David Waterman, 27
Associate director at Newmark
David Waterman’s interest in real estate came from growing up in New York, but he had to leave to gain perspective about his life’s path.
The Upper East Side native grew up playing hockey with some of the NHL’s current stars, including Adam Fox and Charlie McAvoy. “Charlie looks the same as he did when he was 12, and he plays the exact same brand of hockey,” Waterman said.
He continued playing hockey, lacrosse and soccer but also followed his interests in photography and the arts. At the University of Denver, professors in the school’s vaunted real estate program showed him the industry was more than leasing space.
“Real estate to me is almost like an orchestra — everybody is playing their role,” he said. “A deal has many different sides, and leasing is a small piece of that.”
Unfortunately, capital markets deals dried up during the pandemic, so Waterman’s father, Brian Waterman, a top Newmark executive, suggested starting as a commercial broker instead. David Waterman has since focused on meeting his office tenants’ unusual needs.
This year, he helped fragrance company Osmo move into a manufacturing, office and distribution facility in Elizabeth, N.J., where workers could use artificial intelligence tools to mix scents. He also found a new space for Morilee, a bridal boutique, at 158 West 27th Street, allowing them to leave their Midtown West design shop. And he worked with Dispatch Energy to identify a New York headquarters for its distributive energy firm that aims to install solar-powered roofs and fuel cells in industrial buildings.
“As businesses mature and the world changes, the needs of tenants are changing, too,” Waterman said. “We have an ability and platform at Newmark to help companies do what’s right for their business and develop a strategy around them.”
These days, Waterman lives in Nolita with his golden retriever, Ellie, and he still joins a weekly hockey game at Chelsea Piers. “I’ve always lived on the credo: The name on the front of the jersey means more than the name on the back,” he said.
