8-24-18

Forty under 40

30D — August 24 - September 13, 2018 — — M id A tlantic

Real Estate Journal

www.marejournal.com

40 U nder 40

continued from page 22D Richard P. Rizzuto, KAV (Rick), TRANSWESTERN . . . year and set new year-over- year sales benchmarks is directly linked to relationship building. And as an advocate for forging solid relationships, I also feel compelled to lead the charge for industry mentoring. Analytical skills are impera- tive, but there is no substitute for being “in the trenches” on the frontlines and being men- tored by industry icons like the ones at Gebroe-Hammer who have taken me under their wings.  Nicholas Nicolaou, Gebroe-Hammer Associates . . . continued from page 12D

continued from page 6D Michael F. Schipper . . .

years had finally led to a major accomplishment in my career. It reinforced the “never give up attitude” that can be easily forgotten along the way and that more often than not, true success comes after a series of failures. You cannot be afraid to fail. Who do you feel was most influential in your life when choosing this profes- sion? My wife. I had recently left a career in the recyclable commodities industry which I had been involved for most of my adult life. I was working for a friend’s consulting firm in NYC but knewmy time was limited. The opportunity to take a position in this indus- try came about and though I had my reservations, my wife convinced me that I could be successful (and she was able to support me for a while). What inspiring word of advice would you give to a young executive gradu- ating from college today? Challenge yourself and think outside the box. Be humble and think long term. Focus on an opportunity that will best position you for growth in your career, and less on the short term financial picture. While your education provides a foundation it does not define your future. n my name, and sometimes they even call me “Iran”. Correcting people without offending them is a constant battle. What outside activities do you enjoy during your free time? I recently moved from Philadelphia to Cherry Hill, so most of my free time - at least the outdoor portion of it - is spent on dealing with small repairs and improve- ments to the house and yard. What inspiring word of ad- vice would you give to a young executive graduat- ing from college today? It’s okay to not know what you want to do for the rest of your life. As a matter of fact, you should not pick just one path. Explore your interests and skills and find ways to bring them together to solve a problem.  Three things people would be surprised to know about me: I have visited over 28 countries. I have a teacup yorkie named Monti. I used to be an avid quad rider in my teens. 

of-the-box.” What challenges and or obstacles do you feel you needed to overcome to be- come as successful as you are today? In life, or at least in my opinion, it’s not re- ally the accomplishments that make a good businessman or well-rounded person but the challenges one must overcome along the way – and how they do it - that really sets them apart. For me, things were not always the easiest as a young entrepreneur. Being merely 23 years old when I founded RPR, there were not many compa- nies or business professionals that were willing to take me seriously. I was simply “just a kid” in their minds. Imagine trying to create a business if no one takes you seriously because of your age…it’s not very easy. But I chose to break thru that major hurdle by forming the aforementioned elite advisory board whom “everyone” re- spected; Otis Anderson (NY Gi- ants), the late Gary Carter (NY Mets), Rob Gilbert (Rangers), Gerry Cooney (Heavyweight Contender), the late Rusty Staub (NY Mets), Dick Ander- son (Miami Dolphins), Brian Kelley (NY Giants) and others. Rather than me being “the kid” trying to get in the door, I strategically developed a plan to have them assist me in that initiative as elder-statesman. Additionally, I have a very out-of-the-box personality and mindset, which doesn’t always help me. Many times I find my- self having to tone down ideas and thoughts to accommodate the person, customer, or cli- ent with whom I am working at any given time. I call this method of overcoming ‘KNOW- ING ONE’S AUDIENCE.’ What was the most defining moment for you? In addition to for profit business activities, I also serve as the Executive Director of the 501(c)3 “Lit- tle-Life Foundation…giving premature babies a fighting chance.” Little-Life’s primary learning takes me beyond my normal day-to-day – if there is such a thing in commercial real estate – and challenges me to see things in a new light. What inspiring word of advice would you give to a young executive graduating from college today? Relationships, relationships, relationships. This is my one inspiring word and something you should continually strive to expand upon. I firmly be- lieve my ability to thrive each

Hammer started the firm in 1975. Their values are all an extension of my father’s advice. What outside activities do you enjoy during your free time? I think a lot of people who work hard think they have to play hard too. For me, balance comes in the form of travel. Being exposed to different cul- tures, economies and architec- ture help me gain a renewed perspective. This experiential As Senior Partner & CEO, I personally ran RPRMarketing Solutions day-to-day for five and a half years before letting it run while phasing myself out of day-to-day operations to ob- tain a real estate license which allowed me to grow further and diversify into commercial real estate marketing ventures, in addition to complementary, existing and ongoing busi- ness initiatives and activities. Today, as Chairman of RPR, I continue to drive its visions and successes from a macro- scopic perspective while laser focusing my daily attention on the marketing of commercial real estate with TRANSWEST- ERN. What were some of your ear- ly goals and did anything happen to change them? My early goals were the same then as they are now – work hard, play hard, and always strive to do the right thing for your customers and clients. What unique qualities and or personality traits do you feel makes you most successful in your profession? I’ve always had an extraordinary vision and mind that never stops creating. From forming the aforementioned celebrity ad- visory board in order to get a fair chance at business when I was only 23, to developing platforms to highlight New Jersey’s Attributes on behalf of/with the then marketing director for the New Jersey Commerce &Economic Growth Commission, Toni Jones (“The Garden Party: Taste of NJ”, 2004), to envisioning and sub- sequently creating a stream- lined platform for commercial real estate professionals to quickly and easily identify who represents whom in the busi- ness, to being part of the elite team of people who masterfully crafted and successfully imple- mented a strategy to revive and revitalize NJ’s Downtown Morristown, I’ve always prided myself on being pretty far “out-

successful in your profes- sion? I am my biggest critic. I do not obsess over minute detail but I do compare myself to those I feel have achieved a high-level success in the industry when I am undertak- ing a project, soliciting for new business, or putting together a transaction. I try to put myself in their shoes and perform as I believe they would. What challenges and or obstacles do you feel you needed to overcome to be- come as successful as you are today? I have always felt that to be successful I must master whatever it is I am undertaking. It has taken years for me to learn that this is not the case. This industry is driven by the needs of busi- nesses and those businesses have people hyper focused on their success. Understanding the needs of your client and having the ability to provide solutions so they do not have to is of vastly greater impor- tance than the mastering every angle. What was the most defin- ing moment for you? My first completed off-market, institu- tional transaction. It was not the size of the deal but the mere fact that the types of deals I had been unsuccessfully chasing for Who do you feel was most influential in your life when choosing this pro- fession? As cliché as it may sound, my mother was extremely influential in my move to a professional real estate career. In my forma- tive years, my mother was a residential real estate agent, so real estate has always been present in my life. As I grew older, my mother and HGTV nurtured my interest in real estate until I was fi- nally ready to get my license. What is the funniest, most unique situation you have faced/conquered during your career? Or in your life? My name is Aran, pronounced Ah-run. People often mispronounce am and leverage my skills and interests. market share in Hudson Coun- ty. What charity or nonprofit do you support most and why? Eva’s kitchen, giving back to those in need in your local community.

Beneficiary is Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ. To date, Little-Life has raised tens of thousands of dollars for its Beneficiary, which sub- sequently assists them and their elite teams of Doctors to continue to be the best at Neo- natology. As a 1 pound 13 oz. preemie myself and someone who now has 2 children of my own that were also preemie, giving back to the hospitals, doctors, and nurses who navi- gate that world is VERY impor- tant to me. Who do you feel was most influ- ential in your life when choos- ing this profession? It wasn’t just one person, but a collection of trusted advisors that helped me 1) understand it all and then 2) decide to jump in. What is the funniest, most unique situation you have faced/conquered during your career? Or in your life? Starting my own businesses without working for someone else first. Though that path was much harder [e.g. - trying to learn along the way and in some cases reinventing wheels vs. just being taught], I would not trade the way I’ve built my businesses and their sub- sidiaries, nor how I’ve come to be graced with the fortune of working with such an amazing company like TRANSWEST- ERN. What outside activities do you enjoy during your free time? Golf, Skiing, Traveling, and most importantly spend- ing time with my wife, kids, friends, and family -- making memories and living life. What inspiring word of advice would you give to a young executive gradu- ating from college today? Never let it just be “about a deal,” it should always be about relationships and how you treat people. Protect and preserve and if you give some- one your word, a handshake, or both – DO WHAT YOU PROMISED. 

Aran P. Ploshansky, Vantage . . . continued from page 20D

continued from page 23D Steven Matovski, Redwood Realty Advisors

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