**New York People and Company News – Week of April 5, 2025**
**Skanska USA Building**
Skanska has promoted Mukesh Upadhyay to Vice President, Account Manager for its Metro operations across New York and New Jersey. In his new role, Upadhyay will manage and support the growth of Skanska’s healthcare, higher education, and life sciences verticals.
**Lee & Associates NYC**
Daniel Lisser has joined Lee & Associates NYC’s Capital Advisory group as Senior Managing Director. He will focus on delivering customized debt and equity solutions for real estate owners and developers in retail, multifamily, office, and hospitality sectors, both in New York and nationally. Lisser will also collaborate with the firm’s investment sales team.
**Levin Management Corporation**
Denise Ciaravino has been promoted to Director of Operations at Levin Management Corporation. Ciaravino, a resident of Middletown, NJ, began her career with LMC in 2006 as a property manager and most recently served as portfolio manager. This marks her second promotion in four years at the firm.
**Bayport Funding**
Bayport Funding has appointed Zac Miller as its new Chief Investment Officer. With over 15 years of experience in real estate finance, Miller has a proven track record in business development and client services. His past leadership roles include positions at Center Street Lending and Civic Financial.
**PREMIER Design + Build Group**
Fred Castelbuono has joined PREMIER Design + Build Group as Vice President of Field Operations and will be based in Iselin, NJ. Castelbuono will lead all field activities, with a focus on safety, operational efficiency, and project quality, as the company enhances its presence in the Eastern U.S.
**Freestone Property Group**
Freestone Property Group has named Mark Zikra as Vice President. Zikra will oversee operations, compliance, and resident success teams. He will also lead the integration of emerging technologies such as AI and predictive analytics to improve workflows and operational effectiveness at the New York-based property management firm.
**JLL**
Peter Riguardi, Chairman and President of the New York Region at JLL, is serving as Chairperson for the 2024-2025 American Heart Association New York City Heart Challenge. Riguardi has already mobilized companies and organizations to participate in initiatives including the Wall Street Run & Heart Walk, NYC CycleNation, and Executives with Heart.
**Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.**
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. has received the 2024 IWBI WELL Health-Safety Leadership Award, recognizing the REIT’s leadership in promoting occupant health and safety. The company has achieved WELL Health-Safety Rating across 100% of its portfolio each year since 2020 and was the first in the Americas to earn WELL Certification.
**Bluerock Value Exchange**
Bluerock Value Exchange has announced special investor distributions totaling over $1.5 million in supplemental rent across its active DST / 1031 exchange programs. These special distributions resulted in increased annual returns for investors in more than 70% of the firm’s actively managed DST portfolio for the 2024 calendar year.
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*This article originally appeared on Connect CRE.*
