Building Knowledge

Episode 116 of Building Knowledge takes a timely look at the state of housing across the New York metropolitan area, featuring Ron Abad, CEO of Community Housing Innovations (CHI). The conversation highlights CHI’s ongoing efforts to address the region’s housing challenges while spotlighting key upcoming initiatives, including the City & State Affordable Housing Summit on May 7—where Abad will...

Public relations and marketing aren’t just support functions anymore—they’re powerful drivers of growth, credibility, and leadership. In this episode of Building Knowledge , we continue the conversation with a dynamic new voice: Christina Rae, President of Buzz Creators, Inc., making her debut on the show. Christina breaks down what’s really working in PR and marketing today—from the biggest misco...

Episode 114 of Building Knowledge dives into why smart, strategic marketing is essential for building, real estate, and construction companies—especially in a region as distinct as the Hudson Valley. This episode features first-time guest Katy Dwyer, Founder and Creative Director of KDD Marketing in Kingston, NY. She shares practical insights on how businesses can better connect with Hudson Valley...

This episode of Building Knowledge takes a closer look at the growing threat of online fraud in real estate transactions—and what industry professionals and consumers need to know to stay protected. Joining the conversation are Tom Linehan, Executive Vice President and Director of the National Deposits Group at Apple Bank, and Anastasios Papaioannou, Assistant Vice President of the same division.&...

Episode 112 of Building Knowledge spotlights Co-ops and Condos United of New York, a newly formed group representing more than one million New Yorkers living in cooperative and condominium communities across New York City. The episode features insights from Geoffrey Mazel, a founding member of the law firm Hankin & Mazel and a key leader behind the organization, alongside Michael Wolfe, Presid...

Episode 111 of “Building Knowledge” dives into the latest from the Clean Energy Action Coalition (CEAC) of The Business Council of Westchester, featuring Ron Kamen, CEAC Director and Co-Founder. From skyrocketing energy costs to urgent climate realities, Ron breaks down what homeowners, businesses, nonprofits, and local governments can do right now to lower costs and reduce emissions. The conversa...

Episode 110 of “Building Knowledge” explores how outsourcing can help businesses operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. The episode features Lola Gazivoda, Founder and CEO of BOTA Consulting Group, which supports managing agents and other companies with back-office operations. During the conversation, Lola breaks down why businesses of all sizes—especially small firms—should consider outso...

“How This Winter’s Harsh Weather and Current Events in the Middle East Are Affecting Energy Costs” is the focus of this episode of Building Knowledge . Our guest is Tim Connors, Vice President of The Slattery Energy Consulting Group, returning to the podcast for his second appearance. During the conversation, Connors discusses how this winter’s unusually cold temperatures have driven up prices for...

Episode 108 of Building Knowledge from the Building and Realty Institute delivers timely guidance for employers navigating today’s complex workplace challenges. Guest Matthew Persanis, Labor Counsel to The BRI and principal at Elefante and Persanis, LLP, breaks down what employers need to know if representatives from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrive at a worksite. The conversa...

Spring is around the corner — is your building ready? On this episode of Building Knowledge , we explore what owners and managers should assess as winter ends — and why preventative maintenance isn’t just seasonal, it’s year-round strategy. Our guest, Alexis Ferrara, Account Executive at Ferrara Management Group (FMG) and a member of the Advisory Council of Managing Agents (ACMA) of the Building &...

Episode 106 of Building Knowledge spotlights the work of “Unlock New York’s Future,” a coalition of more than 30 organizations representing housing, environmental, transit, community development, business, and civic interests across the state. The coalition recently issued a joint letter urging the New York State Legislature to modernize the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) as part o...

This episode of Building Knowledge features a wide-ranging conversation on Revenue Leadership Architecture across real estate platforms with Robert Withers , President of M1 Capital Corporation and RBW Consulting . Robert is a nationally recognized analyst on issues impacting the finance and real estate sectors. His insights have been featured on NBC and CNN , and in The Wall Street Journal , The...

Is your multi-family property ready for the new state mandates? In Episode 104 of Building Knowledge , we welcome back Leslie Liberatore , Health Services Coordinator for the Westchester County Department of Health. Following her introductory session in Episode 85, Leslie returns to provide a comprehensive deep dive into the New York State Lead Rental Registry and what it means for property owners...

In this episode of Building Knowledge , we take a hard look at how building owners and managers can prevent disasters before they happen. Our guest is Miguel Quintanilla, Principal of Collado Engineering and a frequent contributor to the podcast. Miguel analyzes recent and past tragedies—including a deadly New Year’s Eve fire at a Swiss ski resort and the Station Nightclub fire—to identify critica...

What’s happening with the U.S. economy—and what could be ahead as we move toward 2026? Episode 102 of Building Knowledge features the return of renowned economic analyst Dr. Robert Goodman for a timely, wide-ranging discussion. A former Partner and Chief Economist at Putnam Investments, with past roles at J. & W. Seligman & Co., Citibank, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Dr. Goodm...

Episode 101 of Building Knowledge with the Building and Realty Institute (BRI) features a timely conversation with the BRI’s 2026 Leadership Team: Michael Murphy, President; Stacey Tompkins, Secretary; and Christine McCabe, Treasurer. As the BRI prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2026, the episode looks back at the organization’s evolution and ahead to its priorities for the year to com...

In this episode of Building Knowledge , we sit down with Michael Fazio, Executive Director of the New York State Builders Association (NYSBA), to review the key issues shaping the building and construction industry as 2025 comes to a close. Michael shares insights on the significant victory NYSBA achieved in its legal challenge to New York State’s All-Electric Code Amendments, ongoing obstacles to...

In Episode 99 of Building Knowledge , we take a deep dive into Welcome Home Westchester’s newly released Municipal Housing Policy Scorecards—and what they mean for the future of housing across Westchester County. Joining us once again is Sarah Tavares, Campaign Organizer for Welcome Home Westchester, returning to the podcast after her previous appearance on Episode 84. Sarah breaks down the Decemb...

As winter approaches, keeping your property secure becomes more important than ever. In Episode 98 of Building Knowledge , we sit down with Thad McKeown, Director of Sales at Integrated Protection Services in Darien, Conn., and our go-to expert on security trends and products. Thad shares critical insights for building owners, managers, and homeowners, covering: Key security considerations for res...

Episode 97 of Building Knowledge takes a deep dive into the Hudson Valley’s real estate sales markets with special guest Vlora Sejdi , President of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR), marking her first appearance on the podcast. Vlora breaks down what the latest OneKey Multiple Listing Service data reveals about sales activity, pricing, and market conditions across Westchester, Putn...

This episode of Building Knowledge —recorded live at the BRI’s November 20, 2025 General Membership Meeting—features a special conversation with Westchester County Legislators Benjamin Boykin II and Catherine Parker as they complete their twelfth and final year on the Board of Legislators. They reflect on the biggest wins and toughest challenges in their districts, the accomplishments they’re most...

In this episode of Building Knowledge , we sit down with George Asante, the inaugural Director of Westchester County’s new Office of Housing Counsel, for his first-ever appearance on the show. He walks us through why the county created the office, how he stepped into the role, and what services it now offers tenants and landlords navigating today’s challenging housing landscape. We explore how res...

In this episode of Building Knowledge , we take a deep dive into what really happens when disaster hits a home or building. Joining us are Jeff Stillman and Mitch Berliner, Co-Owners of Rainbow Restoration of Westchester. While it’s Jeff’s first time on the show, Mitch is no stranger to our audience — he was a regular voice back in our WVOX days from 2017 to 2023. Together, they walk us through th...

In this episode of Building Knowledge , we dive into smart, strategic advertising for the 2025 holiday season—and how businesses can tee up strong marketing plans for 2026. Our guest is the always-insightful Michael Dardano, principal of The Buzz Potential in Tuckahoe and a longtime friend of the program. Michael breaks down what companies should prioritize as they shape their holiday campaigns, f...

The Hudson Valley Women in Construction group has quickly become one of the Building and Realty Institute’s most dynamic and fast-growing affiliates. In this episode, hosts sit down with two of its leaders — Stacey Tompkins and Jane Anne Cavallaro — to discuss how the group was formed, what drives its mission, and how it’s empowering women across all sectors of the building and construction indust...