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Rick Kaplan Host of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Luis Mendonca of Elite Wellness Amenity Group. www.elitewellnessamenitygroup.com

Luis CEO of Elite Wellness Amenity Group, and my work is very hands-on. I spend my time inside buildings, talking to residents, working with property teams, and figuring out what actually gets people to use amenities and stay longer. We’re taking underused gyms and turning them into active, supported wellness spaces that create real value for owners and residents, without asking for new construction or big capital spend.

I also wrote The Elite Playbook, which came directly out of that experience and my own journey. The book is about what really drives resident retention, leadership under pressure, and building environments that put people first. I think your audience would appreciate an honest, operator-level conversation about what’s working, what isn’t, and where this space is actually headed.

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Rick Kaplan host of the NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviewsTallal Bhutta of BDB Construction Enterprises. www.bdbenterprises.com

To raise awareness of the benefits of investing in conversions of hotels to student housing, as well as offer methods for faster project delivery in New York City, including methods similar to design-build approaches. It is also a chance to talk about how to overcome the challenges of Local Law 11 projects

With academic degrees in construction management, structural and civil engineering and valuable experience with all aspects of building construction, Tallal Bhutta is founder and CEO of BDB Construction Enterprise LLC, a construction provider based on Staten Island and operating throughout the region. Steeped in his uncle's waterproofing and construction business in the late 1990s, Bhutta launched BDB in 2011 as a masonry and roofing contractor, and the company has progressively grown into a general contracting (GC) enterprise handling complex, multimillion-dollar renovation works. Recent projects by BDB include the transformation of a factory and warehouse building into a mixed-use church in the South Bronx, the 150-unit Brooklyn Watchtower housing development, renovations of a Manhattan building for Baruch College and New York University, the exterior restoration of the Renwick Hotel, as well as a 53-unit commercial conversion creating residences leased by Hunter College as student housing.

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Rick Kaplan Host of the NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Jon Hilley of 1031
Specialists www.1301Specialsits 631-438-1031.

Jon Hilley started his career at Goldman Sachs. 3 years ago, he founded 1031 Specialists, a Qualified Intermediary that facilitates 1031 exchanges for real estate investors across the country. They are growing rapidly and are already a top 10 firm in the industry.

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Rick Kaplan host of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews past co host Eric Wilson of Wallpen www.walpen.com Eric talks about the Wallpen system and and how it works, making a mural on the side of a building or the lobby of an office and many other similar applications.

I am someone who strives to do better today than yesterday and I continue that model in my everyday walk of life. I am the President of the New England Flying Disc Associaiton as well, it is 40 year old 501 c3 that has helped in funding in course installation across new England and New York.

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Rick Kaplan host of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Clay Lehman of Lehman Strategic Partners.
www.imclaylehman.com
Clay talks about how he is lifelong learner and serial entrepreneur. I have been in real estate for 20 years as a Realtor, broker, property manager, title agent, and investor. About 2 years ago, I started learning as much as I could about AI. I started Lehman Strategic Partners to help real estate professionals evaluate and improve their business development strategy as well as implement operational improvements. Clay also tells how he uses AI in his business to save time and money.

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Rick Kaplan host of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Tom Sullivan Jr. of Sullivan Construction. www.sullivanconstruction.com Tom talks about how he enjoys learning from others and contributing where I can, whether through experience, lessons learned, or simply asking the right questions. Being on a podcast feels like sitting down at a table with others who care, and that’s always worth doing.

Volunteer activities: Board member of Meals on Wheels;
Board Member of the Mary and John Elliot Charitable Foundation (Elliot Hospital); board member of Associated Builders and Contractors of NH/VT, Board Member of the Business & Industry Association

On the personal side, getting married this past fall! On the business side, rising to the role of president for Sullivan Construction this January.

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Rick Kaplan host of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Edd Hamzanlui of MassCan Capital. Edd is the founder and principal of MassCan Capital, a mission-driven real estate development firm focused on middle-income and workforce housing across Massachusetts. Over the past two decades, I’ve worked across real estate finance, architecture, construction, and development—having underwritten and managed over $4.3 billion in affordable and mixed-income housing projects nationally.

At MassCan, I’m currently leading several high-impact housing developments in Gateway Cities, including the adaptive reuse of a historic mill into 89 residential units in Fall River, and new affordable homeownership projects in Lawrence. My work blends creative deal structuring with public subsidy programs like Historic Tax Credits, HDIP, and MassHousing's CommonWealth Builder to bring supply online where it’s needed most.

I hold an MBA from Chicago Booth and two graduate degrees in construction management and architecture. I’m passionate about building attainable housing and reshaping development patterns to support inclusive growth in our cities.

I love to talk about the real challenges and opportunities in creating housing that working families can actually afford—especially in Gateway Cities. We can dive into how public incentives like Historic Tax Credits, HDIP, and the CommonWealth Builder program can unlock complex deals, the importance of zoning reform to enable more supply, and how developers can balance mission and margin. I’d also like to share real stories from projects I’m leading—what’s worked, what’s surprised me, and what local leaders and investors need to know to move the needle on housing.

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Rick Kaplan host of NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interviews Matt Combs of Erland Construction www.erland.com . Matt joined Erland in 2011 after graduating from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Engineering. I began my career in our Connecticut office, where I had the opportunity to work on two large mixed-use developments and a residential high-rise project. In 2016, I relocated to our corporate headquarters in Burlington, Massachusetts. Today, I serve as the Manager of Erland’s Advanced Technology/Life Sciences Group, where I oversee several active projects and have had the privilege of building long-standing partnerships with clients like EMD Serono. Earlier this year, I married my longtime partner, Lauren, and in my free time, I enjoy taking on home improvement projects—especially anything involving carpentry.

I’d like to use this opportunity to discuss the importance of strategic campus planning for corporate clients, with a focus on topics like master planning, long-term growth strategies, and the execution of capital projects. These types of initiatives are complex and often evolve over time, so having the right construction partner involved early in the process can make a significant difference. By engaging Erland during the planning stages, we’re able to offer valuable insights on feasibility, budgeting, phasing, and constructability—ultimately helping clients make more informed decisions that align with both their short-term needs and long-term vision. Our proactive approach not only reduces risk and unexpected costs but also ensures smoother project execution and better outcomes across the board.