Celebrating Excellence: ABLI and CIBS Honor Long Island’s Top Real Estate Professionals
The real estate industry’s commitment to excellence was on full display at the 28th Annual Long Island Real Estate Dinner, where a record 464 guests gathered at Heritage Club at Bethpage to recognize exceptional achievements and innovative deals that have shaped the region’s landscape. The June 12th event showcased the caliber of talent working across Long Island’s diverse property markets.
Prestigious Awards Recognize Outstanding Contributions
The Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI) presented its coveted Developer of the Year Award to B2K Development for The Boardwalk and The Breeze developments in Long Beach — a $370 million oceanfront project that represents a new standard for luxury living on Long Island. Developed in partnership with Harrison Street, the six-acre property features 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities, destination restaurants, health and fitness facilities, and a walk-in clinic operated by Mt. Sinai South Nassau.
The Commercial Industrial Brokers Society (CIBS) honored Marie Zere with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her 45-year career as a trailblazer in commercial real estate. As the founder of the only women-owned commercial real estate firm on Long Island the first female past president of CIBS, Zere has facilitated transactions for major corporations including Northrop Grumman, The Home Depot, and Walgreens while building the largest solar portfolio in New York State.
Philip Shwom of Schacker Realty received the Most Ingenious Deal of the Year Award for his creative conversion of the former Sears department store at 195 North Broadway in Hicksville into 87,864 square feet of laboratory and office space for Antech Diagnostics.
Industry Scale and Expertise
The achievements recognized at this year’s dinner demonstrate the sophistication of Long Island’s development sector. B2K Development’s Long Beach project exemplifies the complex coordination required for major developments, transforming what was called “The Superblock” after sitting vacant for almost 40 years.
David Burman, Principal and President of Development at B2K, noted, “We knew from the beginning that we had an opportunity to create a truly extraordinary development that would raise th ebar on so many levels.” The project joins B2K’s portfolio of well-known properties including The Brix, The Seasons 55+ condominiums, Sutton Landing, and The Bristal Assisted Living communities.
Strategic Insights and Market Intelligence
For multifamily and mixed-use developers, projects like The Boardwalk provide valuable insights into market demand for luxury amenities and community-focused design. The networking opportunities at events like the ABLI/CIBS dinner allow industry professionals to share best practices and learn from successful developments across different property sectors.
Jon Weiss, Principal and President of Construction at B2K Development, emphasized the company’s track record: “Having built over 5,000 homes in 20 years, B2K Development’s commitment to excellence in design, engineering, architecture, and construction has long been the company’s hallmark.”
Driving Innovation and Standards
The innovative deals recognized at this year’s dinner set important precedents for creative problem-solving in real estate. Shwom’s Hicksville transaction required “out-of-the-box vision, understanding, and persuasion to convince two skeptical parties” that a laboratory use was ideal for a former retail space, ultimately creating a 15-year lease that satisfied both landlord and tenant objectives.
Marie Zere’s recognition reflects the importance of pioneering leadership in establishing industry standards. As Ralph Benzakein, President of CIBS, noted, “She broke barriers as one of the first women to lead in this industry and has spent decades shaping not just buildings and deals, but the careers and communities around them.”
As Long Island’s real estate market continues to mature, events like this annual dinner serve as important touchstones for the industry, celebrating achievements that demonstrate how creative thinking and collaborative partnerships can overcome challenges to deliver exceptional results.
Informed by original reporting from Long Island Business News.