Donald Capoccia is the managing principal and founder of BFC Partners, a real estate development company that has been involved in the planning, development and construction of some 3000 units of housing in New York City with a combined value of $2.5B. His projects also include approximately 200,000SF of neighborhood retail and community facility uses. Don began his development and construction activities in New York City in 1982, just prior to the completion of a Masters Degree Program in Urban Planning at Hunter College, and after completing a BA in Urban Studies from the University of Buffalo in 1979.

Don and BFC have focused predominately on the production of affordable housing, investing in a concentrated geographic strategy that has helped spur the resurgence of key New York City neighborhoods; the East Village, East Harlem, Williamsburg and Downtown Brooklyn. In each of these neighborhoods, Don planned the use of governmental programs in tandem with rising market interest to develop and build thousands of middle-income condominiums and cooperatives in close proximity to a significant number of mixed-income BFC rental projects. Don has pioneered the production, and promoted the importance of affordable home ownership opportunities to these neighborhoods in particular, and the City of New York in general, and in doing so has shown the strong connection between the retention of an employee base and the availability of affordable housing.

In addition to his work as an active NYC builder, Don has had substantial involvement with the arts, architecture and urban planning issues as they impact New York City, New York State and Washington, DC.

President George W. Bush appointed Don as a Member of the US Commission of Fine Arts in July 2001, where he served as Vice Chairman of The Commission of Fine Arts until February 2004. The Commission of Fine Arts was established by Congress in 1910 as an independent agency to advise the Federal and District of Columbia governments on matters of art and architecture that affect the appearance of the nation's capital. The Commission's primary role is to advise on proposed public building projects, including public buildings and grounds of major importance, and projects in the Historic District of Georgetown.

Don has recently been appointed by Governor George E. Pataki to the Board of Directors of the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corp (GIPEC). GIPEC was established by the City and State of New York to plan for the re-use and development of Governors Island, a 162-acre, former Coast Guard facility located in the New York Harbor.

Don also serves as a Member of the New York State Council on the Arts. He was appointed by Governor George Pataki in 1998. The Council reviews and approves funding requests from cultural organizations across NYS, including museums, symphony orchestras, dance companies, theatres and libraries. Don's personal focus as a Council Member has involved the impact of arts funding on the economic health and development of emerging neighborhoods and distressed urban communities.

Until recently, Don was a member of the Board of Directors of the United Nations Development Corp., a joint NYC/NYS public benefit corporation with responsibly in assisting the United Nations community in the management of, and planning for office space, hotel accommodations, appropriate housing and other essential facilities located in close proximity to the UN headquarters.

Don is also involved in numerous industry related organizations. He is co-founder and Vice President of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing, a trade organization representing the interest of for-profit builders of Affordable Housing across NYS. Don currently serves as a Director of the Real Estate Board of New York, the Rent Stabilization Board, and the Associated Builders and Owners of Greater New York. He also serves on the Board of Directors of amfAR (American Foundation of Aids Research), The Public Policy Committee of the Lincoln Center, Inc. Board of Directors, The National Building Museum and LaMama Experimental Theatre, Inc, a NYC based, world renowned, cultural organization that produces and presents original performance work by artists of all nations and cultures. Don has been a committed and long standing supporter of a number of non-profit, national and NYC based organizations which focus on issues ranging from Affordable Housing production policy, to HIV-AIDS research to arts and their impact on NYC.

Rob Morea came to New York City 20 years ago, attracted by the cultural diversity and energy of the city. During this time he has lived in several neighborhoods throughout the city and has cultivated a knowledge and understanding of the pulse of these neighborhoods.

Rob's real estate career began as a result of his experiences as a renter, owner and seller of his own apartments. He navigated the ins and outs of the real estate process and experienced his share of ups and downs through these various transactions. From this perspective, Rob realized there was an opportunity to better serve clients' needs and help them achieve their real estate goals as smoothly as possible.

Rob's highly successful business in the health and fitness industry (with a client base including CEO's, Real Estate Developers, writers and actors) allowed him to hone his communications and relationship-building skills, uncover personal needs and wants, and formulate unique pathways to motivate them in the achievement of their personal goals. Clients frequently acknowledged Rob for his integrity, patience, commitment to their success and superior listening skills. This was excellent preparation for his real estate endeavor.

Rob has parlayed these experiences into a partnership with Don Capoccia, one of New York's most established real estate developers, who exposed him to the commercial, residential and development side of the real estate industry and is his mentor.

Rob is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York-REBNY and has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Delaware.

Steve Lischin came to New York City 25 years ago to work in the health and wellness industry. After completing his Master’s of Science degree from the University of Bridgeport he developed a successful fitness & nutrition business, aligning him with clients (including celebrities, professional athletes, and CEO’s and executives in every aspect of finance) in the highest level of their fields.

While pursuing his health and wellness endeavor Steve also gained experience as a property manager, beginning as a superintendent for 8 buildings containing both commercial and residential units. This has made him familiar with all of the “behind the scenes” issues relating to properties including building systems, local codes, and repairs and maintenance. In addition, Steve has successfully managed construction projects and renovations, and has worked closely with coop/condo boards, contractors, architects, engineers and city agencies.

Property management and personal experience in owning and renting in several different neighborhoods has given Steve a broad perspective on New York City’s unique real estate market, piquing his interest and motivating him to become a licensed real estate agent.

Steve and his wife of 20 years have elected to raise their 2 young children on Manhattan’s Lower East Side for its community and cultural diversity. As a New York City parent himself, Steve is keenly aware of a family’s needs and can guide you through the maze of tough choices when selecting appropriate neighborhoods and properties best suited to your requirements.

Some of Steve’s other professional experience includes extensive public speaking on health, wellness and lifestyle change, and teaching select courses for the City University of New York (CUNY). He has the energy, work ethic, patience and exceptional listening skills that are essential for providing clients with the highly personalized service that Great Jones Realty is known for.

Originally from New Jersey, Kayla ventured to the West Coast to attend UCLA. She spent the next 10 years living in Los Angeles, working as an actor on numerous television shows. Eventually, Kayla missed the diversity and adventure of New York City so she returned to her East Coast roots 3 years ago.

Settling in to the city, Kayla lived in several different neighborhoods throughout Manhattan familiarizing herself with all the complexities of New York City living. As both a renter and then an owner, she got a taste for New York real estate. Incorporating all the skills she honed as an actor – being a good listener, working well with many different types of people, and understanding people’s needs - Kayla dived into a career in real estate. This had been an interest to Kayla for years and she was finally able to parlay that into a career.

Working with renters, buyers, and sellers Kayla continues to help clients fulfill their real estate goals throughout New York.