REBNY’s Most Promising Commercial Salesperson of the Year

The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) named Cooper Katz of ABS Partners Real Estate Most Promising Commercial Salesperson of the Year during the REBNY Members’ Luncheon on December 5, 2024.  The award recognizes Cooper’s impressive achievements and the notable impact he has made in the industry in under five years. Claire Koeppel of Newmark was also an award recipient.

Gregg Schenker, President and Co-Managing Partner of ABS says ‘Cooper is thoughtful, kind, hardworking, and above all an ethical and honorable person… one of a small group of future leaders in the NYC commercial real estate industry. I consider it a pleasure to work alongside Cooper, collaborating and sharing ideas; I look forward to the day when Cooper will be named an ABS partner.’

Above L/R: Gregg Schenker – President & Co-Managing Partner, Steven Hornstock – Co-Managing Partner, Cooper Katz – Executive Director, Mark Tergesen – Partner, Jason Fein – Partner

Cooper began his career at ABS as an intern the summer before his senior year at Franklin & Marshall College, where he earned his BA. Rather than take a year off after graduating, Co-managing Partner Peter Burack notes how Cooper received his broker’s license before finishing college to start at ABS that summer, saying ‘I have known Cooper almost his entire life, and am extremely proud of everything he has accomplished.’ Cooper’s mentor, ABS Partner Mark Tergesen, recalls that even as an intern, brokers and tenants remarked at how much they enjoyed working with him. ‘His appetite to learn continues to grow, and his reliability has never wavered,’ says Mr. Tergesen, ‘I am thrilled to have watched Cooper become a leader in the industry, and to come to work with him every day.’

Upon joining ABS in 2019, Cooper hit the ground running and was part of over 10 deals in his first six months. He was named one of Commercial Observers’ “30 Under 30” for 2022. Cooper has quickly advanced his career, rising from Associate to Associate Director, then to Senior Managing Director, becoming Executive Director in November 2024.  Clients who have worked with Cooper have praised his honest and thoughtful opinions about market conditions, and Property Owners have praised his knowledge of the Food & Beverage market. His incisive screening of potential tenants for their credit worthiness and how they might add or detract from a property’s overall value make him a first-class representative for Ownership.

Within his first five years at ABS, Cooper has demonstrated an innate ability to negotiate favorable terms, and his attention to detail, proactivity, and ability to lead effective team collaboration with all parties has led him to closing over 150 successful deals. These have included industrial, retail condo sales, and numerous leases to retail, food and beverage, schools, and healthcare providers. It is noteworthy that Cooper achieved so much during the Covid pandemic, arguably the most  challenging retail market conditions the Industry has faced for generations.

Working with one of ABS’s major Landlord Partners, for example, Cooper was instrumental in leasing retail space at their properties in the Bronx, and in Brooklyn where 2,000 SF was leased at 100 Jay Street which Tutu School will occupy. He was instrumental in representing a large dermatology practice, where his skilled negotiations resulted in eight successful leases in all boroughs across over 9,000 SF of  retail space within the competitive NYC Metro Market. In Manhattan, he leased 8,200 SF in the landmarked 547 Broadway building to high-end clothing retailers Abercrombie and Fitch, and Arc’teryx. Through a two-year process, Cooper was again able to lease over 10,000 SF at 110 University place, successfully leasing six stores that favorably suited a property with a residential condominium above and a parking garage below. Cooper is also actively involved with the Gersh Academy, a unique, K-12 school for autistic children, with their site selection and real estate needs, often donating his time to consulting on the real estate needs for this globally renowned school. 

Steven Hornstock, Co-Managing Partner at ABS comments ‘We are incredibly proud of Cooper’s accomplishments. He is a deserving recipient of this prestigious award, and we look forward to continued collaborations with him.’ ‘I could not be more proud of Cooper on this prestigious REBNY award,’ says ABS Partner Alan Cohen,  ‘His work ethic, his dedication to ABS & his clients is admirable and should be an inspiration for other young Real Estate professionals to follow. Working alongside Cooper has been a wonderful experience, and I look forward to working with him for many years to come.’  

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