By Billy Gray 2/20 8:00am

The Sit-Down

Matt Van Buren

CBRE Tristate President Matt Van Buren on the Megadeal’s Comeback and the Post-Sandy Summer

It will be two years ago this summer that Matt Van Buren succeeded Mitch Rudin as CBRE’s tristate president. The Commercial Observer spoke with Mr. Van Buren about the state of the region—and of the Yankees—as the area prepares to emerge from its long, cold winter of discontent.

Since taking over as CBRE’s tristate president, what has been your biggest accomplishment and biggest setback?

I took over for a tristate region office that was in really good condition following Mitch Rudin’s presidency. The biggest accomplishment has been keeping that momentum going forward. When you’re number one, the goal is to stay number one. And we’ve been able to do that. Staying number one is one of the great unsung stories of the world. That’s why I respect the 2000 Yankees so much. [Laughs]

You run CBRE’s offices in Midtown, Downtown, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey and Connecticut. Do the fortunes of the different metro area hubs often diverge or does a rising tide lift all boats?

To a certain degree it does. Although the highs are higher and the lows are lower in Manhattan. If you look at rents and availability statistics, Connecticut, Westchester, New Jersey and Long Island vary in a fairly narrow range even from boom to bust.

Frankly, New York will always have lower availability. But the prices will fluctuate high and low if you took a percentage off of a norm. Read More

By Jotham Sederstrom 11/09/12 8:00am

The Sit-Down

Matt Van Buren.

Four More Years? CBRE’s Matt Van Buren on First 16 Months as Pres.

In August 2011, Matt Van Buren took the reins as CBRE’s tristate president, a position held until then by Mr. Van Buren’s friend and mentor Mitch Rudin. Since then, the brokerage veteran’s responsibilities have expanded to include operations across Long Island, Connecticut, Upstate New York, Northern New Jersey and, of course, the five boroughs of New York City. The Commercial Observer caught up with Mr. Van Buren four months after his one-year anniversary to discuss the goals he has accomplished, what lies ahead for CBRE and his predictions on Manhattan’s most formidable market, Midtown. Read More

By Jotham Sederstrom 10/12/12 8:00am

The Lobby

Matt Van Buren, CBRE's tristate president.

CBRE Poaches Joseph Fabrizi From Cushman & Wakefield

CBRE, the Los Angeles-based full-service real estate services firm, has hired Joseph Fabrizi away from Cushman & Wakefield, The Commercial Observer has learned.

Mr. Fabrizi, who spent all 27 years of his career at C&W, will continue to represent major financial services firms and legal practices, as has been his forte. Among Mr. Fabrizi’s most noted national tenant representation clients are Goldman Sachs & Co., CT Partners; Ceridian Corporation/Arbitron; Dorsey & Whitney; and Bracewell & Giuliani, LLP. Read More

By Jotham Sederstrom 9/05/12 7:30am

The Lobby

kleinberg elaine for web (2)

General Counsel to Newmark Knight Frank Jumps to CBRE After 20 Years

CBRE, the Los Angeles-based commercial real estate services firm, has hired Elaine Kleinberg as a managing director in the firm’s Manhattan office, it was announced.

Ms. Kleinberg, a senior attorney with 20 years experience who most recently served as general counsel for Newmark Knight Frank–and, briefly, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank–will be responsible for management and development of mid-level sales professionals and oversight of the legal agreement process, according to a release. Read More

By Jotham Sederstrom 5/17/12 10:30am

The Lobby

Stuart Siegel

Grubb & Ellis’ Stuart Siegel Joins CBRE

CBRE, the Los Angeles-based commercial real estate services firm, has hired Stuart Siegel as a senior vice president in office brokerage in the firm’s Manhattan office.

Mr. Siegel, who previously served as a managing director at Grubb & Ellis before it was acquired last month by BGC Partners, will continue to focus on a wide range of clients, including those from the art, tech and fashion industries. Read More

By Jotham Sederstrom 8/23/11 10:40am

The Sit-Down

VanBuren1

Matt Van Buren, CBRE’s New Top Guy for the Tristate

Earlier this month, Matt Van Buren stepped into his role as CB Richard Ellis’s president of the tristate region. With the new title, Mr. Van Buren’s oversight duties have grown from operations at the firm’s midtown headquarters to its activities across Long Island, Connecticut, upstate New York and Northern Jersey. The former executive managing director, 52, interrupted his vacation to talk shop. Read More