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Dan Wurtzel
President -
Scott Lang
Executive Vice President, Finance -
Tal Eyal
Executive Vice President -
Benjamin C. Kirschenbaum
Vice President and General Counsel -
Keith Werny
President, CityLine Property Management Division -
Marc Kotler
Senior Vice President, New Development Consulting and Property Management -
Christina Forbes
Senior Vice President, Property Management -
John MacGowan
Senior Vice President, Multifamily Rental Division -
Steven Hirsch
Executive Vice President -
Oleg Troyakov Vice President, Financial Management
Oleg Troyakov
Vice President, Financial Management -
Amanda Shafer
Vice President, Human Resources -
Daren Crenshaw
Vice President, Residential Closings -
Maria Auletta
Vice President, New Development Group, Property Management -
Farik Badalov
Managing Director, CityLine Property Management Division -
Steve Hyatt
Senior Vice President, CityLine Property Management Division -
Tom Padilla
Senior Vice President, Property Management -
Mark M. Pepe
Vice President, Property Management -
Aubrey Phillibert
Managing Director Manhattan Co-Op Condominium Division -
Jeff Poirot
Managing Director New Development Group -
Sal Schiano
Vice President, Property Management -
Randy Starr Sulzer
Vice President, CityLine Property Management Division
Dan Wurtzel
A 30-year industry veteran, Dan is a board member of the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations (RABLOR). He holds a Registered in Apartment Management (RAM) credential from the National Associated Builders and Owners (NABO) and is a licensed real estate salesperson in New York State. His numerous awards and honors include being named “RAM of the Year” by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). He also received the Emma Lazarus Award from the Associated Builders and Owners of Greater New York (ABO) as well as a Management Achievement Award from Habitat magazine.
Under Dan’s leadership, FirstService Residential associates are provided the tools and technology necessary to successfully navigate the complex financial, regulatory, and operational challenges they face daily. He also is responsible for ensuring that FirstService Residential delivers its promise of “service excellence” to board members, building owners and residents across the company’s New York City portfolio.
Dan served on NABO’s national Board of Governors from 2003 to 2006 and shares his expertise by speaking at industry events and conducting seminars on topics such as building finances and labor relations. For over a decade, he has been an active board member of Community Access, Inc., a non-profit organization that assists New Yorkers living with psychiatric disabilities make the transition from shelters and institutions to independent living.
Dan joined the company in 1987 as a Property Manager and was promoted to positions of increasing responsibility including Vice President, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer prior to being named President in 2008. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland’s business school.
Scott Lang
Tal Eyal
Benjamin C. Kirschenbaum
Kirschenbaum supervises the Application Processing, Closing, Compliance, Leasing, Regulatory and Insurance departments and coordinates the real estate tax protest process for the company’s managed properties.
Prior to joining the company, Kirschenbaum served as Head of Management Operations and as General Counsel for both property management and residential brokerage firms. With support from The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), he was instrumental in demonstrating the flaws in the federal regulations on lead-based paint as applied to cooperatives and condominiums to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Modifications in the regulations made it possible for owners and boards to comply with the federal mandates.
Kirschenbaum is admitted to practice in both New York and Connecticut and is a licensed real estate broker in both states. He sits on the Residential Management Council of REBNY, serving as chair from 1998 – 2000 and from 2011 to 2014. He is also a member of the Cooperative and Condominium Committee of the Association of the Bar of New York City.
Kirschenbaum received an undergraduate degree from Brown University and a J.D. from Duke University Law School. An avid golfer, he is Vice President of the Westchester Golf Association Caddie Scholarship Fund and the Westchester Senior Golf Association.
Keith Werny
Werny began his career in 1997 as an Associate Property Manager and quickly moved through the ranks as a Property Manager, Vice President, Senior Vice President, and ultimately, President of the CityLine Division – which includes over 150 properties with more than 20,000 residential units and over 70 associates.
Werny’s specialty is managing or supervising management of large residential properties ranging from 300 to 1,200 units, and using his team building skills to motivate his staff and building personnel. His leadership skills have been instrumental in the successful turn-around of numerous properties – from improving staff performance, resident and board relations, to organizing multi-million dollar renovation and repair projects. Werny has also implemented and leads associate manager’s meetings, where new managers are trained in company best practices and financials.
Werny is a Registered Apartment Manager (RAM) and was named “RAM of the Year” by the Associated Builders and Owners of Greater New York (ABO). He is a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson and a past recipient of Habitat magazine’s “Management Achievement Gold Award.” He holds a degree in psychology and management from Dowling College, where he is an associate trustee. Werny enjoys golf and coaching his daughters’ basketball and soccer teams.
Marc Kotler
Kotler has extensive experience working with young condominiums and the challenges associated with seamlessly transitioning from sponsor to resident control. He has assembled a team that specializes in the issues related to opening and operating new luxury buildings.
Kotler’s managerial and financial acumen, superior consulting services, and systematic approach to development has enabled him to work on some of the most complex, multi-purpose, luxury development projects in Manhattan, including New York by Gehry at 8 Spruce Street, The Plaza Residences, 20 Pine The Collection, One Morton Square, Greenwich Club Residences, The Downtown Club Condominium, and One Lincoln Square.
Prior to joining Cooper Square Realty in 2003, Kotler was the Director of Management of a mid-size property management firm in Manhattan. He has spent more than two decades as a real estate professional specializing in luxury high rise property management, new development construction, project management and asset management.
Kotler is a graduate of Clark University and a Licensed Real Estate Broker. A long time Westchester County resident, he has volunteered his time as a coach for a children’s soccer league and has served as league president for the past six years. He is also passionate about skiing and golf.
Christina Forbes
Forbes supervises a team of portfolio property managers who specialize in the management of residential co-ops and condos throughout New York City. She provides exceptional support and supervision of management staff and has assisted her boards on a variety of matters, ranging from everyday requests to special projects.
John MacGowan
MacGowan's strengths lie in budget analysis and guidance, staffing and operational procedures, as well as all start up requirements for new construction rental buildings, including general oversight and efficient transitioning from previous managing agents.
His expertise in the disciplines of property, leasing and financial management have augmented his capabilities of successfully managing capital projects, and are an asset to the company and its clients. Most importantly, MacGowan effectively demonstrates confidence, integrity and leadership while carrying out his responsibilities in this role. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Binghamton University.
Steven Hirsch
Steven Hirsch is the Executive Vice President for FirstService Residential- New York with over 30 years of experience in the property management industry. Steven is a member of the Executive Leadership Team involved in shaping and implementing policies and procedures for the company.
Steven began his real estate career in 1986 for the Lefrak Organization in Queens, before receiving an opportunity to manage a portfolio of luxury residential properties in 1988 for Douglas Elliman, and later for Goodstein Management starting in 1989. Prior to joining the company in 2011 when Goodstein Management merged operations with FirstService Residential, he served as Director of Management responsible for overseeing Goodstein's portfolio of luxury cooperative and condominium buildings in Manhattan.
During his career, Steven has managed almost every type of major capital improvement project, financial challenge, and repair and maintenance situation that a property could encounter. These include elevator modernizations and renovations, exterior facade restorations, window replacements, boiler and central air conditioning system replacements, gas conversions, lobby and hallway renovations, asbestos and lead abatement programs, as well as multi-million dollar underlying mortgage refinancing.
Steven holds a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Albany and a New York State Salesperson’s License. He has been a member of the Real Estate Board of New York's Residential Management Council since 2011.
Oleg Troyakov
Oleg joined FirstService Residential in 2010 as a Financial Analyst. He quickly moved up the ranks, receiving promotions to Senior Financial Analyst, Financial Manager, Director of Financial Management, and most recently Vice President. Through his leadership, dedication, hard work, strong performance and commitment to our clients, Oleg has built an impressive career while establishing himself as an outstanding representative of FirstService Residential. Oleg earned an MBA from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College where he majored in finance and investments. He holds a Bachelor of Science in public accounting from Brooklyn College.
Amanda Shafer
Shafer earned a B.A. from the University of Connecticut and has more than a decade of industry experience serving as a strategic business partner and managing HR functions.
Daren Crenshaw
Crenshaw joined FirstService Residential in 2002 and was previously director of residential closings.
Maria Auletta
Farik Badalov
Badalov’s commitment to service, goal-oriented nature, and strong communication and organizational skills benefit both his management team and the board members and residents he serves. Prior to his promotion to Managing Director, Badalov held the position of Senior Property Manager.
Badalov originally hails from Baku, Azerbaijan. In his spare time, he enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his wife and two children.
Steve Hyatt
Throughout his time working in management, he has been responsible for numerous types of properties, developing an expertise in each. This includes FHA 213, Mitchell-Lama, co-op, condominium and rental housing. Hyatt began his career in the not-for-profit sector managing properties for one of the largest community providers of group residences and social services until he decided to move to a large Brooklyn-based firm. In 1999, he was designated Chief Operating Officer/Executive Vice President of Wentworth Property Management.
Hyatt is a licensed Real Estate Broker and is certified by the New York State Department of Housing and Community Renewal in “Energy Management Practices” and uses this expertise in efforts to reduce energy costs for client buildings while also protecting the environment.
Tom Padilla
Padilla joined the company in 1995 as a Portfolio Property Manager. He was promoted to Vice President in 2005 when he began managing a team of more than 20 property managers.
Padilla has earned accolades throughout his career. Most notably, he earned The Cooperator’s Leadership in Management Award as well as the National Association of Home Builders’ RAM of the Year Award. He holds a degree in management from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Mark M. Pepe
He has demonstrated the highest levels of financial, organizational, and administrative skills for his property portfolio. Pepe is well-versed in on-site staff oversight, contract negotiation, and construction and project management, having previously worked for a residential developer in Westchester County.
A client-oriented professional, Pepe and his team earned the company’s highest client satisfaction scores in 2014 and he continues to prove himself as a committed and successful leader of a team of property managers. Pepe is an avid sports fan and a New York Jets season ticket holder. He earned a BBA from Iona College.
Aubrey Phillibert
Phillibert began his career with FirstService Residential in 2007 as an assistant property manager; today, his team includes 14 managers and over 25 properties with more than 2,700 units.
Having overseen a variety of capital improvement projects, such as energy efficiency initiatives, facade repair programs, and elevator modernizations, Phillibert has developed the specialized skill of prioritizing capital improvement projects while leveraging available NYSERDA incentive programs that maximize ROI.
Phillibert is a Licensed Real Estate Agent, Registered Apartment Manager (RAM®) and LEED® certified. Phillibert is a National Science Foundation Scholar for advanced studies in economics; he holds a degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College and completed postgraduate studies in economics at Duke University. Phillibert is a proud husband and father of three young children. He enjoys winter sports, hiking and family road trips.
Jeff Poirot
Jeff is an alumni of Pennsylvania State University and graduated with a degree in hospitality management.
Sal Schiano
Schiano’s expertise in navigating the three main management disciplines – financial, operations and administration – and his ability to successfully manage capital projects, are an asset to the company and its clients. Importantly, Schiano earns respect from his boards and demonstrates the confidence and integrity required to be an effective leader.
Schiano was a Management Executive with Goodstein Management for 12 years prior to the company’s merger with FirstService Residential in 2010. In this position he was responsible for the physical, financial and day-to-day management of a residential property portfolio.
For the 17 years prior, Schiano was a Senior Vice President at Helmsley-Spear/Parkchester Management where he was a key player on a team that managed 171 apartment buildings with over 12,000 units, 50,000 residents, 150 retail stores, five parking garages and annual business volume of approximately $100 million.
Schiano is a New York State certified real estate instructor, a licensed real estate broker and is a past recipient of the Realtor of the Year award from the Bronx Board of Realtors. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business from St. Frances College.
Randy Starr Sulzer
Prior to joining the company, Sulzer was a co-founder of Live Right Management, a successful, Brooklyn-based residential property management company for 16 years. The company merged with FirstService Residential in 2011.
Sulzer has experience overseeing properties ranging in size from 30 - 700 units and has extensive expertise with many capital improvement projects. She believes that the keys to good management are strong communication skills and the development of client relationships.
Sulzer is a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson and earned a BA in economics from CUNY Brooklyn College.