Honorary Guest:
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA
Mario J. Gabelli is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GAMCO Investors, Inc. and LICT Corp. He is Executive Chairman of Associated Capital Group, Inc.
Mr. Gabelli is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University and holds an MBA degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Business, and an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Roger Williams University and Fordham University.
Mr. Gabelli is a member of the Board of Overseers of Columbia University Graduate School of Business and the Board of Trustees of Roger Williams University and he is a Trustee Associate of Boston College.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American-Italian Cancer Foundation and the Foundation for Italian Art & Culture. He is a Trustee of the Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States and the E. L. Wiegand Foundation.
Paul Adler
Paul Adler, Esq., SIOR, Chief Strategy Officer of Rand Commercial - Bio
A native of Rockland County, Paul earned his BA degree-Pace University, Master of Public Administration-Long Island University with Honors, and Juris Doctorate-Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. In addition to his work in real estate, Paul Adler held prominent positions in both the private and public sectors.
A native of Rockland County, Paul earned his BA degree-Pace University, Master of Public Administration-Long Island University with Honors, and Juris Doctorate-Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. In addition to his work in real estate, Paul Adler held prominent positions in both the private and public sectors.
Paul has also been extremely active in his community, and the real estate industry over the years as a member, director, trustee and an officer of numerous governmental, public, civic, charitable and professional organizations.
Paul currently serves on the Montefiore-Nyack Hospital Board of Trustees as Vice-Chairman, and is Board Chair Montefiore-Nyack Hospital Foundation, President of the Rockland Community Foundation, Holocaust Museum and Center for Tolerance & Education Board of Trustees, and the Board of Directors of the following: Westchester County Association-Executive Committee, Center For Safety and Change, Justice Brandeis Law Society-9th JD-Executive Committee, Nyack Branch of the NAACP-Executive Board-Chair, Civic Engagement Committee, Rockland Clergy for Social Justice-Executive Committee, NY Democratic Lawyer Council-Steering Committee, Rockland League of Women Voters, Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation Alt. Board Member and JCC of Rockland-Past President and Founding Board Member.
In 2025, Paul received the Volunteer New York! Volunteer Spirit Award for his work with the Nyack NAACP.
In 2024, Paul was a United Negro Scholarship Fund Honoree.
In 2023 and 2024, Paul received the New York State Commercial Association of Realtors (NYSCAR) Economic Development Award.
In 2023, Paul received the following recognitions: Humanitarian Award from Operation Santa Claus, JCC of Rockland Founder Visionnaire. Paul also completed “Getting to the Root”, a two-day intensive training on racial justice.
In 2022, Paul received the SIOR designation from The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors.
In 2019, Paul was proudly inducted into the Rockland County Civil Rights Hall of Fame.
In 2017, The Center for Safety and Change bestowed the first “Carolyn Fish Human Rights Award” to Paul.
In 2015, Paul earned the coveted “Spirit of the Company Award” from Rand Realty, Rand Commercial & Hudson United. A Special Commendation Award was bestowed on Paul on behalf of the East Ramapo Students & their Families for his social justice advocacy.
In 2014, People 2 People (Rockland’s Food Pantry) honored Paul and Mary with its prestigious Friend of People2People Award. In addition, Paul was also awarded the “Lifetime of Friendship and Service Award” from Venture Together
In 2013, Paul and Mary Adler received the Prime Ministers Award–State of Israel Bonds. Paul completed the “Undoing Racism Course” given by the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond-VCS that same year and then again in 2023.
Paul Adler was named “Philanthropist of the Year” by the Rockland Development Council 2011 and received the prestigious Pinnacle Award for Outstanding Services to the Rockland Business Association in 2012.
Paul is married to Mary Adler and they have five children, four grandchildren and live in Nyack, NY.
Leaders.
Adam D. Hammerman
Adam D. Hammerman, M.B.A., is the vice president and chief financial officer of New York Medical College (NYMC), a member of Touro University. He manages a $130 million operating budget, assets in excess of $320 million and an $80 million endowment.
Mr. Hammerman oversees all aspects of NYMC’s finance, accounting, financial reporting and taxes. He joined NYMC in 2015 after one year as director of budget, planning and analysis at Touro University.
Prior to Touro, Mr. Hammerman held finance and operations positions at the 92nd Street Y, Museum of the City of New York and The Town School. He earned his B.A. in accounting and information systems from Queens College and his M.B.A. in non-profit management from Touro University Worldwide.
Mr. Hammerman is a New York State certified Emergency Medical Technician and volunteers with Hatzalah and Community Security Service (CSS) at religious institutions and events.
Brad K. SchwartzBrad is an attorney and partner at Zarin & Steinmetz. He represents developers, property owners, not-for-profits, and municipalities in all aspects of land use, real estate development, and environmental law. His work has involved residential, commercial, educational, industrial, senior living, and mixed-use projects, including public-private partnerships.
Brad is also an Adjunct Professor at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. He taught Land Use Regulation for a semester during each of the 2022-2024 academic years. In Spring 2026, Brad will teach Environmental Law in Commercial and Real Estate Transactions.
Brad also serves on the Board of Governors of the Shames JCC on the Hudson, in Tarrytown, NY. He served as Chair from November 2020 through June 2024.
Brad received his Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School, where he served as Note Editor for the Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review. He received his Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Lee J. LefkowitzLee is an attorney and partner at Zarin & Steinmetz, focusing on litigation of regulatory, real estate, land use, constitutional, and commercial cases in State and Federal Court. His cases mostly include municipal and zoning matters, environmental cleanup lawsuits, religious and civil rights actions, eminent domain and takings, as well as contract, property, and business disputes. He has litigated cases to the Supreme Court of the United States and the Court of Appeals of New York.
Lee received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2011, and his Bachelor of Arts in Math and English, cum laude, from Binghamton University in 2008.
Lee has been an active member of JBN since 2020, and presently sits on its Executive Committee and also serves as the Chairman of its Young Leaders Division.
Sam Adler
Sam Adler lives and breathes all things real estate. For over a decade, he has been dedicated to innovative and creative development projects in major gateway markets across the United States. Sam is the Founder of VisionaRE Partners, a real estate acquisitions and development fi rm. Prior to launching VisionaRE, he served as Director of Real Estate Acquisitions at Common, where he was responsible for sourcing, executing, and closing transactions with real estate sponsors, owners, and developers throughout New York and the Tri-State area. Earlier in his career, Sam was a licensed NYS Real Estate Salesperson at Rand Commercial, a brokerage serving the NYC suburbs including Westchester, the Bronx, Rockland County, and Northern New York. He later joined Lee & Associates NYC, where he initially worked in the Senior Housing & Healthcare Real Estate Division across the Northeast. He eventually transitioned to office brokerage, representing both landlords and tenants in New York City.
Sam currently holds a real estate salesperson license with Rand Commercial in both New York and New Jersey. Academically, Sam holds a Bachelor of Science in Community Development & Applied Economics from the University of Vermont, and a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate. In 2023 and 2024, Sam was recognized by the New York State Commercial Association of Realtors for completing over $25 million in closed transactions. He also received the Hudson Valley Economic Development Dealmaker Award, an honor he shared with Paul Adler, Esq., SIOR. In 2024, Sam Adler was also named as a Rising Star from the New York Real Estate Journal (NYREJ). From 2022 through 2024, Sam has consistently ranked as a top three producer at Rand Commercial.
Sam was previously involved with the New York City UJA Young Real Estate (REX) committee and is currently a proud member of the JBN Young Leaders.