2:00 PM
Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF) is pleased to announce that esteemed commercial real estate professional Steve Levitas has joined the firm as vice chairman. Bringing nearly 20 years of industry experience, Levitas joins NGKF’s Chicago office with a focus on providing the highest level of tenant representation to clients on a local, national and global scale.
Prior to joining NGKF, Levitas served as a principal at Colliers International and spent the past ten years specializing in tenant representation and occupier services. His real estate career began in 1998 with The John Buck Company’s Strategic Advisory Group, where he developed extensive knowledge in developer pro-forma construction and financing requirements. Throughout his career, Levitas gained substantial experience in all aspects of real estate advisory work including tenant workplace strategy and corporate relocations. He brings specific expertise in the sophisticated decision metrics and financial analysis that is common in advance of lease negotiations that involve combining client enterprise objectives with their real estate. Levitas has orchestrated the leasing of nearly nine million square feet with transaction values in excess of $4 billion.
“Steve is a consummate professional whose pristine reputation among landlords and tenant clients alike makes him an exceptional hire,” said Michael Sheinkop, president of brokerage services. “Clients quickly engage Steve because he is known for providing unconditional representation. His approach to assessing each company’s unique physical and financial occupancy requirements is a skill set we eagerly embrace for all of NGKF’s discerning customers.”
NGKF also recently hired distinguished commercial real estate producer Bob Chodos to join the Chicago office as executive vice chairman. Chodos and Levitas had worked together before arriving at NGKF and are both considered elite tenant representation professionals in the Midwest.
“NGKF has been very active in attracting senior-level talent in all of our core cities. Steve’s decision to join NGKF reflects a central belief about the direction of the firm and our ability to evolve with the ever-changing landscape for CRE service delivery,” said Sheinkop. “Steve and Bob will become a catalyst for our commitment to further expand in the coming year. Together, their expertise locally will also benefit our national pursuits as NGKF continues to represent multimarket accounts. Bringing Steve and Bob over together is ideal for us and we look forward to seeing the two of them enjoy unparalleled success at NGKF.”
“I’m thrilled to be joining such a reputable organization that offers a distinctive platform,” said Levitas. “Bob and I have worked with NGKF’s professionals in the past and we’re excited about the opportunity to join this collaborative and entrepreneurial team with a track record for success.”
Levitas has earned many notable achievements throughout his career, which include winning the NAIOP Downtown Office Transaction of the Year award in 2012, as well as the Suburban Office Transaction of the Year award in 2005. He was also selected as a finalist for Chicago Office Broker of the Year award in 2006.
Levitas is active in numerous professional and charitable endeavors. He is a member of the board of directors for Junior Achievement of Chicago, a non-profit organization that seeks to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in today’s global economy. In addition, he is an active member of Chicago Office Leasing Brokers Association (COLBA) and CoreNet Global.
About Newmark Grubb Knight Frank
Newmark Grubb Knight Frank is one of the world’s leading commercial real estate advisory firms. Together with London-based partner Knight Frank and independently-owned offices, NGKF’s 12,800 professionals operate from more than 370 offices in established and emerging property markets on six continents.
With roots dating back to 1929, NGKF’s strong foundation makes it one of the most trusted names in commercial real estate. NGKF’s full-service platform comprises BGC’s real estate services segment, offering commercial real estate tenants, landlords, investors and developers a wide range of services including leasing; capital markets services, including investment sales, debt placement, appraisal, and valuation services; commercial mortgage brokerage services; as well as corporate advisory services, consulting, project and development management, and property and corporate facilities management services. For further information, visit www.ngkf.com.
NGKF is a part of BGC Partners, Inc., a leading global brokerage company servicing the financial and real estate markets. BGC’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol (NASDAQ: BGCP). BGC also has an outstanding bond issuance of Senior Notes due June 15, 2042, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol (NYSE: BGCA). BGC Partners is led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Howard W. Lutnick. For more information, please visit www.bgcpartners.com.