005) Senior Vice President, CB Richard Ellis, Inc.; Ira Z. Fishman, (2004) Executive Vice President, Winoker Realty Co., Inc.; David A. Green, (2004) Executive Managing Director, CB Richard Ellis, Inc.; Mitchell R. LaBar, (2005) First Senior Vice President, Managing Director, Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage Company; David N. Lebenstein, (2005) Executive Vice President, Time Equities, Inc.; Frederick K. Marek, (2004) President, The Vortex Group, LLC.; Ronnie E. Ragoff, (2005) Senior Vice President, LaSalle Investment Management; Paul Wexler, (2004) President, Corcoran Wexler Healthcare Properties; Arlene Wysong, (2004) Senior Managing Director, Newmark & Company Real Estate, Inc.