Hackensack-based real estate firm Alfred Sanzari Enterprises on Monday announced that Jerry Barta, director and vice president of leasing and marketing, will retire after 30 years of dedicated service.
Christopher DeLorenzo was named as his successor. DeLorenzo joins the firm from the Birch Group, where he recently served as executive vice president overseeing its over 6.5 million-square-foot commercial portfolio. Prior to the Birch Group, DeLorenzo also held leadership roles with JLL and the Mack-Cali Realty Corp.
Barta has left an indelible mark on the highly respected northern New Jersey commercial real estate company. Guided by an unmatched understanding of deal economics and market conditions, he has negotiated over $1 billion of commercial leases with hundreds of tenants across the firm’s 6 million-square-foot portfolio to consistently achieve and maintain above-market occupancy and rental rates.
“In his time with Alfred Sanzari Enterprises, Jerry has exemplified the core values of hard work, integrity, loyalty and passion that our firm was founded upon,” David Sanzari, CEO of Alfred Sanzari Enterprises, said. “The Sanzari family extends our most heartfelt thanks to Jerry for everything he has done for us over the last three decades, and we wish him all the best in his much-deserved retirement.”
After getting his Juris Doctorate with honors from the Benjamin N. Cordozo School of Law, Barta worked in Manhattan and Long Island, primarily in high-end residential development, as well as multitenant commercial real estate. In 1992, working under Mitch Arkin at Rockrose Development Corp., Barta gained an even deeper understanding of the commercial real estate leasing process. Several years later, searching for a new challenge that would allow him to continue working with the “kaleidoscope” of commercial leasing, Barta replied to a New York Times classified ad looking for someone to work for a “prominent Bergen County developer.” The prominent Bergen County developer turned out to be Alfred Sanzari Enterprises.
Joining the company in 1994, Barta worked closely with the company’s founder, Alfred Sanzari, CEO David Sanzari and the vice president of leasing and marketing, Roger van Voorhees, to oversee leasing across its portfolio. Guided by a strong work ethic and ability to build relationships throughout the industry, Barta quickly became a trusted member with the company. Working closely with all three generations of Sanzari family leadership, Barta’s ability to drive leasing results played a critical role in the success of the company’s long-term ownership strategy through a variety of market conditions.
Ryan Sanzari, president of Alfred Sanzari Enterprises, continued: “I have been fortunate to know Jerry for most of my life. Over the past 30 years, I’ve learned invaluable lessons from him about leadership, commercial real estate and, most importantly, life, that I will carry with me forever. I thank him for his dedication to our business and congratulate him on beginning this exciting phase of his life.”
Barta added: “It’s bittersweet to leave a place that has been a cornerstone of my life for the past 30 years. I will deeply miss the relationships I’ve built with tenants, brokers and colleagues across the industry and especially the daily camaraderie with the Alfred Sanzari Enterprises team. However, I know the firm will continue its legacy of success under the strong leadership of my colleagues. The team in place is truly second to none.”
