Jed Walentas, CEO of Two Trees Management, is one of New York City’s most influential real estate developers, known for transforming Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood from industrial waterfront to one of the city’s most desirable creative and residential hubs. Building on the vision of his father, David Walentas, he led marquee projects such as the Domino Sugar Refinery redevelopment on the Williamsburg waterfront—blending mixed-use design, public spaces, and architectural ambition. With a reputation for long-term, community-focused urban development, Walentas has shaped modern Brooklyn’s identity while solidifying Two Trees as a powerhouse in New York real estate.

Herbert Simon, billionaire real estate developer, is chairman emeritus of Simon Property Group, the largest shopping mall operator in the United States. Alongside his late brother Melvin, he expanded the Indianapolis-based company into a global retail real estate powerhouse, with hundreds of malls and premium outlets worldwide. Under his leadership, Simon Property Group grew into a publicly traded giant and a bellwether of the retail industry. Beyond real estate, Simon is also known as owner of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and as a philanthropist supporting education, culture, and community development.

David Walentas is the self-made real estate developer behind Two Trees Management, the Brooklyn firm that transformed Dumbo and Williamsburg from industrial decline into high-end residential and creative districts. A University of Virginia alumnus, Walentas began with a small Manhattan partnership in 1968 and leveraged $12 million to acquire nearly 2 million sq ft in Dumbo, reshaping it through bold vision and rezoning advocacy.