NAIOP New Jersey, the state’s leading trade association for developers, owners, and investors in commercial real estate, has officially revealed its distinguished roster of honorees for the 2026 Commercial Real Estate Awards.
The recipients will be celebrated during the association’s 39th Annual Gala, scheduled for Thursday, May 14, at The Palace at Somerset Park. The gala, widely considered the premier networking event for the Garden State’s development community, will also serve as the stage for the announcement of the highly anticipated 2026 “Deal of the Year” winners.
Leading the Class: Ed Cohen to receive Lifetime Achievement
The evening’s top individual honor, the Charles Klatskin Lifetime Achievement Award, will be presented to Ed Cohen of Prism Capital Partners. Cohen is being recognized for his decades of leadership and his transformative impact on New Jersey’s built environment, particularly through complex adaptive reuse and multi-family redevelopment projects.
Celebrating Industry Impact and Public Partnership
The 2026 honorees represent a cross-section of the professionals driving the state’s economic engine:
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Impact Awards: Recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the industry’s growth and resilience, this year’s awards go to Clark Machemer of Northeast Logistics & Industrial News and Rob Kossar of JLL.
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Industry Service Award: Dana Nalbantian of Gensler will be honored for her exceptional commitment to architectural excellence and professional service within the real estate community.
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Caren S. Franzini Public Partner Awards: Highlighting the critical collaboration between the public and private sectors, this year’s awards will be presented to the Honorable Brad J. Cohen and the Honorable Lawrence F. Jacobs.
“The 39th Annual Gala is a moment to pause and recognize the visionaries who are not only building structures but are strengthening the economic fabric of New Jersey,” the association stated in its announcement.
Beyond the individual awards, the Gala will spotlight the most complex and impactful real estate transactions of the past year through the “Deal of the Year” categories, which typically include Industrial, Office, and Mixed-Use developments.
Event Registration
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the May 14 Gala are now available. Members of the commercial real estate community and public-sector partners can register by visiting naiopnj.org.
