Mr. Schochet is the Chief Executive Officer of the Olnick Organization. Mr. Schochet is responsible for the strategic oversight of Olnick’s extensive real estate portfolio and leads day-to-day operations of the company and its various operating businesses. Mr. Schochet implements initiatives for the growth of the company through new acquisitions and developments while ensuring that it is properly capitalized. Under Mr. Schochet’s direction, the Olnick Organization has maintained its reputation as one of the most respected real estate owners in New York.
Mr. Schochet originally joined the Olnick Organization in 2011 as Vice President of its Commercial Division. In this role, he was responsible for leasing and managing the company’s commercial portfolio and underwriting new acquisition opportunities. In 2014, Mr. Schochet was appointed Chief Operating Officer, where he focused on strategic initiatives to maximize the value of the company’s real estate portfolio and operating businesses before being appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2015.
Prior to joining the Olnick Organization, Mr. Schochet served as the Director of Acquisitions and Leasing for RAK Group, LLC, a full-service real estate investment company based in New York City. During his six years with RAK Group, he was involved in the acquisition, leasing, management, and construction of over 1.3 million square feet of commercial space. Earlier in his career, Mr. Schochet worked as a Portfolio Analyst and Asset Manager for Blumenfeld Development Group.
Mr. Schochet is on the Board of Governors of the Real Estate Board of New York, an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association of New York, and the Real Estate Council of the UJA Federation of New York. Mr. Schochet earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Investments from CUNY Baruch College.
Amer Rada is the Vice President of the Commercial Division. In this role, Mr. Rada is responsible for the property management and leasing of the Olnick Organization’s commercial real estate portfolio. Prior to joining the Olnick Organization, Mr. Rada served as a Portfolio Manager for Empire State Realty Trust, overseeing operations of a commercial portfolio of prime retail in New York City and Connecticut.
Mr. Rada received a B. S. in Real Estate from New York University and CPM designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management.
Mr. Rafferty is the Vice President of Residential Management. In this role, Mr. Rafferty is responsible for overseeing operations for its directly managed portfolio and both unsold shares and condo units. Mr. Rafferty brings over 30 years of property management experience to the company previously serving as Director of Operations for LC Lemle and Century Management. Mr. Rafferty received a B.A. in Business Management from Molloy College.
Ms. Barbera serves as General Counsel for the Olnick Organization. In this role, Ms. Barbera is responsible for overseeing the company’s legal department and advising on all legal matters pertaining to its operations. Ms. Barbera brings over a decade of experience as General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer for multiple real estate investment and development firms in New York.
Ms. Barbera is a member of both the New York and New Jersey state bar associations. Ms. Barbera received a J.D. from Fordham Law School, where she received the Archibald R. Murray Public service Award.
Phil Cohen is the Chief Financial Officer of the Olnick Organization. In this role, Mr. Cohen is responsible for all financial matters relating to the ownership, management, and ongoing development of the Organization’s real estate portfolio. Mr. Cohen ensures the preservation of the portfolio’s assets by implementing financial controls, as well as overseeing the leasing and financing of over one million square feet of commercial office and retail space. Mr. Cohen manages all financial reporting and provides Olnick Organization stakeholders with accurate records of the company’s performance.
Mr. Cohen returned to the Olnick Organization as Chief Financial Officer in 2015, where he previously served as Controller and Vice President of Finance for more than 15 years. Prior to rejoining Olnick, Mr. Cohen was a partner in the residential property management company, Century Management. Mr. Cohen began his accounting career in 1980 with Laventhol & Horwath.
Mr. Cohen is a certified public accountant and a member of both the AICPA and New York State Society of CPA’s. He received a B.A. and an M.B.A. from Hofstra University.
Drew Goldsmith is the Vice President of Acquisitions and Asset Management. In this role, Mr. Goldsmith is responsible for the overall execution of the company’s real estate investment strategy, including the oversight of all aspects of new acquisitions, development projects, capital markets, and asset management. Previously, Mr. Goldsmith worked for LeFrak, where he was involved in over $2 billion of transactions, including direct investments, ground-up developments, and recapitalizations. Prior to LeFrak, he worked in originations and underwriting for Wells Fargo’s CMBS group, and he began his career in Real Estate Banking at JP Morgan Chase.
Mr. Goldsmith has been a productive board member for Children of Promise NYC and is an active member of several New York real estate organizations. Mr. Goldsmith received a B.A. in Finance from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.
Ms. Korner is the Director of Human Resources. In this role, she is responsible for all areas of human resources including recruiting, compensation, benefits and employee relations. Prior to joining The Olnick Organization in 2009, Ms. Korner was the Vice President of Human Resources for Citi in the Global Wealth Management division. Over the course of her 20-year career in HR, she has held HR Generalist roles at firms such as Bloomberg LP and Colgate-Palmolive, amongst others.
Ms. Korner received a B.A. in Psychology at the University of Delaware.
Ms. Sciurba serves as Associate General Counsel for the Olnick Organization. In this role, Ms. Sciurba is responsible for assisting the General Counsel and advising on legal matters pertaining to the company, with a particular focus on drafting and negotiating the company’s commercial real estate leases. Ms. Sciurba brings over 7 years of experience as outside counsel to the company. Prior to joining Olnick, Ms. Sciurba served as an Associate at Goldfarb & Fleece LLP and Hogan Lovells US LLP, where she practiced commercial leasing and real estate law.
Ms. Sciurba is admitted to the New York State Bar and is a member of both the New York State and New York City bar associations. Ms. Sciurba received a J.D. from The University of Chicago Law School and a B.S. in Communications and Economics from New York University.
Ms. Watson is the Vice President of Residential Sales and Leasing. In this role, Ms. Watson is responsible for all strategy and execution of the company’s marketing, sales and leasing activities for its residential real estate portfolio. Ms. Watson brings 15+ years of sales, residential brokerage, marketing, property management, and leasing operations experience to the company. Prior to joining Olnick, Ms. Watson served as a Director of Marketing and Leasing at C+C Apartment Management and has held leasing and management roles with firms such as Douglas Elliman, and Rose Associates.
Ms. Watson acts as a mentor for matriculating students at several universities. She received a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Cole serves as the Vice President of Residential Management. In this role, Mr. Cole is responsible for the operations of the company's directly owned properties, as well as handling the unsold shares and condominium units. With more than two decades of experience in property management, Mr. Cole has significantly contributed to the field, including his previous roles as a Regional Portfolio Manager at Milford Management, and Sr. Regional Property Manager at Greystar in the NYC market. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the State University of New York and an MBA from Washington State University.