On May 7, at the 36th REBNY Residential Deal of the Year Benefit & Celebration, professionals from New York City’s residential real estate community came together to celebrate the cream of the crop. The event that is held annually shines the spotlight on the most noteworthy deals and professionals in the real estate industry, and also drives donations for the REBNY Residential Member in Need Fund.
The REBNY event takes place at Guastavino’s in Midtown Manhattan, with Dave Price from WNBC hosting the event. REBNY President James Whelan delivered the opening remarks.
Highlights
- REBNY’s 36th Residential Deal of the Year Benefit & Celebration took place on May 7.
- Awards were presented to professionals recognized for their resilience, commitment, professionalism, and service.
- The event also served as a fundraiser for the REBNY or Residential Member in Need Fund.
REBNY Honors the Best in Residential Brokerage
The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) recognized the resilience and ingenuity of brokers who navigated high-stakes and emotionally challenging deals with professionalism in 2025.
The REBNY Residential Member in Need Fund Committee was the organizer for the event. REBNY’s Residential Committee Co-Chairs, Residential Advisory Board, and Residential Ethics Committee gave the recommendations for this year’s awardees.
Awards Recognize Outstanding Residential Brokerage Professionals
The Residential Sales Deal of the Year Award is REBNY’s highest honor. This year, the first place for this award was given to Paul Devlin of Brown Harris Stevens. The award was a show of appreciation for his year-long efforts to help out a retired nurse secure a more affordable housing option for herself.
The second place in the Residential Sales Deal of the Year category went to Maryann Johnson, Anthony-Michael Alexander, and Sarah Buff of Brown Harris Stevens. They were recognized for their handling of a complicated deal that arose after the demise of one of their colleagues. The third place was offered to Jeffrey St. Arromand of Serhant and Marlene Burns of Compass.
Another highlight of the evening was the Residential Rental Deal of the Year Award. This year, Jessica Cloonan of Corcoran was given the award. Cloonan received the award for uncovering a rental scam involving a fraudster impersonating another individual. She worked with the NYPD to arrest the alleged impersonator, who at one point locked themselves up in the apartment.
Other awards of the night included the Residential Agent of the Year Award, which was presented to Brian Phillips of Douglas Elliman Real Estate. The Residential Rookie of the Year Award was given to Josue Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Warburg.
Further, Douglas Williford, representing Brown Harris Stevens, received the esteemed Henry Forster Memorial Award. “From managing and training agents to developing strategic initiatives, he has continuously demonstrated an unwavering commitment to helping others succeed,” an official statement that spoke about Williford’s contributions said.
The Eileen Spinola Award for Distinguished Service was conferred upon Sarah Saltzberg of Bohemia Realty Group. According to the award announcement, “A passionate advocate for fair housing and ethical practice, Sarah has led critical conversations on broker rights, compensation, and the implications of legislation like the FARE Act.”
A Helping Hand Offered to Struggling Members
The REBNY Residential Member in Need Fund received considerable support from the attendees of the celebration on May 7, who could make their contributions via a displayed QR code. The fund will be granted to members facing hardships. Over its history, the fund has provided more than $1 million in support to struggling real estate professionals in NYC.
