Lindsey Kalish
President
Lindsey is a Senior (Class of 25’) pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate at New York University, Schack Institute of Real Estate. Born in NYC and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, Lindsey has spent much of her life staring at the NYC skyline. Lindsey is the Chair of the Women in Real Estate Group at NYU as well as the President of the Schack Real Estate Club.
She is also on the WIRE and Capital Markets planning committees where she assists in coordinating student outreach and networking events. During the Summer of 2022, Lindsey was a summer associate at Silverstein Properties where she conducted market assessments, site and zoning assessments, and analyses related to development feasibility. She was appointed as a team leader of the Summer 2022 Associate Program.
Lindsey worked as a summer associate at RXR where she had the privilege of touring and understanding the inner workings of 27 RXR properties spanning RXR’s diverse asset classes and regions. Lindsey interacted with professionals from all of RXR’s different departments, broadening her understanding of the real estate ecosystem and its multifaceted components.
This summer, Lindsey will be working in the real estate group at Richemont Americas.
Lindsey has received the NYU Schack Rising Star Leadership Award, an NYU SPS Merit Academic Scholarship, an NYU WiRE Scholarship, and is on Schack’s Dean’s List (21-22’ and 22-23’). Lindsey is an active member of the NYU Real Estate community. In her spare time, Lindsey enjoys attending Pilates classes, going on walking food tours within NYC, and shopping.
Ben Pisarenko
Vice President
Ben Pisarenko is a Senior at the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate, specializing in Real Estate Finance. Raised in Westchester, New York, Ben’s passion for real estate ignited during his frequent weekend visits to New York City, captivated by its iconic architecture and dynamic skyline.
Ben began his real estate journey as a freshman, becoming an active member of the Schack Real Estate Club. His professional experience spans internships at Colliers, Exodus Capital, and CBRE, where he specialized in office leasing, multifamily investment sales, and retail leasing. This summer, Ben will be working at Macquarie as a Real Estate Private Equity Summer Analyst.
Previously, as the Secretary of the Schack Real Estate Club, Ben created and ran the club’s website and helped organize site tours and career development events. Now serving as Vice President, he will continue these responsibilities and leverage his extensive network to organize exciting events for club members. Outside of his academic and professional pursuits, Ben leads corporate volunteering events at leading institutions like Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and Cantor Fitzgerald. He is also a dedicated soccer fan and a passionate supporter of Chelsea FC.
Joseph Berley
Events Chair
Joseph is a Senior at the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate. He is a New York City native and has excellent restaurant recommendations.
Joseph has interned twice with SL Green’s Acquisitions team and currently works at Walter & Samuels as an Asset Management and Underwriting Intern. As the Events Chair, Joseph uses his network and experience to plan events such as site tours and resume workshops. In his free time, he likes practicing his Spanish, trying new restaurants, and attending real estate events in the NYC area.
Jacob Bijou
Treasurer
Jacob Bijou is a Senior at the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate (Class of 2025), specializing in Real Estate Development. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Jacob has always been captivated by the vibrant real estate scene of NYC.
Jacob’s professional journey in the industry kicked off in the summer of 2020 at Edison Equities, a family-owned company that develops and owns shopping centers, residential properties, and quick-service restaurants. He continued to expand his expertise at GD Capital, a firm that specializes in multi-family and mixed-use acquisitions primarily in Brooklyn and Manhattan. As an acquisitions analyst, Jacob’s responsibilities include sourcing, underwriting, and performing due diligence on new investment opportunities for the company.
Outside of work, Jacob is committed to volunteering for community service and enjoys hiking, traveling, and playing sports.
Valerie Burridge
Secretary
Valerie is a Junior at NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate, concentrating in Real Estate Development with a minor in architecture and urban design. She is from a small town near Dallas, TX where she was constantly surrounded by new developments and a love for New York, sparking her dream of working in the real estate industry in NYC.
Valerie’s first internship was in Hospitality PR at The Brand Guild, where she worked with esteemed hotels such as Royal Sonesta and Four Seasons, providing her with a solid foundation in client relations and communication skills. Building off that, she is currently a Real Estate PR intern at Rubenstein PR and is exposed to a range of clients including Forbes Global Properties, Soloviev Group, Brown Harris Stevens, and others.
She also has previous board and leadership experience through being her high school class’ president and 7-time team captain (NYU intramural, varsity, and club volleyball, varsity debate, and her school’s football team- where she was the first female football player).
Serving as Schack Real Estate Club’s secretary, Valerie plans to leverage her skills in marketing, communication, networking, and leadership to maximize opportunities for the club and its members. In Valerie’s freetime, she loves to bike around the city, play tennis, travel, and find trendy coffee shops to unwind with a matcha.
Laura Gruber
Social Media Chair
Laura Gruber is sophomore at the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate. Growing up in Vienna, Austria, she spent most of her life surrounded by beautiful historical architecture, developing her passion for real estate.
She gained valuable experiences in the corporate world through summer internships as an assistant at a Viennese law firm and working at Creekside RV Resort. Alongside her roles as a management and social media assistant, she was also in charge of implementing new amenities. Furthermore, she actively participated in the development process of expanding the resort’s premises.
Before moving to New York to pursue her education, she graduated from high school with a specialization in Hotel Management and Business and acquired a trader’s license. Besides traveling, Laura enjoys spending time exploring the city and being active in everything from playing tennis to being a licensed cycling instructor.
Peter Ferrandino
Events Coordinator
Born and raised on Long Island, Peter developed a keen interest in real estate from a young age. Inspired by the dynamic and diverse landscape that stretches from NYC to Montauk, Peter was made aware of the endless possibilities in real estate throughout the entire region. Currently a sophomore at NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate, with a concentration in development, he is working hard to complete his program of studies and prepare himself for a successful career in the field.
Peter’s professional journey began with an internship at Bohler Engineering, a leading civil engineering firm. This proved to be an experience that provided Peter invaluable insight into land development, site planning, and also permitting and construction management. During this time, Peter honed his skills in project management and sustainable design practices while contributing to various high-profile projects. This role underscored the importance of precision engineering in creating functional and financially viable real estate developments.
Focusing now on direct real estate development, Peter now works part-time at Nord Development Group. Here, he applies a sharp eye for detail and a robust understanding of the principles that underpin successful developments to help guide residential and commercial projects from conception through completion. This role involves strategic planning, market analysis, and coordination with architects, city planners, and construction teams to ensure each project aligns with community needs and market demands.
As Peter continues to build a career in real estate development, he is continually trying to learn as much as he can in all facets of the industry. As Events Coordinator, Peter uses his networking skills and relationships to coordinate site tours and attract interesting guest speakers to the club. When he isn’t hitting the books, Peter is typically playing golf or enjoying time on the water.
Gigi Ashkenazy
Events Coordinator
Gigi Ashkenazy is currently a Senior at the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree. Born and raised in New York City, Gigi has always been captivated by the city’s dynamic real estate landscape. A consistent Dean’s List honoree, Gigi has demonstrated academic excellence throughout her time at NYU. With recent job experience as an intern on the credit team at Rialto Capital, a prominent real estate investment management firm, Gigi brings a solid foundation in the industry.
As an Event Committee Chair for the Real Estate Club, Gigi aims to leverage her extensive network, hands-on experience, and a deep-seated passion for event planning to organize exciting events and site tours that enrich the club’s offerings and engage its members.
Elliot Braha
Events Coordinator
Elliot Braha is a sophomore at NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate. He is pursuing a major in Real Estate Finance. Grew up in Oakhurst, New Jersey.
Elliot’s professional experience began at JLL as a Retail Leasing Intern for Michael Hirschfeld who is the Vice Chairman of the group. Then, at Iron Hound Management Group as an analyst for loan restructuring and medication with some debt and equity placement, as well, during the past summer. This summer, I will be working at Avery Hall Investments which is a real estate development firm that does residential and condo housing.
Drawing upon the extensive network he has cultivated through his previous and ongoing real estate experiences, Elliot is poised to orchestrate exciting and enriching events for the members of the Schack Real Estate Club.
In his free time, Elliot plays basketball and is an animated sports fan. He watches the NBA, NHL, and NFL.