The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The Society’s mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Gift Of Life Bone Marrow Foundation

The Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation facilitates bone marrow, blood stem cell and umbilical cord blood transplants for children and adults suffering from life-threatening illnesses. The Gift of Life is an associate donor registry of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and a participating member of the worldwide registry Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide.

Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a leading international, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the diversity of life on Earth. The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive

The Rusk Institute

The Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, an integral component of New York University Medical Center, is the world’s first facility devoted entirely to rehabilitation medicine. Founded in 1948 by Dr. Howard A. Rusk, the Rusk Institute is the largest university-affiliated center for the treatment of adults and children with disabilities, as well as for research and training in rehabilitation medicine.

Island Harvest

Island Harvest’s mission is to reduce food waste and end hunger on Long Island. Since 1992, Island Harvest has been serving as the bridge between those who have excess food and those who need it. A trained corps of dedicated volunteer’s rescue surplus food from local restaurants and delis and collect canned and packaged foods from collection campaigns, which are then distributed to the hungry.

American Airpower Museum

The American Airpower Museum (AAM) at Republic Airport has flown its squadron of operational World War II aircraft for the past decade for the purpose of paying tribute to the men and women who have defended our freedoms.

Edward Blumenfeld

Edward Blumenfeld is President, Founder, and the creative force behind Blumenfeld Development Group (“BDG”). Under Mr. Blumenfeld’s direction, BDG has become an industry leading Development firm that specializes in converting underutilized real estate into vibrant, innovative, progressive space that meets the economic and social needs of the community.

Mr. Blumenfeld has sought to improve the quality of life within his community by bringing his energy, insight and personal commitment to a broad range of charitable efforts. He is a founding member of the Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI).  He remains a strong and effective advocate on issues relating to education, the environment, child healthcare, responsible government and sustainable development.

As a founding member of the Schneider (now Cohen) Children’s Hospital, Mr. Blumenfeld has worked over three decades to sponsor a unique brand of care based on the special needs of young patients, care that has won international recognition. He has been an ardent supporter of the hospital since its inception and further confirmed his commitment to its continued success by spearheading the expansion of the Hospital campus to include the Blumenfeld Center for Pediatric Medicine.

Mr. Blumenfeld has also taken a leadership role in honoring the region’s veterans and active duty military personnel through his philanthropic support of the award winning American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport.

Through his many undertakings, Ed Blumenfeld has literally and figuratively built a better Long Island.

Mr. Blumenfeld created BDG in 1978, when he undertook the redevelopment of the North Shore Atrium, a 300,000 square foot building that BDG converted from a Grumman aircraft manufacturing plant to the first office facility on Long Island to incorporate a restaurant, conference area, fitness center, and retail shops on premises. Mr. Blumenfeld has carried the same innovative and pioneering vision to every BDG project since.

A dramatic example of this approach toward redevelopment involved the expansion and conversion of Bulova Watch Corporation’s 250,000 square foot manufacturing plant into a 480,000 square foot Class A office facility, anchored by British Airways’ corporate headquarters. Renamed Bulova Corporate Center, this project won numerous design awards and with its art deco details rescued and restored by Mr. Blumenfeld, it is considered BDG’s flagship project.

In the early 1990’s, BDG expanded into the retail sector, largely in historically disadvantaged communities such as east Harlem that had long been ignored by his development peers. These projects have been satisfying financially and sociologically, as the increased choice and lowered costs that these operations generate have raised standards of living in neighboring communities. Gotham Plaza and East River Plaza are two examples of BDG projects that helped energize and revitalize communities. Mr. Blumenfeld feels a moral obligation to improve BDG’s communities, and does so by supporting local charities, donating playing fields, and producing artistic, cultural, and educational events. Mr. Blumenfeld continues to bring his expertise and creativity to new neighborhoods through an array of Sustainable Projects such as The Arches in Deer Park, that remain sensitive to the communities they serve while strengthening local economies.

Mr. Blumenfeld attended Hofstra University, Uniondale, New York

Affiliations

  • Founder and Past President of the Board of Directors, Association for a Better Long Island
  • Member of the Board of Directors, Gift of Life
  • Founder/Past President, Children’s Medical Fund- Men’s Division, Schneider (now Cohen) Children’s Hospital
  • Board of Overseers, Northwell Health
  • Former Member of the Board of Directors, RPS Realty Trust
  • Former Member of Planning Board, Village of Roslyn Estates
  • Former Member of Advisory Board, University of Pennsylvania- Wharton Real Estate Center

Susan Blumenfeld

The president and founder of Susan Blumenfeld Interiors (SBI), Susan specializes in interior commercial design and has successfully completed tenant installations for a variety of clients including, Eastern Paralyzed Veteran’s Association, MCA Music Corporation, Universal Music Group, New York Life Insurance Company, Inc., Vicon Industries, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Wang Laboratories, Inc. Gloria Vanderbilt, Fred Perry, CIGNA and Prince Spaghetti.

Aside from her prolific tenant interior design work, SBI has been instrumental in coordination with BDG of many of BDG’s construction projects, including designing the interior and exterior of the firm’s headquarters at 300 Robbins Lane, The Arches at Deer Park, Gotham Plaza, Bulova Corporate Center, 1800 Walt Whitman Road, 500 Bi-County Blvd, 125 East Bethpage Road, 3001 Expressway Drive, 121 Broad Hollow Road and 135 Maxess Road.

David Blumenfeld

David, a Principal of the Blumenfeld Development Group and has been the driving force behind many of the company’s high profile projects, including the acquisition and development of East River Plaza in Manhattan and The Arches at Deer Park.  East River Plaza is an innovative, vertical, urban power-center that is often cited as being the spark that ignited the revitalization of upper Manhattan.  The Arches is an 800,000-square foot, hybrid/lifestyle center and Long Island’s first green retail development that combines discount and outlet shopping with entertainment and restaurant uses.

In addition to this role, David also serves as president of BDG Construction Corp., where he actively manages the construction process on a majority of BDG’s projects.

David, who studied at the University of Michigan, spent three years as a Project Manager at RC Dolner Construction Corp. before joining BDG.

David is also active in community activities, serving as a Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Children’s Medical Fund of New York, as Treasurer for the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, and as Trustee for both Northwell Health (formerly North Shore-LIJ) and The NYC Police Museum.

Brad Blumenfeld

Brad Blumenfeld has been instrumental in leading BDG expand within its core market, and industry sectors.  Brad, who joined the firm in 1995, has secured acquisitions, spearheaded development programs as well as leasing and financing efforts for a number of properties in BDG’s five-million square foot portfolio that that is concentrated in and around the Metro New York market.  Recently Brad has focused on the growing BDG’s industrial, medical office and self-storage portfolio. He spearheaded the acquisition of 1080 Leggett Avenue in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx in partnership with Goldman Sachs, 99-01 Queens Boulevard in Rego Park, and 71 Jane Street in Roslyn.

Brad is also active in the real estate community having served as a past President of the Building Owners and Managers Association-Long Island, and has been selected to be a leader on a number of industry related task forces.

Brad graduated magna cum laude from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in real estate and entrepreneurial management.

Affiliations

  • Board of Directors – Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
  • Board of Directors – Children’s Medical Fund of New York
  • Board of Trustees – Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Foundation
  • Member – Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Foundation Property Committee
  • Member – Suffolk County Wastewater Treatment Task Force
  • Member – Nassau County Executive’s Tax Force for Real Estate Assessment & Real Estate Tax Reform
  • Member – Association for a Better Long Island

Jonathan E. Cohen

For the past two decades, Jonathan Eric Cohen has been an integral part of BDG as the firm has transitioned from focusing predominantly on the local office and industrial markets and expanded its geographic reach up and down the East Coast while making the retail sector one of its primary asset classes.

Cohen, who joined BDG in 1985, is a vice president and has orchestrated several large-scale development projects, overseeing the entire development process from acquisition through development to stabilization.

His more notable achievements include the development of five major retail centers: Nichols Plaza, a 500,000-square foot retail development location in South Setauket; the BJ’s Wholesale Club/United Artists Theater complex located on a spacious 30-acre expanse in Westbury; the Bricktown Center, a 400,000-square foot retail, power-center that was recently completed in Staten Island; the Lake Grove Commons, the redevelopment of a 165,000-sports entertainment facility in Lake Grove into a retail center that will include a 65,000-square foot L.A. Fitness facility and a 59,000 square foot Whole Foods Store currently under development; and Gatlin Plaza, a 90-acre development project also under construction in Port St. Lucie, Florida which will contain a Home Depot and Kohl’s among other national tenants.

Cohen, who studied at the University of Michigan, also serves as the director of leasing for BDG’s stabilized office portfolio where he manages all tenant renewals and relocations, and new tenant leases.

Anthony Galu

Anthony’s career in the construction industry expands over 25 years. He joined BDG Construction Corp., the construction arm of Blumenfeld Development Group in 1989. During this time he has supervised tenant installations exceeding $15 million for such prestigious firms as MCA Records, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, North Fork Bank, Office Depot and Regal Cinemas, formerly United Artists. This works includes tenant fit outs of up to 100,000 square feet and site development up to 40 acres. Anthony negotiated contracts and functioned as a liaison between engineers, architects, designers and subcontractors for such tenants as Universal Music Group and New York State Department of Corrections. In 2004, Anthony worked on the build out of BDG’s corporate offices, retrofitting neglected warehouse space into 30,000 square feet of exclusive office space. From May 2005 thru December 2007, Anthony acted as an owner’s representative for Wonder Works Construction Corp. in New York City. Wonder Works is an owner / builder of high-end luxury condominiums. His was involved in approximately 500 units in all phases of construction, ranging from conceptual design development, construction, C of O and sales of the units. In December of 2007, Anthony rejoined BDG Construction, where has used his expertise to oversee the site coordination for major retailers such as Home Depot, Target, Best Buy, Whole Foods Market, LifeTime Fitness and LA Fitness and is currently working on major redevelopments and new construction in the New York City Area.

David Kaplan

David Kaplan serves as General Counsel and Vice President of Blumenfeld Development Group, Ltd.  Mr. Kaplan has more than 18 years of experience in the real estate industry.  In his capacity he is involved in many aspects of the Company’s business and is responsible for all legal matters for the Company as well as management of outside counsel relationships.  Mr. Kaplan specializes in real estate transactional matters, including development, financing, leasing, acquisitions/dispositions and joint ventures. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Kaplan practiced in the corporate department of international law firm White & Case, where he specialized in equipment leasing and corporate finance. Mr. Kaplan is admitted to the Bar of the State of New York and is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the Nassau County Bar Association and the International Council of Shopping Centers. Mr. Kaplan received his Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University in 1986 and his Juris Doctor from Fordham Law School in 1989.

Kfir Ribak

Kfir Ribak has over a decade of experience in the real estate industry. Prior to joining BDG, he served as the CFO of HAP Investments, an international real estate development company headquartered in New York. During his tenure there, Mr. Ribak was responsible for all of the company’s financial related functions, including accounting and reporting, cash flow management, negotiating debt transactions and tracking and maintaining operating budgets for the company’s real estate portfolio.

In addition, Mr. Ribak previously served as a partner at Citrin Cooperman , a nationally ranked accounting firm, where he advised developers, shopping centers, and multi-family home builders on a variety of accounting, business, and tax issues.

Mr. Ribak earned his B.S. in Accounting from Brooklyn College and holds a Certified Public Accountant license in the State of New York.