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Rick Kaplan host of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Joseph Aquino President of JAACRES & Author of Memoir of a Watch Salesman A NYC Real Estate Story available: www.memoirsofawatchsalesman.com

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Joseph A. Aquino, President of JAACRES, is one of the most accomplished and respected names in commercial real estate. With a career spanning 40 years, Joseph has built an extraordinary track record representing luxury brands, fast fashion retailers, restaurants, industrial users, hotels and blue-chip office tenants in New York City and all major U.S. markets — from Beverly Hills to Miami, Boston, Las Vegas, Atlanta., and beyond.
His unique strength lies in his versatility. Joseph is a rare broker who excels at both tenant and landlord representation. He understands the needs of the C-suite and speaks their language, making him a trusted advisor to CEOs, founders, and ownership groups alike. Whether he’s guiding an international brand’s U.S. expansion or curating the ideal tenant mix for a Class A office building or luxury property on a high-street, Joseph brings strategy, integrity, and results to every deal.
Over the years, he has worked with some of the most influential property owners and developers in the country — the visionaries behind many of Manhattan’s most iconic addresses. Joseph was the driving force behind numerous notable leases and building sales across Manhattan and Fifth Avenue, including retail & townhouses on Madison Avenue, off Fifth Avenue, and luxury flagships on 57th Street, Soho, Nolita and more.
Joseph is also the Founder and President of The SBS Group, a global business development network connecting luxury retailers with property owners across key markets. The SBS Group operates in cities like Paris, Rome, London, Barcelona, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Cape Town, Belfast, and Dublin, and brings together decision-makers from Europe, Asia, North America, and South Africa.
What sets Joseph apart is his global perspective, his deep understanding of both retail and office markets, and his relentless commitment to helping clients succeed — whether by identifying emerging opportunities, negotiating favorable terms, or guiding a brand’s entry into a new market.
Joseph Aquino doesn’t just make deals — he builds legacies.

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Rick Kaplan Host of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Deborah Smith Co-Founder & CEO of The CenterCap Group. Deb is a trailblazer at the crossroads of real estate and finance. She’s passionate about real estate, all its asset classes, and mostly in finding the best solutions for her clients. That said, the size of her firm, her ability to see around corners, and capability to nimbly operate on all sides of a transaction makes way for creative transactions. She gets outside the box and is almost always out ahead on trends before the rest of the industry. She’d be a wonderful guest to discuss early trends and what she’s seeing and hearing on the ground.

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Rick Kaplan Host of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast Interviews Andrew Lafuente of Lafuente Sign & Awning. Andrew started working in the trade at just 12 years old, as an apprentice, and it sparked a lifelong passion for craftsmanship and design. In 2015, I founded Lafuente Sign & Awning, and since then, the company has grown into one of the premier custom awning manufacturers in Greater Boston. Something very important to me throughout the years has been making my business successful enough that I am able to spend more time with my daughter. We serve residential, commercial, and industrial clients, and I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done. One recent example is the Boston sports mural and signing at Title City barbers, where many notable Boston sports players frequent for their haircuts. Our innovative designs, combined with our commitment to quality, have really set us apart. Over the years, we’ve modernized the way awnings are built, incorporating new materials and techniques that push the boundaries of traditional construction. It's been a true labor of love to see my company grow and evolve.

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Rick Kaplan host of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Ruberto, Israel & Weiner Attorney's Adam Barnosky and Chris Agostino. Adam Barnosky chairs RIW’s Restaurant & Hospitality Practice Group and handles alcoholic beverage licensing, commercial real estate, and corporate transactions for the retail, restaurant, and hospitality industries; including the representation of restaurant groups, hotels, sports and entertainment companies, food halls, retailers, hospitality lenders, and award-winning chefs and operators. He completed the Boston Future Leaders program in 2023 and was recently named a 2024 Top Lawyer by Boston Magazine for the 4th year in a row and a 2024 Massachusetts Super Lawyer.

Chris Agostino is a shareholder and serves as business counsel to clients across a range of industries, including commercial real estate, construction, lending, manufacturing, hospitality, retail sales and services, and transportation, including carriers and brokerages. His practice covers the lifecycle of most privately held businesses from entity formation, joint ventures, contracts, employment matters, and commercial finance, to mergers and acquisitions, business succession planning, "business divorces" and creditors’ rights. He was named a Top Lawyer by Boston Magazine in 2024.

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Rick Kaplan Host of NEREJ / NYREJ Podcast Interviews Kyle Dupell of Erland Construction. Kyle talks about his Journey in the industry and how Advanced Technology and Life Sciences have grown into our industry. As Project Executive at Erland Construction, I bring an extensive background and a robust client network in the lab and manufacturing space. My academic journey began at Norwich University, where I earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Architecture. These foundational experiences instilled in me a deep understanding of the built environment and the importance of collaboration across disciplines.

Over the course of my career, I’ve had the privilege of working for several organizations spanning construction management, real estate development, and architecture. These diverse roles have equipped me with a holistic perspective on project execution, enabling me to navigate complex challenges and deliver value-driven results for clients.

Since joining Erland, I’ve been dedicated to enhancing our advanced technology and life sciences offerings. One of my key contributions has been reestablishing our COLAB Solutions model, a platform that fosters seamless collaboration and innovation in project delivery. This initiative has strengthened our ability to address the unique demands of highly specialized facilities, emphasizing efficiency, adaptability, and client satisfaction.

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Rick Kaplan host of the NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Jonathan Crandall of JC Grounds. Jon Crandall, founder and visionary behind JC Grounds Management, specializing in Commercial Snow and Ice Management in New England. Over the past 28 years, I have transformed a small lawn-mowing endeavor into a sophisticated operation, deploying over 1,000 people per snow event, backed by cutting-edge technology. As a former Chairman of the Board for the Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA), I have contributed significantly to setting industry standards. I recently authored a book on snow removal best practices, with all proceeds going to charity.

Jon discussed the innovations and challenges in snow and ice management, the impact of technology and data in improving service delivery, and strategic insights from my book, "Snow Removal Solutions for Property Managers." By sharing my journey and the lessons learned from engaging deeply with property managers, I aim to provide valuable advice to those on the buy side of snow and ice services in the real estate industry.

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Rick Kaplan Host of NEREJ/ NYREJ Podcast interviews Dov Hertz of DH Property Holdings. The real estate industry is entering a new cycle with a new administration, and there are a host of critical issues that will affect owners and developers. My experience as a developer for residential and hospitality assets, as well as my experience as an industrial real estate developer, enable me to provide insight into the forces that will shape the industry over the next several years.

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Rick Kaplan host of the NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Ngan Han President, Kristen Hurley Executive Director and Justin MacEachern of Gilbane Building. The group talks about how To help bring exposure to the ACE Mentor Program of Greater Boston, discuss the positive impacts that the organization has done over the years and to get more local firms involved.