Executive Leadership
Laureen Harris
President
Ms. Harris has established herself as a credible authority on tax certiorari proceedings within the State of New York. With over 30 years of experience, Ms. Harris has gained extensive trial and appellate experience, while creating legal precedent in a myriad of areas, both in terms of valuation and legal principles.
She is the past Chair and Vice Chair of the Nassau County Tax Certiorari & Condemnation Committee (1988 – 1992, 2010 – 2012) and has continued to be an active participant in the Committee. Ms. Harris is currently President of the Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI) and has been a Board Member since 1996. She is also a founding member and current President of the Institute of Real Estate at Hofstra University, an educational forum for the Long Island real estate community. She currently serves as the Downstate Chairman in Tax Certiorari and Condemnation for the New York State Bar Association.
Jan Burman
Past President
Since 1978, Jan Burman has brought a unique style and personal sensitivity to the business of real estate development. He has an insight for spotting hidden opportunities that lesser-trained eyes overlook. This adds up to consistent results: value for partners, adaptive reuse of underutilized properties and outstanding developments and portfolios for tenants and buyers. Among his successes:
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A divestiture of nearly 4 million sq. ft. of industrial properties to First Industrial Realty Trust
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The conception and development of LI’s largest independent “golden age” community to date, The Meadows
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Developer of The Bristal, a growing family of prestigious Assisted Living communities
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The purchase of the 500 acre Grumman/ US Navy aircraft manufacturing plant in Calverton, Suffolk County, Long Island, entitled for 3 million sq. ft. of industrial building
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The entitlement of nearly 3,000 homes on Long Island and in Queens
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Collaboration on the purchase and/or development of over 15 million sq. ft. of property, from Canada to Florida
Jan, also a CPA, is a founder of ABLI. He is also a former member of the Corporate Advisory Council for the School of Management at Syracuse University, from where he received his MBA. He is on the Board of the Community Development Corporation of Long Island and he is also on the Advisory Board of the Nassau County Police Department Foundation. In 2001, he was named The News Review Business Person of the Year and the Long Island Business Review Developer of the Year. He was also honored in October 2003 by the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation and in 2002 by the Jewish National Fund. And, in April of 2008, The National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education on Long Island founded “The Renee and Jan Burman Chabad Center for the Arts” at Congregation Beth Shalom in Mineola. In 2013, Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Jan to the board of The United Nations Development Corp, an entity that assists members of the UN community with real estate needs.
Board Members
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Colin Development
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Hess Associates
Edward Blumenfeld
Past President
Edward Blumenfeld is President, CEO, Founder, and creative force behind Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG). Under Mr. Blumenfeld’s direction, BDG’s has become an acknowledged leader throughout the Atlantic seaboard in that most demanding of disciplines, converting tired, obsolete, commercial real estate into vibrant, innovative, progressive space that meets the economic needs of the community.
Mr. Blumenfeld has also 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) and has served three terms as President. He remains a strong and effective advocate on issues relating to education, the environment, child healthcare and sustainable development.
Through his many undertakings, Ed Blumenfeld has literally and figuratively built a better Long Island. Mr. Blumenfeld created Blumenfeld Development Group 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. Blumenfeld has carried the same innovative and pioneering vision to every BDG project since. It is Mr. Blumenfeld’s direct efforts that have earned BDG a national reputation for converting underutilized industrial entities into viable commercial sites.
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 Blumenfeld, it is considered BDG’s flagship project.
In the early 1990’s, Mr. Blumenfeld expanded into the retail sector, largely in historically disadvantaged communities 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. 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. Into this new century, Mr. Blumenfeld continues to bring his expertise to new neighborhoods through an array of sustainable projects that remain sensitive to the communities they serve while strengthening local economies.
Mr. Blumenfeld earned his BA in 1963 from Hofstra University.
Mitchell Rechler
Past President
In a career spanning more than 30 years, Mitchell Rechler, co-managing partner of Rechler Equity Partners, has directed the management, acquisition, development and disposition of more than 25 million square feet of commercial space throughout the New York Tri-State region. With his cousin, Gregg Rechler, Mitchell manages the day-to-day operations for Rechler Equity Partners and is responsible for financing, marketing, and leasing strategies, as well as managing tenant relations for the company throughout its six million square foot portfolio.
Since 2001, Mitchell, with Gregg, has used his expertise in planning, capital markets and development to expand outside of Rechler Equity Partners to invest in retail; storage; commercial loft; hotel; industrial; and residential properties, including their new concept Greybarn Multifamily residential.
Beyond his professional commitments, Mitchell is deeply involved in many philanthropic activities. He is a board member of the Children's Medical Fund of New York, which supports Cohen Children's Hospital of Northwell Health; a board member of the Long Island Chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America; a board member of the Head Injury Association; and a former member of the Board of Trustees for the Village of Brookville, Mitchell graduated from Emory University and resides in New York City with his wife, Debbie.
Kyle Strober
Executive Director
Kyle Strober brings his years of experience and expertise from serving as U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer's Long Island Regional Director to the Association for a Better Long Island.
As Regional Director, Strober was responsible for any and all issues affecting the Long Island region. His wide range of issues included; the Bethpage plume, LIPA, LIRR, MacArthur Airport, major redevelopment projects, sewers & wastewater treatment facilities, FAA helicopter regulations, commercial & recreational fishing industries, the prescription drug epidemic and post office closures. He worked with Long Island's higher eduction and research institutions in an effort to promote developing technologies that can be commercialized and create startup companies to boost the Long Island economy. To address and rectify these issues, Strober worked side by side with the region's federal, state, town, county and village officials & agencies, large and small business leaders, labor leaders, environmentalists, and civic associations.
He earned a bachelor's degree in History from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. He currently resides in the City of Long Beach with his wife Elyse and son Henry.
