Mr. Nelson began his real estate career at Massey Knakal assisting Founding Partner Robert Knakal with property sales throughout New York City. Since 1998, he has been involved in the sale of more than 150 properties with an aggregate value of over $1 billion. With the exception of the Founding Partners, he has been the company's top salesperson three out of the last four years. He holds a brokerage license in New York State, Connecticut, and Massachusetts; and a salesperson license in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Nelson was presented with the Real Estate Board of New York's prestigious Most Promising Commercial Salesperson of The Year award in 2003. In early 2004, Mr. Nelson was named the youngest partner in the company's history. In 2008, he was awarded Massey Knakal's Gerald W. Bridges Award as Salesman of the Year. He has also twice received of the Louise Brause Award for Outstanding Business Development and Goodwill Promotion. Other past honors from the firm include the 2000 Richard Marcinko Award for Tenacity and Loyalty.
Currently Mr. Nelson is handling over 40 properties with an aggregate sales price of around $300,000,000. He has a dedicated team of four associates who help support his business. They include Brendan Gotch, Billy Simons, Chris Germaine and Mitchell Levine.
His noteworthy sales have included: 102-08 West 57th Street to Hilton Land Vacations for $63,000,000, 625 Broadway for $60,900,000, The Portman Portfolio for $55,000,000, and the 99 year land lease of 10-12 Bond Street valued at over $60,000,000.
His client list includes The Archdiocese of New York, Beck Street Capital, The Lefrak Organization, Magnum Management, R. A. Cohen, Related Companies, Rockrose, Time Equities, Village Care of New York, The Witkoff Group, Zeckendorf Development, as well as many private individuals.
Mr. Nelson's involvement in the real estate community is diverse. He teaches at New York University as an adjunct professor for its continuing education program. He is also a source for publications including the New York Times, New York Post, New York Magazine, Real Estate Weekly and Mann Report. He is a member, panelist and instructor for the Real Estate Board of New York, and was appointed to its Retail Stores Committee.
Mr. Nelson is also involved in the not-for-profit world. As a board member of The Catalog for Giving, which benefits 10 local charities devoted to at risk youths, he helps spearhead development. Mr. Nelson recently rang the bell for the NASDAQ closing on behalf of the Catalog for Giving and their member organizations.
Mr. Nelson's past employment history includes working for Toyota corporate offices and sales and leasing consultant for General Motors. He graduated from St. Andrew's Boarding School in Middletown, DE in 1994 and Colgate University in 1998 where he received a degree in English. He swam throughout school and was captain of the Colgate Swim Team his senior year. He is an avid athlete who has participated in numerous triathlons, including the NYC annual event.
Originally from Bethesda, MD, he and his wife, Allison, live in Old Greenwich, CT with their sons, Luke and Austin. He can be reached in the Manhattan office at 212.696.2500, x7710.