Management

 

Michael Weiser, Executive Vice President

Michael Weiser is the Executive Vice President of GFI Realty Services, Inc.  He spearheads the commercial real estate division, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the entire brokerage team and driving their growth and development.  During his 15 year tenure at GFI, he has been involved in hundreds of sales, finance, and aquisition/disposition transactions totaling close to $10 Billion.

Mr. Weiser has a strong understanding of the many facets of commercial real estate and is instrumental in the completion of negotiations and closings for his clientele.

Since joining GFI in 1996, Mr. Weiser has been involved in countless transactions on behalf of GFI’s clients.  Mr. Weiser received his BS in accounting from Brooklyn College.

 

Erik Yankelovich, Director Senior Broker

Almost 10 Years ago, Erik Yankelovich, began his career as a  commercial real estate broker and quickly developed a distinguished reputation in the industry. He is an expert in the New York City real estate market and has established many dynamic relationships with property owners. Yankelovich educates his clients on all aspects of the commercial brokerage business and has an extremely active client base.

During his tenure, he has negotiated the sale of over $150,000,000 worth of real estate.

Yankelovich received his Bachelor of Science from Stony Brook University. Born in Khust, Ukraine his family immigrated to the States in 1990. He and his wife currently reside in Brooklyn, New York.

 

Yosef Katz, Director Senior Broker

Yosef Katz is a director, senior broker at GFI Realty Services, Inc. who began his career as a commercial real estate broker in 2006.  At the start of his career Katz represented financial institutions with the disposition and evaluation of their commercial and residential REO portfolios.  In the seven years since the launch of his career he has transacted over $500MM and has stood out among his peers as an expert in the NYC metropolitan multi-family marketplace.  He also has firmly established relationships with both principals and major lenders in the tri-state area. Katz was named one of the top real estate professionals in New York by Real Estate Forum in 2012.

Katz graduated from Touro College with a Bachelor of Science in Finance.  He was born in Montreal, Canada and currently resides in Queens, NY with his wife and two kids.

 

 

Will Watkins, Director of Real Estate Finance

Will Watkins is the Director of Real Estate Finance for GFI Realty Services, Inc.  Watkins joined the firm in 2004 and specializes in multifamily, office, retail and hospitality debt placement. He brings over ten years of real estate finance experience to his position where he is primarily responsible for arranging permanent, interim and development debt for all segments of the capital structure.  During the course of his career he has been involved in excess of $2 billion in financed commercial real estate transactions.

Will received his B.A. in Business Economics and Accounting from Randolph-Macon College.

 

 

 

Shane Barbanel, Associate Real Estate Broker

Shane has been an Associate Real Estate Broker at GFI Realty Services, Inc. since 2009. With over $100 million in transactions he has a broad and intense experience in the industry.  He has a working knowledge in the areas of building management, acquisitions, construction, leasing, and property analysis.  Shane is an excellent consultant to owners who require representation in the marketing and the sale of their buildings.  His expertise lies in "value added" buildings with upside and NYC walk-up tenements.

Prior to joining GFI, Shane was the President of Dean Contracting and Vice President of Barberry Rose Management.

Shane Barbanel attended The New School in NYC and currently resides on the Upper East Side.