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The Hollywood ReporterJuly 30, 2024
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Some of New York City’s biggest names in real estate were in attendance at The Hollywood Reporter‘s third annual New York Power Broker Awards. The ceremony, held on July 29 at a private members’ club in lower Manhattan, honored the prestigious agents in eight categories.
This year’s New York Power Broker Awards party celebrated 30 agents who were featured on THR‘s 2024 Top New York Real Estate Agents list, exclusively chosen based on media visibility, sales numbers, and the prestige of properties listed. They were given awards in eight categories.
As with the previous ceremonies, the event was presented by luxury real estate PR firm The Society Group. Sponsored by interior design and home styling company Vesta Home, the night kicked off with a cocktail hour, as guests mingled over canapés.
While Owning Manhattan star Ryan Serhant was unable to accept his media maverick award, as he was in Greece, the room was filled with other recognizable names in real estate. These included Corcoran Group’s Steve Gold and Catherine Juracich; Douglas Elliman’s Noble Black, Frances Katzen, Erin Boisson Aries, Steven Cohen, and Alexander Boriskin; CORE’s Emily Beare; Compass’ Jim St. André and Michael Franco; Brown Harris Stevens’ Chris Pomeroy, all of whom were spotlighted on THR‘s 2024 top New York agents list.
Chatting during cocktail hour at the New York Power Broker Awards were, from left, Douglas Elliman’s Noble Black, Corcoran Group’s Kane Manera, Corcoran’s Steve Gold, MGS Group’s Maggie Gold Seelig and stylist Gayle Perry. Ben Rosser
The Society Group‘s Alexander Ali opened the night, with a message reminding guests why the Power Broker Awards hold a special space while celebrating the advancements of the industry. He likened the phenomenon of agents not just catering to celebrity clients but becoming celebrities themselves to “the Rachel” haircut of the ’90s.
“I love this analogy because agents are becoming brands unto themselves, and everyone in this room is here because they are a personal brand that has stood out through the media and the press, and has caught the attention of The Hollywood Reporter,” said Ali, stylishly showing his celebratory mood while sporting a top hat paired with a crisp white suit.
From left, Douglas Elliman agents Abraham Sarway (nominated for rising star); Alexander Boriskin, John Gomes, Erin Boisson Aries, Shari Scharfer Rollins, Frances Katzen, Steven Cohen (media maverick nominee) and Noble Black (nominated for celebrity property portfolio). Ben Rosser
“I think that, if you guys really take a step back, you’ll realize that agents that you work with every day idolize you and clients, your clients follow you on social media. And if you’re lucky, a publicist protects you when the press writes about you. But the agents in this room are becoming as important to the listing, as the designer or the developer themselves,” he continued.
While these awards celebrate the brands agents have created for themselves, the resounding theme of the night was the power of collaboration. When Elliman’s Paige Nelson and MGS Group’s Maggie Gold Seelig accepted their stratospheric sale award — shared with Modlin Group’s Adam Modlin and Elliman’s Holly Parker — they both said that selling an $80 million property at 220 Central Park South (the biggest sale in Manhattan between April 1, 2023 and April 1, 2024) wouldn’t have been possible without each other.
Modlin Group’s Adam Modlin, one of the winners of the 2024 stratospheric sale award. Ben Rosser
“This was about a year and a half in the making. It took the right mix of brokers, and it was the right moment in time,” said Gold Seelig. “I want to say to you, Paige, that without you, this deal would’ve never happened. It was [thanks to] your magic and your relationship with your client, our relationship [and] my relationship with my client.”
Nelson agreed. “We worked together as one. We really came together in the deal,” she added.
Clayton Orrigo and Stephen Ferrara with their team of the year award at the New York Power Broker Awards.Ben Rosser
That synergy was also felt when Stephen Ferrara and Clayton Orrigo accepted their award for team of the year — presented by Douglas Elliman’s John Gomes — which recognized the duo for their achievements while leading Compass’ Hudson Advisory Team.
“I met Stephen nine, 10 years ago. We started kind of dating,” Orrigo joked while accepting their award, speaking on his long-lasting friendship with Ferrara. “Stylistically, we’re similar; we have similar moral ethics. We felt like we could build something different but similar to you guys.”
Meanwhile, Ferrara pointed out how special it was that Gomes gave them the award, as he felt inspired by Gomes’ partnership with Fredrik Eklund. (Eklund | Gomes won team of the year at the 2023 New York Power Broker Awards ). “I hoped that one day we could have something similar,” he said.
The Society Group CEO Alexander Ali and Corcoran Group’s Catherine Juracich, who is spotlighted on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of top New York real estate agents 2024. Ben Rosser
Two winners — team of the year (Hudson Advisory Team, Compass) and the philanthropic impact award (Cathy Franklin, Corcoran Group) — were previously announced on June 23, along with the nominees for the rest of the categories.
Franklin was recognized for her longtime support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and its annual Play for P.I.N.K. fundraising luncheon. “I’m a survivor. I think everybody in this room has been touched by breast cancer, be it a sister, a mother, a spouse, a friend, a cousin, but everybody’s touched by it. … BCRF was founded in 1993 by my fairy godmother, Evelyn Lauder. They have raised $1 billion to try to get breast cancer eradicated. My mother passed away when I was 4 years old of breast cancer, and I was diagnosed at a very young age, with three little boys, who many people in this room know. And thanks to Play for P.I.N.K., Pink Agenda, BCRF, I’m here today.”
From left, CORE’s Emily Beare and Compass’ Jim St. Andre and Vanessa Lippman Wohlfeld. Ben Rosser
Other top honors went to Compass’ Rachel Glazer, who picked up the celebrity property portfolio award (client Kendrick Lamar purchased an $8.6 million triplex in Brooklyn last year); Brown Harris Steven’s Lisa Lippman, who took home the award for agent of historic architecture; Douglas Elliman’s Shari Scharfer Rollins, one of the winners of the penthouse sale of the year award; and Nest Seekers’ Bianca D’Alessio, star of Max’s Selling the Hamptons, winner of the rising star award.
Rising Star Award
Bianca D’Alessio, Nest Seekers — WINNER
Jessica Chestler, Douglas Elliman — Nominee
Ryan Kaplan, Corcoran Group — Nominee
Clifford Marks, Brown Harris Stevens — Nominee
Jack Richardson, Serhant. — Nominee
Abraham Sarway, Douglas Elliman — Nominee
Nest Seekers’ Bianca D’Alessio with her award for rising star at the 2024 New York Power Broker Awards. Ben Rosser
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