Building NY: NY Stories, 12th season (9/2016)

The 12th season of "Building New York: NY Stories" debuted on Monday, September 12th, 2016

September 12, 2016: MItti Liebersohn, Avison Young

Mitti Liebersohn, Avison Young's president and managing director of their New York office, highly respected in the commercial real estate industry, son of a Holocaust survivor, talks about his family's life in Palestine, Australia, and his career in New York.

September 19, 2016: Meir Cohen, Cohen Equities

From Israel and after Canada, Meir Cohen comes to New York to investigate opportunities. A real estate veteran with more than 30 years of experience, the president and founding principal of Cohen Equities discusses some highlights of his career. (Taped: 07/28/2016)

September 26, 2016: J. Philip Rosen. Weil Gotshal

J. Philip Rosen, partner and leading authority in real estate mergers and acquisitions at Weil Gotshal, explores his family's history, beginning with his father's journey from Nazi occupied Poland to Shanghai, with the help of Chiune Sugihara, Japanese Consul in Lithuania.

October 3, 2016: Gene Kaufman

Gene Kaufman, founder of Gene Kaufman Architect, and a principal of Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman Architects is well-known for his work in the hospitality industry in New York City, in addition to his work on major university projects.

October 10, 2016: Domenico Vacca

Disregarding his grandmother's advice to avoid - at all costs - any business connected with the manufacture/sale of clothing, Domenico Vacca describes his circuitous route to founding the elegant, "Domenico Vacca" for which he is the creative designer. (Taped: 08/16/16)

October 17,  2016: Bernie Furshpan

Bernie Furshpan, a man of multiple careers: drummer, stand-up comedian, concert promoter, marketing consultant, motivational coach, AND an accomplished chiropractor describes the fabulous shows at the Metropolitan Room, where he is managing partner.

October 24, 2016: Domenick Cama

Domenick Cama, employed for 13 years by the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York as Vice President and Director of Sales, describes the course of his career to his current position as Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Investors Bank.

October 31, 2016: Larry Zicklin

Larry Zicklin's generosity created the The Zicklin School of Business, an institution of great interest to students and the business community. The school at Baruch College promotes ethical business practices, excellence in education, supporting research, among its goals. A graduate of Baruch College (formerly City College), Larry Zicklin describes his career with Merrill Lynch, Neuberger Berman and Lehman Brothers.

November 7, 2016: Candido Perez

Migrating from Puerto Rico, in hard times, a child from a large family - with luck, Candido Perez finds work repairing steel casement windows; perhaps marking the beginning of his hard route to the presidency of Optimum Window, nationally known for its fire-rated windows, custom high-tech projects, for commercial and high end residential applications.

November 14, 2016: Wendy Siegel

"The Gift of Life is an international public bone marrow and stem cell registry...a world leader in facilitating transplants for children and adults suffering from many life-threatening diseases, like leukemia and lymphoma." (giftoflife.org) Wendy Siegel, a bone marrow recipient talks about her journey.

November 21, 2016: David Klein

David J. Klein, a recipient of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Humanitarian Award among other acknowledgements of his philanthropy and dedication to service, talks about his family and his journey to principal of International Blind Contractors, Ltd.

November 28, 2016: Joey Campanaro

Joey Campanaro, from an Italian-American family in Philadelphia, describes his travels on the path to ownership, critical acclaim and two-star reviews with the success of his restaurant, Little Owl, partnership in the Market Table, tv appearances and more..

December  5, 2016: James Frauenthal

James C. Frauenthal, mathematician, author, and trustee of the Helelne Fuld College of Nursing outlines his family's history, starting in 1849, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., with German immigrants, Samuel and Henry Frauenthal, owners of "S. Frauenthal Boots & Shoes" and the doctors and surgeons who followed, to found the Hospital for Joint Diseases.

December 12, 2016: Daun Paris, Eastern Consolidated

Strong, creative, a trailblazer, Daun Paris and her partner/husband (since 1983) Peter Hauspurg formed Eastern Consolidated in 1981, building it into one of the country's preeminent full-service commercial real estate firms with three core divisions: Investment Sales, Capital Advisory, and Retail Leasing.

December 19, 2016: Meir Cohen, Cohen Equities

From Israel and after Canada, Meir Cohen comes to New York to investigate opportunities. A real estate veteran with more than 30 years of experience, the president and founding principal of Cohen Equities discusses some highlights of his career. 

December 26, 2016: Benjamin Brafman

Attorney Benjamin Brafman is known for his representation of many high-profile defendants, celebrities and political figures - with success and distinction coming with long days and hard work in the Manhattan DA's office and now, as a criminal-defense attorney.

January 2, 2017: Marvin Kitman, Part I

In part 1 of a 2 part conversation, Marvin Kitman, author, humorist, columnist for Newsday, discusses his years in Brooklyn - Seth Low Junior High School (there really was a Seth Low), Brooklyn Tech, City College - downtown and uptown and more.

January 9, 2017: Marvin Kitman Part II

Marvin Kitman, author, "George Washington"s Expense Account," and "The Man Who Would Not Shut Up," among many others, humorist, longtime Newsday columnist, the man who ran for President, discusses his books and political career, in Part 2/2.

January 16, 2017: Andrew Rosenwch, Henry Rosenwach, The Rosenwach Group

Andrew Rosenwach and Henry Rosenwach - father and son - represent the fourth and fifth generation in their family business, The Rosenwach Group, who since 1894, have been installing water tanks on New York buildings, over 6 stories tall.

January 23, 2017: Michael Steinhardt, Part I

In part 1 of a 2 part conversation, Michael Steinhardt, named "...Wall Street's Greatest Trader..." (Forbes, 2/10/14), speaks candidly about his early life: his parents, particularly his father, his education, both religious and secular, and his fervent love for Israel.

January 30, 2017: Michael Steinhardt Part II

In Part 2 of his conversation with Michael Stoler, Michael Steinhardt, named by Forbes as "Wall Street's Greatest Trader," brings us to the founding of the Birthright program, experienced by more than 500,000 young adults, since 1999, and other ventures in support of Jewish education.

February 6, 2017 Richard Ehst, Customers Bank

Leaving Europe to escape religious persecution, Richard Ehst's Mennonite ancestors, arrived in America in 1704, settling in Philadelphia. Fast forward: Ehst talks about his father's military career, his impression of Berlin, on both sides of the Berlin Wall, and his career in banking.

February 13, 2017: Andrzej Rojek

Born in Poland, Andrzej Rojek, investor, philanthropist, and Board Chairman of the Jan Karski Educational Foundation, talks

about his life in Poland, his family and the war, and about the Foundation, established to honor Jan Karski and his mission in Poland-to Stop the Holocaust.

February 20, 2017: Robert Cenedella, Artist & Painter, Part I

February 27, 2017: Robert Cenedella, Part II

Robert Cenedella, artist, satirical painter: "Southern Dogs," "Santa Claus" Yes Art "Souperman," creator of the "Hostility Dart Board," "I Like Ludwig" pin, star of the award-winning documentary, "Art Bastard," talks about The Art Students League and his friend and mentor, artist George Grosz - 

March 6, 2013: Kenneth Fisher, Fisher Brothers

Kenneth Fisher, a partner at Fisher Brothers, pays tribute to the original Fisher brothers - his four uncles, the foundation of the present Fisher Brothers, and to those family members dedicated to the future. Fisher House and The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum represent Fisher's philanthropic commitment.

March 13, 2017: Joseph Pistilli

Joseph Pistilli, chairman and CEO, Pistilli Realty Group and chairman, First Central Savings Bank discusses the conversion of 2 historic buildings in Queens: the Eagle Electric Company, where Joe Pistilli's father, an Italian immigrant, once worked, into co-op apartments and the Steinway Piano factory into condominiums. 

March 20, 2017: Mitti Liebersohn

Mitti Liebersohn, Avison Young's president and managing director of their New York office, highly respected in the commercial real estate industry, son of a Holocaust survivor, talks about his family's life in Palestine, Australia, and his career in New York.

March 27, 2017: Eva Fogelman, Part I

Eva Fogelman, PhD, author: "Conscience and Courage: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust" writer/co-producer "Breaking the Silence: The Generation After the Holocaust" (PBS); founder, with Rabbi Harold Schulweis, of the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, social psychologist, psychiatrist talks about her childhood in Part 1/2 programs. Taped: 03-21-2017 

April 3, 2017 Eva Fogelman, Part 2

Eva Fogelman, PhD is a licensed psychologist, writer, filmmaker and a pioneer in the treatment of psychological effects of the Holocaust on survivors and their descendants. Part 2 of 2.

April 10, 2017 Daniel Donnelly, Donnelly Mechanical

Daniel T. Donnelly, founder of Donnelly Mechanical, talks about growing up in Flushing, odd jobs, CYO basketball, Army Reserve, people along the way and organizations that contributed to the success of his career. And then there was Kilimanjaro!

April 17, 2017: Reverend Monsignor Jamie J. Gigantiello,

Reverend Monsignier Jamie J. Gigantiello, Vicar for Development of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens and Pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church describes growing up in Astoria, the various roads traveled, all contributing to his spiritual identification.

April 24, 2017: Seymour Lachman

Former State Senator, educator, author and community leader

May 1, 2017: Richard Ehst

Leaving Europe to escape religious persecution, Richard Ehst's Mennonite ancestors, arrived in America in 1704, settling in Philadelphia. Fast forward: Ehst talks about his father's military career, his impression of Berlin, on both sides of the Berlin Wall, and his career in banking.

May 8, 2017: Elizabeth Nunez

Elizabeth Nunez, Distinguished Professor at Hunter College/CUNY, co-founder with John Oliver Killen of the National Black Writers Conference discusses her emigration from Trinidad to the US and her career as an academic and award-winning novelist.

May 15, 2017: Pat Wang, Healthfirst

Pat Wang, a child of immigrants, introduces us to her parents, her early years in New Jersey, career development, leading to her work as Healthfirst's CEO, a company offering health insurance plans, some government sponsored, to New Yorker's and their families.

May 22, 2017: Daniel Rashin, Rockefeller Group

 

May 29, 2017: Joseph Chan

Guest: Joseph Chan, Sr. Vice President-Real Estate & Property Management, YMCA of Greater New York.