Margaret Anadu; Sherry Wang
Partner; Managing director
Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group
In February, 20 years after it launched its Urban Investment Group, Goldman Sachs named Sherry Wang a co-head. With Wang at the helm, UIG is looking to expand upon its more than 11.2 million square feet of commercial, retail and industrial space invested in what are often economically disadvantaged areas. At the same time, Anadu was appointed Goldman Sachs’ global head of sustainability and impact for asset management.
Christopher Coiley
First senior vice president and NY/NJ/PA CRE department head
Valley National Bank
Coiley manages all the Wayne-based bank’s commercial mortgage relationships in the New Jersey and New York markets. He has been involved in a multitude of commercial real estate roundtables.
Tom Comiskey
Regional president
M&T Bank
M&T Bank, under Comiskey’s leadership, provided $75,000 in seed money to the Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development at Rutgers University-Newark to launch a new fund to help Black entrepreneurs recover from the effects of the pandemic. Plus, under Comiskey’s guidance, it is still one of the market leaders in helping businesses get Paycheck Protection Program loans.
Alberto Garofalo
President, New Jersey
Bank of America
He took over as the head of the state’s biggest bank just before the pandemic hit. He keys his approach to the job on creating initiatives that deploy capital, create jobs, develop communities and foster economic mobility by addressing society’s biggest challenges. Garofalo’s deep commitment to small business and underserved communities will serve BofA well.
Richard Gerwitz
Co-head, community capital business
Citibank
As the co-head of Citigroup’s community reinvestment arm, Gerwitz oversees the lending to the affordable rental housing community in the U.S. and participates in a broad range of community building activities. He has also orchestrated the financing for some of New Jersey’s top developers.
Bernel Hall
CEO and president
New Jersey Community Capital
A former investment banker, public housing and real estate executive and Newark community official, he has been named the new CEO of New Jersey Community Capital.
Andrew Houston
Director of acquisitions
Link Industrial Properties
A best-in-class industrial real estate acquisitions and operations professional. Prior to Link, Houston founded Talos Capital with two partners. Talos Capital has deployed over $5 billion dollars in capital on behalf of Blackstone. Houston’s focus is on value add and core plus opportunities in gateway industrial markets.
Michael Klein
Managing director
JLL
Klein moves into the leadership role with more than 18 years in the commercial mortgage banking industry. He is the lead of the Morristown-based practice, alongside fellow Senior Managing Director Jose Cruz, who spearheads JLL’s investment sales platform in the region.
Tim Lizura
SVP, real estate and capital projects
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
A former longtime top executive with the state Economic Development Authority, he is overseeing the development of the land around the downtown Newark venue.
Chris Maher
CEO
OceanFirst
OceanFirst announced it is entering the Maryland and D.C. retail markets with the planned $186 million acquisition of Partners Bancorp. The deal would give the acquisitive bank an additional $1.6 billion in assets, $1.1 billion in loans, $1.4 billion in deposits and 20 branches in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey. Maher is helping OceanFirst gain market share and increase its impact in the region.
Billy Procida
CEO and president
Procida Funding and Advisors
Procida financed, fixed and built over $3 billion of buildings and companies. Procida manages the 100 Mile Fund, which finances commercial real estate development within 100 miles of the New York metro market, throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
Ira Robbins
CEO and president
Valley National Bank
Robbins has led Valley into the future while keeping true to its roots as a local bank. He and the rest of Valley’s leadership team strive to create a stronger, faster, more efficient and more responsive organization.
Jeff Sica
Founder and CEO
Circle Squared Alternative Investments
He continues to provide funding that helps projects across the state get to the finish line, and he navigates a busy development firm that builds here and in New York. He’s also the main developer behind Montclair’s MC hotel and finds time to talk financials on Fox Business’ “Varney & Co.” All while being co-producer for a Hollywood movie about the life of Francesca Cabrini. Sica is also an advisory board member for Rutgers Center for Real Estate.
Walter Sierotko
Executive vice president and chief lending officer
Provident Bank
Sierotko is based in the bank’s Iselin administrative headquarters and is responsible for the strategic direction of its commercial lending function, as well as overseeing the management and development of the bank’s commercial lending lines of business. In addition, as a member of the bank’s Executive Management Team, he works closely with senior leaders to focus on the strategic growth of lending and deposit relationships.
Frank Sorrentino
Chair and CEO
ConnectOne
When you ask developers which banks are key to providing financing, ConnectOne and Sorrentino always are one of the first ones mentioned. The institution brings a perspective of having worked with thousands of businesses and, when people come to talk, there’s historical information about what works and what doesn’t work — and how things should work.
Rich Spengler
EVP and chief lending officer
Investors Bank
Spengler and Investors epitomize what the state needs more of: Lenders who have made building New Jersey their top priority.
Gretchen Wilcox
CEO and president
G.S. Wilcox & Co.
When it’s time to arrange financing, you go to the firms with time-tested reputations — that’s why Wilcox, the founder of the commercial real estate mortgage banking firm, has continued to be a strength for the state’s business community.
