Brett Rovner
Director, The Ashtin Group, Inc.
New York, NY 10016
Phone (212) 271-0278
Property Types
Land, Office, Retail, Multi-Family
Markets
Long Island (New York), New York City
Bio
Brett Rovner, a commercial real estate industry professional who began his career at Helmsley Spear in 1992, has been named Director of The Ashtin Group, Inc. The Ashtin Group is the new commercial arm of AKAM Living Services, (www.akam.com), one of New York City’s and southern Florida’s most prominent providers of property management services. Mr. Rovner’s immediate focus will be new business development, commercial leasing, and oversight of existing properties within The Ashtin Group’s portfolio.
The announcement was made by Leslie Kaminoff, Chief Executive Officer of AKAM Living Services, who said, “We are delighted that Brett has joined The Ashtin Group. He has the strong leadership skills, experience, and know-how needed to grow the commercial arm of our business, which we launched only six months ago with the mandate to bring the same level of management services to office properties that we offer to triple ‘A’ residential condominiums and coops. An exceptional negotiator, with a legal background, Brett is an ideal fit for our culture and we are confident he will be very successful in expanding The Ashtin Group’s foothold in the commercial property management sector both in the New York City and Florida markets.”
Prior to joining The Ashtin Group, Mr. Rovner was a partner in Seven Jems Realty Group, a company that specialized in leasing, acquisitions/dispositions and the management of commercial properties
Starting in real estate as a leasing manager with Helmsley Spear in the early 90’s, Mr. Rovner learned the business from such industry icons as Helmsely’s Dan North, John Trainor, Irving Schneider, and Peter Malkin of W&H Properties. Ultimately he ascended to the title of Director of Leasing for Helmsley. One of his most distinctive transactions was closing the very first deal at Rockefeller Center after the takeover by Tishman Speyer. The tenant was Kelly Music & Entertainment Group.
During his career, Mr. Rovner transacted more than two million square feet of office and retail leases throughout the Greater New York City metro area. Among the most notable of clients he represented were Al Roker Productions, Bon Jovi Management, The Gap, Pottery Barn, Krispy Kreme, Ozzy Osbourne Management, Westside Chamber of Commerce, Franchise Tax Board of California, and H & R Block.
“As I faced a crossroads in my professional life, I knew I wanted to be part of an organization where I could build something significant, be creative, and make a difference,” said Mr. Rovner. “I was extremely impressed when I met Leslie and truly admire his accomplishments in founding and growing the AKAM Living Services companies into the major force it is today –
unquestionably one of the region’s leading property management companies. I was immediately captivated by the energy and enthusiasm of the AKAM culture and am thoroughly convinced that the time is absolutely right to introduce a whole new level of ‘managed care’ to commercial properties.”
Mr. Rovner gained celebrity attention in 1995 by making a one-minute movie proposing marriage to his wife Stacey, a film that he arranged to have shown during the previews at Loews Theatre, Roosevelt Field in New York. The New York Post covered the event calling it “A Decent Proposal,” which resulted in the couple being featured on the Sally Jessy Raphael Show, A Current Affair, and The John Grambling Show, in addition to obtaining coverage on all the national network news stations, which hailed the short as one of the most romantic marriage proposals of all time.
Mr. Rovner attended law school at Hofstra University and earned a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, Long Island. He is a volunteer coach for Little League baseball, Nassau Titans Travel NCYAA Baseball, PAL Lacrosse, CYO Basketball, and Lynbrook Roller Hockey. He gives of his time to the Garden of Dreams Foundation, which helps grant sick and underprivileged children their wishes through a partnership with Madison Square Garden.
He is married with four children and resides on Long Island.
