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In-Person
  • National

State of Office Forum

May 14, 2026 at 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM ET The Assembly, 2 Park Avenue New York, NY 10016
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2026 AGENDA
ALL EVENTS

Speakers

Tony Malkin State of Office Forum

KEYNOTE

tony malkin

Chairman and CEO

Empire State Realty Trust

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Tony Malkin

Chairman and CEO, Empire State Realty Trust

Anthony E. Malkin is chairman and chief executive officer of Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. He joined its predecessor entities as president in 1989 and was named chairman and CEO in 2013. Mr. Malkin has been a leader in existing building energy efficiency retrofits since he oversaw the groundbreaking project at the Empire State Building, in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative, Johnson Controls, JLL, and Rocky Mountain Institute. He led the development of standards for energy efficient office tenant installations which is now known as the Tenant Energy Optimization Program at the Urban Land Institute.

Mr. Malkin is a board member of APi Group Corporation, the Real Estate Roundtable and Chair of its Sustainability Policy Advisory Committee, a member of the Climate Mobilization Advisory Board of the New York City Department of Buildings, and the Board of Governors of the Real Estate Board of New York. Mr. Malkin is a member of the Urban Land Institute and the Partnership for New York City’s Innovation Council.

In 2024, Mr. Malkin received BOMA’s Henry J. Muller Achievement Award that recognizes individuals, institutions, and companies who have substantially improved or had a major impact upon the New York skyline. Mr. Malkin is a fixture on Commercial Observer’s annual Power 100 list, and a thought leader with features on CNBC, TIME, the Washington Post, and the New York Post, among others.

Mr. Malkin received a bachelor’s degree cum laude from Harvard College.

Hilary Spann State of Office Forum

KEYNOTE

hilary spann

Executive Vice President, New York Region

BXP

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Hilar Spann

Executive Vice President, New York Region, BXP

Hilary Spann has served as Executive Vice President, New York Region of BXP since September 2021, overseeing the company’s New York and Princeton, New Jersey portfolio, including acquisitions, development, construction, leasing, and property management. From March 2016 to July 2021, Ms. Spann held senior leadership roles at CPP Investments, serving as Managing Director, Head of U.S. Real Estate Investments (March 2016–July 2017) and subsequently as Managing Director, Head of Real Estate Investments, Americas (July 2017–July 2021). In these roles, she led the firm’s Americas real estate platform, overseeing investment strategy and execution, portfolio management, and talent leadership. Prior to joining CPP Investments, Ms. Spann spent over 15 years at J.P. Morgan Asset Management within the Global Alternatives Group, where she served as Managing Director, Head of Northeast Acquisitions (May 2001–February 2016), with responsibilities spanning acquisitions and asset management. Ms. Spann is a Trustee of the Urban Land Institute, Citizens Budget Commission, and Madison Square Park Conservancy. She serves on the Board of Governors of the Real Estate Board of New York, the Real Estate Life Science Advisory Board of New York City, and is a member of the Economic Club of New York. Since April 2022, she has served as an independent Director and member of the Sustainability Committee of Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), and previously served as a Director of the ULI Foundation.

Peter Brindley State of Office Forum

peter brindley

Executive Vice President and Head of Real Estate

Elecor Properties

AJ Camhi State of Office Forum

aj camhi

Executive Vice President, Director of Leasing

RFR Realty LLC

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AJ Camhi

Executive Vice President, Director of Leasing, RFR Realty LLC

AJ Camhi serves as the Executive Vice President and Director of Leasing for RFR, a premier real estate firm renowned for merging world-class art and architecture with strategic asset management. In this capacity, Mr. Camhi orchestrates the leasing strategy for a North American portfolio valued at over $17 billion, overseeing 12 million square feet of high-profile commercial space.

His portfolio includes some of the world’s most iconic trophy assets, such as the Seagram Building and 17 State Street, along with significant Midtown holdings like 475 Fifth Avenue, 477 Madison Avenue, and 350 Madison Avenue. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Camhi has also directed the leasing for globally recognized landmarks including the Chrysler Building and the Lever House. Navigating the complexities of marketing, structuring, and negotiating world-class transactions, Mr. Camhi is known for his ability to reposition architecturally significant properties to meet the needs of a sophisticated, global tenant base.

A veteran of the industry for over two decades, Mr. Camhi’s career includes five years as Vice President at Murray Hill Properties prior to joining RFR in 2010. His leadership extends into the fabric of New York’s real estate community as a member of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and former Vice Chairman of the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association. Deeply committed to civic engagement, Mr. Camhi sits on several Business Improvement Districts and actively supports the Wounded Warriors Project and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Zack Davis State of Office Forum

zack davis

Senior Principal, Head of Sales Americas

Unispace

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Zack Davis

Senior Principal, Head of Sales Americas, Unispace

Zack Davis is Senior Principal, Head of Sales, The Americas at Unispace, where he leads global sales strategy and growth across workplace design, delivery, and transformation. He partners closely with clients, regional leaders, and global counterparts to help organizations reimagine how work gets done through integrated, end-to-end solutions. In his role, Zack is responsible for building and leading high-performing sales teams, shaping go-to-market strategy, and driving complex, multi-market pursuits for some of the world’s most recognizable brands. He is known for his ability to connect strategy to execution, align diverse stakeholders, and turn relationships into long-term partnerships. With a background spanning brokerage, consulting, and project delivery, Zack brings a practical, client-first approach to growth. He remains an active voice in the workplace and commercial real estate community, sharing insights on market trends, delivery models, and the evolving role of the workplace across the Americas.

Keith DeCoster 1 State of Office Forum

keith decoster

Vice President of Market Data and Policy

REBNY

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Keith DeCoster

Vice President of Market Data and Policy, REBNY

An industry expert in real estate market analysis, Keith DeCoster is Vice President of Market Data and Policy for the Real Estate Board of New York, the City’s leading real estate trade association.

In his role at REBNY, Keith manages research publications that monitor the state of New York City’s real estate market, as well as custom studies focused on the challenges that the industry faces.

Current areas of analysis include the health of retail corridors throughout the City, the impact of remote work on Manhattan’s central business districts and the City’s ongoing housing shortage.

Prior to REBNY Keith directed national retail research at Newmark and market research at Savills Studley.

Craig Deitelzweig State of Office Forum

Craig Deitelzweig

President & CEO

Marx Realty

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Craig Deitelzweig

President & CEO, Marx Realty

Craig Deitelzweig joined Marx Realty as its President and CEO in 2017 and has been responsible for growing the company as well as streamlining the company’s strategy by focusing on value-add office investments in three core markets: New York City, Washington D.C. and Atlanta. Craig is also charged with repositioning Marx’s entire portfolio as well as growing the Marx team and profitability. Over his 25-year career, Craig has vast experience in every aspect of the real estate industry and believes in a very hands-on approach.

Prior to Marx, he held senior roles at both private equity and private development companies, including redeveloping over 50 assets in major markets across the country with a particular emphasis on NY and DC. Craig’s projects have received various awards from industry groups such as NAIOP, BOMA, Globe St., Crain’s, Washington Business Journal and AIA. He has been interviewed as a thought and innovation leader in several features in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, CNN, CBS, Bloomberg and on CNBC, and was selected as one of the Real Estate Forum’s Best Bosses of 2019. Under Craig’s leadership, Marx was selected to Crain’s Best Places to Work four consecutive years from 2020 to 2024.

Craig graduated Cum Laude from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business (where he currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Advisory Board) and earned a J.D. at Fordham University’s School of Law. Craig serves on the Mixed-Use Council of the Urban Land Institute as a ULI mentor; on the Strategic Advisory Council of Shadow Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in PropTech investments; and on ULI’s New York Awards Selection Committee.

Nishar Fatema State of Office Forum

nishar fatema

Global Workplace Services: Strategy, Innovation & Transformation 

ServiceNow

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Nishar Fatema

Global Workplace Services: Strategy, Innovation & Transformation, ServiceNow

Blending strategy, creativity and a global perspective, Nishar Fatema is redefining how
people experience space in a physical and virtual environments. With experience across working in Singapore, Germany, India and the USA as well as insights from 56 traveled nations, she brings a human-centered lens to the evolving world of work.

At ServiceNow, Nishar leads the global strategy, transformation and innovation, applying AI, systems thinking and design to enhance employee experience and
reimagine real estate operations. Her work lives at the intersection of technology,
functionality and culture, pushing workplace boundaries with every initiative.

Named CoreNet NYC’s Young Leader of the Year, honored in IFMA’s forty Under 40, and Top Global FM influencer, Nishar is recognized for driving digital change and
mentoring future leaders. She served as an advisory board member for a leading technology firm and actively contributes to shaping workplace strategies by speak at industry events on the influence of AI in the workplace. Her impact extends beyond the office. She is also an artist and author who draws inspiration from the world around her.
Outside of her professional work, Nishar leads the Nisah Foundation, a non-profit
dedicated to advancing education and empowerment for girls in underserved communities.

For Nishar, innovation is about connection, across ideas, disciplines and cultures, and with every project, she is building workplaces that are smart, more inclusive and deeply human.

David Giancola State of Office Forum

david Giancola

Senior Managing Director

JLL

Peter Greenspanpng 1 State of Office Forum

peter greenspan

Global Head of Real Estate

WeWork

Jeffrey Gural State of Office Forum

jeffrey gural

Chairman, CEO

GFP Real Estate

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Jeffrey Gural

Chairman, CEO, GFP Real Estate

Jeffrey Gural is Chairman of GFP Real Estate LLC (formerly Newmark Holdings and Newmark Knight Frank). GFP Real Estate LLC has an ownership interest in more than 50 properties, most of which are located in New York City. Mr. Gural, together with his son Eric Gural and nephew Brian Steinwurtzel, are responsible for all future acquisitions and the managing and leasing of the over 13 million square feet in which they have an ownership interest.

Mr. Gural joined Newmark Knight Frank in 1972, and served as Chairman until 2017, after which he became Chairman Emeritus. Prior to that, Mr. Gural was a member of the staff of Morse-Diesel Construction Co. for approximately six years where he was responsible for the supervision and construction of more than one million square feet of new office space in such notable buildings as 437 Madison Avenue and 645 Madison Avenue.

Mr. Gural is a member of the Board of Directors of The Real Estate Board of New York; President of the enCourage Kids Foundation; Chairman of I Have a Dream Foundation – NY and Co-Sponsor of the Chelsea-Elliot “I Have a Dream” Project; former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Times Square Alliance; member of the Board of Trustees of The New School; Chair of the Board of Governors for Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts; Chairman of the Board of Directors for Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York; Vice President of The Broadway Association; member of the Board of Directors of the Museum at Eldridge Street; member of the Board of Directors of the Statue of Liberty Foundation; member of the Board of the Settlement Housing Fund; member of the Board of Directors of New York City Outward Bound Schools; member of the NYC Board of Directors for the March of Dimes and President of The Realty Foundation of New York. Mr. Gural is a member of the Board of Directors of the UJA-Federation, where both he and his father, Aaron Gural, were honored at the organization’s 1995 Annual Luncheon.

As a sideline, Mr. Gural is a major owner and breeder of Standardbred racehorses and has two farms in Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania. Mr. Gural owns a casino in Upstate New York; Tioga Downs and a racino at Vernon Downs. Mr. Gural is also Managing Partner of New Meadowlands Racetrack LLC, which is the current lessee and operator of the New Meadowlands Racetrack. The Meadowlands recently opened a new $120 Million grandstand which is a state of the art new facility.
Mr. Gural is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, with a degree in Civil Engineering. He is married, has three grown children, six grandchildren and resides in Manhattan.

Jonathan Kaufman Iger State of Office Forum

jonathan kaufman iger

CEO & President

Sage Realty Corporation

John Meko State of Office Forum

john meko

VP of North America and Global Operations

WiredScore

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John Meko

VP of North America and Global Operations, WiredScore

John Meko is the Vice President of North America and Global Operations at WiredScore, where he focuses on helping leading landlords deliver best-in-class tenant experiences through technology across their portfolios.

WiredScore is the global leader in setting the standard for technology in the built environment through certification and education.

Over the past decade, John has played a pivotal role in expanding WiredScore into new markets and verticals, working closely with property owners to elevate the digital infrastructure of their assets and meet growing tenant expectations.

He oversees company operations and leads the global engineering teams responsible for evaluating and improving digital connectivity and smart technology in buildings across diverse asset classes in North America. Following WiredScore’s recent acquisition by Meter, a leading provider of internet infrastructure for the enterprise, his role also supports the delivery of connectivity solutions alongside advising the industry on best-in-class standards.

Globally, WiredScore has certified more than 4,000 buildings across office, residential and industrial asset classes, totalling over 1 billion sq ft in 45 countries.

With over 15 years’ experience across the US telco sector, John is a leading authority on how digital connectivity and smart technology can increase asset value across portfolios.

David Neil State of Office Forum

david neil

Principal

The Durst Organization

Brian Ray Alchemy ABR State of Office Forum

brian ray

Managing Partner

Alchemy-ABR Investment Partners

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Brian Ray

Managing Partner, Alchemy-ABR Investment Partners

Brian Ray is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Alchemy-ABR Investment Partners, a NewYork based commercial real estate owner, operator, and development company with assets in NewYork City, South Florida, North Carolina and other strategic markets. Brian is responsible for overseeing the company’s day-to-day acquisition, development, capital markets, and operating activities.

Brian is an alumnus of George Washington University and holds a Master of Science degree in Real Estate Finance and Development from NYU where he was a recipient of NYU’s 2002Lambda Alpha International Service Award for his contributions to the community, university,and program.He currently serves on the Advisory Boards of the GW Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis, the University of Miami School of Architecture and the NYU Schack Real Estate Institute, where he was an Adjunct Professor of finance and development. He lives in Manhattan with his wife Allison, their daughter Sammie, and son Max.

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adam segal

Co-Founder & CEO

Cove

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Adam Segal

Co-Founder & CEO, Cove

Adam Segal is the co-founder and CEO of Cove, the operating system for commercial real estate. Under his leadership, Cove has become the platform that owners, operators, and building teams rely on to run smarter, more connected portfolios.

Adam launched Cove in 2013 as a network of neighborhood coworking spaces across Washington, D.C. and Boston, grounded in how people experience the spaces they work in. When the pandemic upended traditional office models, Adam and co-founding partner Jeremy Scott saw an opportunity to apply that human-centered insight at portfolio scale. Together they transformed Cove into a SaaS company, and today license its proprietary software to some of the world’s most prominent real estate owners, including Blackstone, Nuveen, and RXR.

Today, Cove unifies building operations, tenant experience, visitor management, and portfolio intelligence into a single platform that learns, adapts, and scales with every asset. Adam’s vision is to replace the fragmented stack of point solutions with one platform that gives owners and operators unified visibility and control across their entire portfolio. The result is smarter operations today, compounding intelligence over time, and a partner invested in client outcomes from day one.

A builder by instinct and an operator by experience, Adam brings a partner-first mentality to every relationship Cove holds. He believes the next era of commercial real estate will be defined by the platforms that help portfolios run as one, and he is leading Cove to define it.

Ryan Simonetti State of Office Forum

ryan simonetti

President and CEO

Convene Hospitality Group

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Ryan Simonetti

President and CEO, Convene Hospitality Group

Ryan Simonetti is the President and CEO of Convene Hospitality Group (CHG), where he has revolutionized the commercial real estate industry by integrating hospitality and lifestyle into premium meeting, event, and flexible office spaces. Under his leadership, CHG has grown into the largest provider of its kind in the U.S. and UK, boasting a global portfolio of nearly 40 locations across nine cities. A Villanova University alumnus with a background in real estate finance at Lehman Brothers and Gramercy Capital Corp. Ryan has been recognized for his transformative achievements and named a “Top Entrepreneur” by Crain’s New York. Under his helm, CHG has been named one of America’s 100 Most Promising Companies by Forbes and a Best Workplace by Inc. magazine, Fortune magazine, and Built In.

Andrew Werner State of Office Forum

andrew werner

Senior Associate Principal

KPF

David Falk State of Office Forum

MODERATOR

david falk

President, New York Tri-State Region

Newmark

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David Falk

President, New York Tri-State Region, Newmark

David Falk serves as the President, New York Tri-State Region at Newmark, bringing more than four decades of industry leadership across and one of the most accomplished track records in office leasing nationwide. Falk leads a top-performing team that specializes in office tenant and landlord representation globally, with a concentration in Manhattan.

On the ownership side, Falk represents more than 25 million square feet in Manhattan—including premier assets 1 World Trade Center, 1251 Avenue of the Americas, 299 Park Avenue, 712 Fifth Avenue and 140 Broadway. Within the past two years alone, he has completed over three million square feet of leasing transactions. On the tenant side, he advises a long-standing roster of clients, such as Mitsui Fudosan, Marsh & McLennan, Cerberus Capital Management, Pace University and Havas North America.

Falk is known for delivering forward-thinking, client-centric solutions and brings market foresight and tailored strategies to every assignment. His and the team’s success is rooted in a distinctive culture—defined by integrity, collaboration and deep market fluency—that continues to set the standard in commercial real estate.

Michael Gerazounis P.E State of Office Forum

MODERATOR

Michael gerazounis, p.e.

Managing Principal and CEO

MG Engineering D.P.C

JONATHAN WEISS UPDATED State of Office Forum

MODERATOR

Jonathan weiss

Partner and Co-Chair of the Corporate Real Estate Practice Group

Greenspoon Marder

Michael Werner State of Office Forum

MODERATOR

michael j. werner

Co-Chair, Real Estate

Fried Frank

Josh Winefsky State of Office Forum

MODERATOR

josh winefsky

Partner

HSF Kramer

Megan R. Abraham 1 1 State of Office Forum

OPENING REMARKS

megan r. abraham

CEO

The Goldie Initiative

What You Need To Know

New York City’s office market is entering a pivotal phase, defined by valuation and pricing resets, selective capital deployment, new tenants and industries entering the market, and a widening gap in asset performance. As corporate tenants rethink the future of the workplace and what it means for their location and real estate strategies, investor strategies are shifting alongside them.

Commercial Observer’s State of Office Forum convenes the city’s most prominent real estate owners, developers, corporate tenants, and brokers to examine the demand signals driving today’s market, and how owners and investors are aligning with tenant demand to unleash growth potential. This is a must-attend event for real estate players looking to hear what’s penciling as tenant behavior dictates where capital will flow in the city’s next investment cycle.

Website Collage d7749b State of Office Forum

State of Office Forum

May 14, 2026 at 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM ET
The Assembly, 2 Park Avenue New York, NY 10016
$299
Register Now

Who Should Attend

  • Real estate owners
  • Developers and investors
  • Heads of real estate
  • Corporate occupiers
  • Advisory firms
  • Brokerages
  • Economists and academics
  • Architects and workplace strategists
  • Public officials
  • Tech Innovators

Agenda

Opening Keynote
The State of the Office 2026: Market Forces Defining the Road Ahead
Tenant Trends: The Flight to Quality or Value Play – The Driving Factors Behind Office Leasing
Behind the Headlines: Conversations with the Owners & Occupiers Behind Today’s Largest Leases
Demand Signals: Shrinking Class A and B Space & The Future of NYC Office Inventory

Sponsors

cove 1 logo 1 State of Office Forum

cove

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FRIED FRANK

Greenspoon Marder Logo State of Office Forum

greenspoon marder

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hsf kramer

JLL logo positive RGB 1 1 State of Office Forum

jll

KPF logo State of Office Forum

kpf

MG Engineering 1 State of Office Forum

mg engineering

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sage realty corporation

Goldie Initiative State of Office Forum

the goldie initiative

The Goldie Initiative is committed to transforming the commercial real estate industry by accelerating the careers of high‑potential women. Our mission is to prepare women to advance as leaders in commercial real estate by providing financial and professional support. Since 2007, we have built a strong and growing community of Goldie Scholars®—women recognized for outstanding academic achievement and leadership potential. Founded by renowned commercial real estate broker and entrepreneur Goldie B. Wolfe Miller, the organization offers graduate-level scholarships, mentorship, leadership development, and impactful networking opportunities for women pursuing careers in real estate. Our program serves women enrolled in business-focused graduate studies with a concentration in real estate; undergraduate students are not eligible at this time. To date, The Goldie Initiative has supported more than 200 Goldie Scholars at over 25 universities nationally.

Think Wood Logo Full Color State of Office Forum

think wood

unispace spencil logo back State of Office Forum

unispace

Unispace is a global leader in integrated workplace strategy, design, and construction, with more than 600 employees across 27 studios in 13 countries throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

By bringing strategy, design, and construction together from the start, Unispace supports clients navigating complex portfolio change across technology, life sciences, legal, financial, and professional services creating spaces that spark brilliance in people to drive performance, culture, and long-term growth.

wework State of Office Forum

wework

Copy of WiredScore logo mono RGB State of Office Forum

wiredscore

WiredScore is the organization behind the WiredScore and SmartScore certifications: the internationally recognised digital connectivity and smart building rating systems for real estate, helping landlords design and promote buildings with powerful digital connectivity and smart capabilities.

A champion of cutting-edge technology in real estate, WiredScore assesses, certifies and improves digital connectivity and smart technology in offices, homes and industrial sites on a global scale, ensuring that buildings provide the best-in-class infrastructure that businesses and individuals require to thrive.

WiredScore launched in 2013 in partnership with Mayor Bloomberg and the City of New York. International demand for the digital connectivity rating system has since seen the company expand operations across North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific, where it works with over 1,000 clients across the real estate industry.

Since then, over 1 billion square feet (93 million square metres) of commercial and residential space has been committed to WiredScore certification, impacting 9 million people across 45 countries.WiredScore’s recently announced acquisition by Meter, a leading provider of internet infrastructure for the enterprise, presents an exciting opportunity for real estate owners looking to deliver enterprise-grade connectivity to tenants.

Association Partners

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nareit

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nyu schack

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