Real Estate Power Players

Cara Longworth helps lead New York State’s economic development strategies and programs to attract, grow, and retain businesses in Nassau and Suffolk counties. She also serves on the boards of the Suffolk County Landbank, Discover Long Island, Hempstead Workforce Development, and the MTRC Advisory Board. Cara is married to former U.S. Congressman Steve Israel. They live in Oyster Bay.

How did you get involved in the real estate industry?
I have been working for many levels of government in economic development for 25 years which is related to real estate at all levels – from companies expanding to the revitalization of downtown areas.

What’s the best thing about working in Long Island real estate?
Watching communities expand, grow, and revitalize.

What’s your favorite area of Long Island?
It’s hard to pick a favorite – each area makes Long Island the beautiful and diverse region we have today. 

Rob Mannino is a real estate developer. He has 20 years experience working in the construction, real estate, and technology sectors. He is currently partner and COO at The Kulka Group, where he oversees the company’s construction, real estate development, and property management services. His firm currently has three major Long Island multi-family development projects in various stages of the design process, and is managing the construction of over 250,000 square feet of ground-up industrial.

How did you get involved in the real estate industry?
I have been involved in real estate since I was 25 years old when I owned my own construction company and I purchased my first single family rental property. Since then I have grown my portfolio, purchasing several investment properties and, more recently, partnered with Kulka to dive deeper into the commercial construction and multi-family development space. 

What’s the best thing about working in Long Island real estate?
I think the best thing about working in Long Island real estate is the people. Long Island is a tight knit community and we have the greatest people living here. It is extremely rewarding to be able to shape communities by building projects that help people. Whether it’s giving people places to live, work, or play, it is rewarding to see the communities we live in benefit from the buildings we build.

What’s your favorite area of Long Island?
Hauppauge. I might be biased because I grew up in Hauppauge, my family grew up in Hauppauge, my kids now go to Hauppauge schools, and I work in Hauppauge. But I truly love the community, the people, and all the benefits of being home to the second largest industrial park in the country. I think it’s an amazing place to live and work, and I am happy to call it home.

Fran Mazer believes that the experiences in your life make you who you are. She became a realtor in 2002 after leaving the garment industry. In 2020, she became a founding agent of Compass Long Island, where they were recognized as the number one small team in Compass. In being a successful real estate professional, what is most important to her is: integrity, in-depth community and market knowledge, utilizing the latest technology and marketing techniques, and effective negotiating skills.

How did you get involved in the real estate industry?
I was looking for a house for myself for 3 years. I always loved architecture and interior design. I learned much about the real estate industry in those 3 years. Coming from the fashion industry, I was looking for a career change. While looking, one of the brokers I was working with suggested I get my real estate license. I utilized my design, merchandising background, and sales ability to help others find their dream home.

What’s the best thing about working in Long Island real estate?
I love working on Long Island, from the big estates to the friendly neighborhoods, to the many beach and waterfront properties. There is something for everyone on Long Island. I love all the relationships that I have formed along the way. Those relationships have been the foundation of my business, and in many cases my clients and customers have become my friends.

What’s your favorite area of Long Island?
My favorite area on Long Island is the North Shore. Growing up on Long Island, I used to drive by the big estate houses that are full of so much history and wondered what it looked like inside. My career has allowed me to not only see many of these homes, but also market them.

A partner in the Real Estate Practice Group, Bryan McCrossen is an experienced transactional attorney. His practice covers a broad range of commercial real estate matters in the representation of institutional and non-institutional clients, across all commercial property asset classes, with an emphasis on the acquisition, disposition, and financing of mixed-use and multi-family properties, office buildings, industrial facilities, shopping centers, hotels, development sites, and Section 1031 tax deferred exchanges.

How did you get involved in the real estate industry?
After graduating law school from Hofstra University in 2000, I accepted a position at a New York City firm which was focused on transactional real estate matters. After a short time learning how to navigate residential real estate transactions, I began working on larger commercial matters. After practicing in Manhattan for 22 years, I accepted a partnership position at Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran, LLP, continuing my real estate practice.  

What’s the best thing about working in Long Island real estate?
The people. I have met some fantastic people while working on Long Island transactions. In general, the courtesy and professionalism of all parties has been second to none (including opposing counsel).  

What’s your favorite area of Long Island?
I have lived in Long Island my entire life and have experienced much that the Island has to offer, from surfing in Long Beach to fishing in Montauk and everything in between. Like most people from Long Island, I do enjoy the Hamptons, and try to spend as much time there as possible.

Gary M. Meltzer chairs Meltzer Lippe’s Real Estate Practice Group. His national commercial transactional practice has an emphasis on selling, buying, leasing and finance, and all aspects of commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions. He represents shopping center owners, multi-family developments, office buildings, golf courses, residential communities, and industrial and warehouse developments. Gary works with lenders and borrowers in all facets of real estate lending and borrowing, including multi-state portfolio financings.

How did you get involved in the real estate industry?
My interest was piqued by the concept of percentage rent. I was drawn to business and law, and percentage rent demonstrated how business creativity, foresight and the best tenant mix, stores and products could maximize revenue for shopping center owners. I decided to use my skills to practice real estate law. I started working in Manhattan at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s Real Estate practice. My practice now includes transactional real estate of all types.

What’s the best thing about working in Long Island real estate?
Our practice is national; in the past year we represented clients in significant sales/purchases in Florida, the State of Washington, New Mexico, Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, among other states. We can charge significantly lower rates than our NYC competitors and our Long Island base allows us to easily visit sites to facilitate deals and attend groundbreakings. Representing the buyer or seller, notable transactions include Long Beach Superblock, the Sunrise Mall; 666 Old Country Rd, Garden City; and Dealertrack, New Hyde Park.

What’s your favorite area of Long Island?
The Hamptons is a special place. I enjoy the pleasure of working on and playing a role in many large deals/transactions for very well-known, ultra-high net worth individuals.

James Metzger was born on Long Island; he has always lived on Long Island, built his business on Long Island, and will forever love it. He founded The Whitmore Group in Roslyn Heights in 1989, with four employees (including him) and $5 million in premiums. Now, they are in Garden City and the agency, recently renamed The Whitmore Agency, following its sale to Acrisure LLC in 2019, has 100 employees, handling $200 million in premiums annually. Metzger owns a number of properties on the east coast, but the places he calls home are on Point Lookout and Southampton.

Seizing every day is definitely what separates Enzo Morabito and his team from most of the real estate industry. The Morabito family immigrated from Italy when Enzo was 10 years old. His high school and college years were spent studying education and on the ocean beaches as a lifeguard. While he enjoyed being a teacher for 10 years, he was too much of a go-getter to stay in one spot.

How did you get involved in the real estate industry?
I was a school teacher and was running Summer’s Beach club in the late 70s/80s. I started buying land and developing it. My first deal that I did was 12 lots that I took out a mortgage for and paid about $5,000 per lot in East Quogue, and then I ended up selling them all within two years, and made quite a bit of money that way.

What’s the best thing about working in Long Island real estate?
My specialty is the East End. I was born and raised here in Long Island on the water and I never wanted to leave. I was a surfer and always gravitated towards the water.

What’s your favorite area of Long Island?
My favorite area of Long Island is the Hamptons. I love the beach and the community that surrounds it!

Bruce Mosler advises major tenants and investors on strategic real estate matters, managing key client relationships on behalf of the firm, globally. Widely respected as one of the commercial real estate industry’s most influential and talented professionals, Mosler has leased millions of square feet worth billions of dollars throughout his career. Mosler has been a formative leader at Cushman & Wakefield for over 20 years, executing deals that have shaped the fabric of New York City.

As CEO, Deirdre leads Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty’s daily operations and develops strategic initiatives for the future of this highly innovative organization. She oversees sales management for a $4.07 billion organization with 950 sales associates and over 100 employees across 29 offices in Long Island, Brooklyn, and Queens. O’Connell’s outstanding career as both an agent and broker owner has earned her recognition as one of the top residential real estate executives nationwide.

How did you get involved in the real estate industry?
Deirdre first became interested in real estate doing public relations for the real estate department of an insurance company. She started working as a real estate agent when her children were born. In 2002, after taking some time off to raise her children, Deirdre opened Deirdre O’Connell Real Estate in Manhasset. In 2005, she expanded to Cutchogue, and in 2007, Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty asked her to join the organization.

Gwen O’Shea oversees the 54-year-old regional entity; two affiliates, numerous for-profit subsidiaries; over $31 million in assets, an operating budget of $35 million, and a team of 115+. CDCLI serves 25,000+ individuals through: Rental Assistance, Resident Services, Home Ownership Center, Home Improvement/Optimization, and Housing Development/Planning. Its CDFI  provides capital to under-financed communities. CDCLI is a co-venture partner in 15 multifamily rental complexes (over 1781 homes, with 261 in pre-development), has developed 235 single family homes, and manages 50 single scattered properties.

How did you get involved in the real estate industry?
Superstorm Sandy. It destroyed the very foundation of thousands of Long Islanders’ lives – their homes. It also pulled back the curtain on how inadequate our housing stock and inventory was for the majority of our neighbors and communities. I was asked to join the Board of Community Development Corporation of Long Island, and was able to see first hand the incredible role the entity plays in creating and maintaining homes for Long Islanders.

What’s the best thing about working in Long Island real estate?
There are so many smart, committed individuals and collectives working toward the same thing on LI. Home. Home development and creation is complex. When you get to the finish line –  regardless of whether it’s a rental home, or an owned home (single or multi) – you are reminded of the amazing impact that has on someone’s life. The creation of that home, whether it’s 1 or 50, has a tremendous effect on the community and regional economy.  

What’s your favorite area of Long Island?
Right now, any public space that includes playgrounds and libraries. My 17-month-old daughter is in LOVE with reading and swings!