The New Jersey Builders Association on Thursday announced that Debra Tantleff was installed as chair of the organization at its Jan. 17 board of directors meeting in Jersey City.
Tantleff operates a certified Women’s Business Enterprise boutique development and advisory firm, TANTUM Real Estate, which is focused on creating vibrant multifamily and mixed-use communities in the New Jersey region. Prior to founding TANTUM, she was a vice president of development at Roseland Property Co., where she established a highly acclaimed reputation for delivering exceptional mixed-use projects, with a portfolio that grew to more than 5,000 residential units and 200,000 square feet of retail space.
“I am enthused to see Ms. Tantleff take the reins of our organization as our first female chair and only the 3rd female leader of the board in NJBA’s 75-year history. In a male-dominated industry, Deb has forged an impressive path to become one of the industry’s most accomplished and knowledgeable leaders. I look forward to helping her pursue her agenda as chair as NJBA continues to tackle our housing supply crisis,” NJBA CEO Jeff Kolakowski said.
New Jersey is currently suffering from a lack of available housing that has brought housing prices to unprecedented levels, including driving the median price of a single-family home to over $500,000. Addressing New Jersey’s housing crisis is one of NJBA’s primary objectives and steps must be taken now to make progress on our historic and systemic issues.
“I am pleased to be installed as chair of NJBA at a time when we have a Legislature and administration who share our goals of making housing more accessible and more affordable for New Jerseyans,” Tantleff said.
Tantleff also stressed the importance and impact of fourth-round affordable housing policy and that a wide variety of public policies are needed to tackle impediments to growth. She emphasized that continued collaboration with other organizations, academic institutions and thought leaders is vital in changing the conversation surrounding housing policy in the Garden State.
NJBA is a housing industry trade association of builders, developers, remodelers, subcontractors, suppliers, engineers, architects, consultants and other professionals dedicated to meeting the housing needs of all New Jersey residents.
Installed along with Tantleff were NJBA’s 2023-2024 elected officers:
- Vice Chair: Chris Amato, CMM;
- Treasurer: John Kirkenir, Alliance Homes;
- Secretary: Kristi Veri, Cleanscape Construction;
- Associate vice chair: Richard Boisch, CRISP Insurance;
- Second associate vice chair: Stan Graser, General Plumbing Supply.
