The 20 Rising Stars of Real Estate 2008 - (Page 11) 1. ROBBIE ANTONIO Founder and President Antonio Development, New York Age: 30 Education: Northwestern University (B.A. in Economics); Stanford Graduate School of Business (M.B.A.) Mentor: Jose Eduardo Antonio, Chairman, Antonio Group of Companies, and Philippine ambassador to China A second generation real estate developer, Antonio launched his own firm - Antonio Development, the real estate development arm of the Antonio Group of Companies in 2005 to focus on super-luxury projects in the most recognized U.S. submarkets. “Real estate has been in my DNA pretty much since I have been in my mid-teens,” Antonio said, attributing that to his father’s mentoring. In 2007, Antonio Development acquired a 110,000-square-foot parcel in New York City’s Plaza District for the development of The Centurion, a residential project being built in partnership with Stillman Development International and designed by architect I.M. Pei. The project represents the first groundup residential development in more than 20 years on the Fifth Avenue corridor between Saks Fifth Avenue and Central Park. Antonio Development always puts its own equity into developments, Antonio noted, adding that the challenges come in acquiring sites, such as the Plaza site in Manhattan for The Centurion project. Successfully obtaining the site was the result of a combination of factors, including demonstrating an ability to obtain financing, bringing on a renowned MARCH 2008 1. ROBBIE ANTONIO architect and establishing that the development project itself would contribute to the community. “It took a lot of convincing,” he added. Besides overseeing his own firm, Antonio serves as a board member for the Antonio Group of Companies - one of the largest private real estate groups in Asia - and structured its deal for an 8.5 millionsquare-foot mixed-use development at Century City, which is the last remaining parcel of undeveloped land in Manila’s central business district. He also serves on the board of directors for the J. Antonio Foundation, the Antonio family’s corporate social responsibility arm, which promotes better health and social welfare, a clean environment and quality education in the Philippines. Looking forward, Antonio is expanding his company’s focus to South America and Europe. “I’m personally spearheading the global strategy,” he said, adding that he is leading a team of five in the initiative. 2. GREGORY BELEW 2. GREGORY BELEW Founding Partner Fifth Square Partners, New York Age: 36 Education: Southern Methodist University (B.B.A. in Finance and Real Estate); Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (M.B.A. in Finance) Mentors: Hugh Finnegan, Partner, Sullivan & Worcester; Peter Linneman, Professor of Real Estate, Wharton School; Asuka Nakahara, Professor of Real Estate, Wharton School “I did an internship with a commercial brokerage company in college and was hooked,” Belew said, describing the inspiration that led him into real estate. “The concept of developing and investing in tangible assets that are going to be a REAL ESTATE RISING STARS 11
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