mona team

Kelly Gedinsky has been a retail broker for 16 years and has successfully leased over 800,000 square feet of retail space. A native New Yorker who knows Manhattan like the back of her hand, Ms. Gedinsky has become one of the most successful female brokers in the commercial real estate industry. In tending to the unique needs and requirements of each tenant and landlord in her portfolio, Ms. Gedinsky has cultivated a comprehensive understanding of major flagship lease transactions, plus unique skills related to ground-up construction and re-development. Ms. Gedinsky’s notable tenant representation transactions include leases for Ferragamo, Nili Lotan, Whalebone, SnapChat, American Horror Story, Comedy Central, Yigal Azrouel, ASICS, CVS, the Gagosian Gallery, Aaron Basha, QVC, and Yves Saint Laurent. Throughout her career Ms. Gedinsky has proudly represented a list of noteworthy landlords that includes Madison Capital, L.H. Charney, Atlantic Development, GreenOak, CB Developers, and The Chetrit Group. Ms. Gedinsky successfully represented ownership of 3 Columbus Circle (SL Green and The Moinian Group) during negotiations for Nordstrom Men’s first Manhattan store. Ms. Gedinsky is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and Innovating Commerce Serving Communities (ICSC). She was named one of Commercial Observer’s “20 to Watch,” “Top Women in Real Estate,” “Top 40 Under 40” and “Top 30 Under 30.”

Christine Jorge is a seasoned real estate professional with a career that seamlessly bridges over three decades. Currently serving as Executive Vice President at MONA, Christine has etched her reputation as a pivotal player in both commercial and residential real estate. With a specialization in retail leasing for the past 20 years, she is highly regarded for her expertise in national tenant representation.

Christine's passion for real estate was ignited at a young age, during her senior year of high school, when she secured her New Jersey real estate license. It was when she joined HGCD Retail Services in New York and obtained her New York license that she found her true calling for retail. Alongside her esteemed colleague, Virginia Pittarelli, the duo has significantly contributed to the growth of their team, providing strategic leadership and shaping the course of retail leasing in the region.

Her tenure at Crown Retail Services before joining MONA has further bolstered her experience and reputation in the sector. Christine's roster of esteemed clients, indicative of her dedication and expertise, features globally recognized brands like Sephora, Lip Lab, Vitamin Shoppe, Godiva, Pronovias, Coach, and Kate Spade.

An alumna of Rutgers University, Christine continuously invests in expanding her knowledge base and aligning herself with industry standards and trends. She holds memberships in recognized organizations, including the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and the Monmouth County Board of Realtors. Beyond her professional achievements, Christine has consistently been active in her community, offering her skills and time to various local community boards, nonprofit endeavors, and land preservation organizations.

With dual citizenship in the United States and Portugal, Christine offers a unique blend of global insights complemented by her extensive local expertise, underscoring her status as a leading figure in the real estate landscape.

Matthew Ball has over nine years of commercial real estate experience. Mr. Ball and his team handle both Landlord and Tenant representation. In addition to maintaining a strong national profile, Mr. Ball has been involved with numerous high-profile New York City lease transactions, including Pele’s lease of 1560 Broadway; Sunglass Hut’s lease of 590 Fifth Avenue; and the lease-up of 432 Park Avenue to Beauvais Carpets, John Barret Salon, and Amaffi. Mr. Ball graduated from Syracuse University in 2013 with a degree in Business & Hospitality. Prior to joining MONA, Mr. Ball worked at Cushman & Wakefield for seven years. The list of esteemed landlords that Mr. Ball has represented throughout his career includes Jack Resnick & Sons, Rose Associates, Park Hotels & Resorts, and Empire State Realty Trust. Mr. Ball’s past and current tenant roster includes Sonic, All My Children Daycare, Lenscrafters, Beauvais Carpets, Pele, Johnny Rockets, and IHOP.

Manu Wendum began his retail leasing career in 2016. Since that time, Manu has built a sterling reputation as one of the premier brokers for landlord and tenant representation in New York City. Manu has worked with many prominent New York City landlords, including JVL Property Group, AM Properties, Lightstone Group, Walter Samuels, Madison Capital, and SR Property Group. Manu’s notable transactions include securing a 9,000 sf lease for Century Medical & Dental's first Manhattan flagship location at 606 West 57th Street; a 10,500 sf lease with Lincoln Market at 501 6th Avenue; a 4,500 sf lease for Mezcali at 83 Maiden Lane; and a 8,000 sf lease with Cafe Hestia at 80 Maiden Lane. In addition, Manu represented the co-op board of 485-501 6th Avenue in negotiations for 7 leases totaling over 45,000 sf of retail. Manu has also led the Manhattan and Brooklyn rollouts of Craft & Carry, Century Medical & Dental, Crumbl Cookies, and QQ Nails. Manu graduated from Brandeis University, where he was a member of the varsity swimming team, competing in both backstroke and butterfly. A native of Belgium, Manu speaks four languages: English, French, Dutch, and Hebrew.

John DiGangi brings over seven years of successful experience in commercial real estate to MONA, with a strong focus on the hospitality industry. John is skilled at understanding food & beverage economics, developing tenant-specific expansion plans, and undergoing complex negotiations on behalf of his clients. Prior to joining MONA, John was a director at Murro Realty, where he specialized in the representation of hospitality brands on both a national and international scale.

John has represented a list of notable retailers that includes Juice Press, Tortazo by Rick Bayless, Fox Lifestyle Hospitality Group, City Roots Hospitality, El Bajío Restaurant Group, Bread & Butter, and Hudson Market. Landlords that John has represented include Tishman Speyer, Rudin Management, Empire State Realty Trust, ATA Enterprises, Premier Equities, Caspi Development, and The Durst Organization.

With his knowledge of New York City retail and his unique sense of style and taste, Max Kreinces brings a fresh, young perspective to the MONA team. Prior to joining MONA, Max earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in real estate from The George Washington University’s School of Business.

During his time at MONA, Max has successfully represented Forma Pilates, the red-hot boutique fitness brand based in Los Angeles, securing both of their New York City studios at 374 West Broadway and 819 Madison Avenue. Max also represented women’s contemporary brand Cinq A Sept to secure their first brick and mortar retail store at 108 Wooster Street in the heart of Soho. Additional deals that Max has been involved with as a tenant representative include Baudoin & Lange at 944 Madison Avenue, Fusalp at 713 Madison Avenue, Wally Health at 792 Lexington Avenue and 107 North 6th Street, SORA at 73 Orchard Street, and Blank Street Coffee at 897 8th Avenue.

Max’s work with high profile landlords has resulted in RFR Realty leasing 50 East 61st Street to Aethos, 980 Madison Avenue to Tanya Taylor and ME+EM, and 875 Washington Street to STUDS. Max’s representation of Taconic Partners yielded the lease of 401 West 14th Street to electric vehicle company Fisker for the brand’s first East Coast showroom. After 3 years of being on the market, Max successfully leased 31 Union Square West on behalf of David Ellis Real Estate to Flight Club Darts USA, a subsidiary of UK based hospitality conglomerate, State of Play Hospitality, for their New York City flagship. Max also represented ownership of 1 Bond Street during negotiations with Italian fashion e-retailer Luisaviaroma for the brand’s first store in the United States. Luisaviaroma’s lease at 1 Bond Street was nominated for the 2023 REBNY Retail Deal of the Year Award.

Max was selected to be part of the 2022 Commercial Observer’s Top Young Professionals 30 Under 30 list.

Kim Levandovsky brings a wealth of boots-on-the-ground knowledge and experience working with startups to his role as Director with MONA. He has built a startup from the ground up (was involved in the creation of every department within the organization) and has worked alongside scores of small- and mid-sized companies to help them grow and scale.

During his time at MONA, Kim has successfully represented ChaCha Matcha on their new location at SL Green’s 461 Fifth Avenue, securing their Bryant Park presence. Additionally, Kim assisted Aethos, a high-end medical spa that specializes in body sculpting and facial rejuvenation, in securing their flagship location at RFR Realty’s 50 East 61st Street. Additional notable deals that Kim was involved in include Solana at The Annex Wynwood, Poke Bowl at 1410 Broadway, Venus over Manhattan at 55 Great Jones Street, and Trinity Boxing at 20 Vesey Street.

Kim has worked with many high-profile landlords across the NYC retail landscape, including RFR Realty, SL Green, ABS Partners, Rybak Development, and The William Gottlieb Estate.

Kim is passionate about client service, operations, and the data that drives them, while also viewing his role with MONA as a truly strategic partnership invested in his clients’ overall growth strategies and success.

Kim was recently selected to be part of the 2023 Commercial Observer’s Top Young Professionals 30 Under 30 list.

Sue Bernstock brings 15 years of successful experience in high-end luxury retail and in coworking real estate management. Sue spent six years in the planning and buying offices of Saks Fifth Avenue, working in both men’s and women’s divisions and two years at VINCE following its IPO. In 2015, Sue joined Workville and within a year was promoted to President and COO. Sue successfully expanded Workville’s coworking space footprint through a focused approach on member retention and new clients. Now, Sue is excited to be part of the Retail by MONA team. A Tufts University graduate, Sue majored in Architectural Studies. She understands urban real estate trends, and incorporates this understanding in her planning and in her work. Sue enjoys exploring New York City’s neighborhoods, restaurants and culture. She also loves traveling, particularly to the Southeast and Southwest of the U.S., and most recently, to the South of France.

Jason Lloyd brings significant firsthand knowledge to the MONA hospitality team with 18 years of experience in the food and beverage industry as an operator, investor, consultant and chef. After four years as a high-net worth wealth management analyst in the financial sector, Jason decided to pursue his passion for the restaurant industry. In 2013, Jason founded Cow & Clover, a 110-seat restaurant, bar, and event space located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. As Managing Partner, Jason grew Cow & Clover into one of Brooklyn’s most popular brunch spots and, in 2018, orchestrated a successful exit, partnering with Fornino Restaurant Group. Jason joined Branded Concept Development as Manager of Real Estate in 2018 and became Associate Partner in 2021, working with some of the most creative minds in the F&B industry. To quote his clients: “Jason speaks our language.”

Jason graduated from Wesleyan University in 1999 where he majored in Political Science and minored in Economics. He is a New York City native and resident of Brooklyn for over two decades, with a deep appreciation of the city’s history and the role the hospitality industry has played throughout the city’s ups and downs. Jason’s notable tenant representation transactions include leases for Sant Ambroeus, Veselka, Marlow Collective, Everytable, Live Axe, and Dan & John’s Wings. In addition, Jason represented landlord RFR Holding during successful negotiations with tenants Panera Bread, NAYA, and Chinah for leases at 285 Madison Avenue.

Marisa Simkin brings extensive restaurant experience to MONA, having spent the early part of her career working in Front of House Management and New Openings for various restaurant groups. In 2018, she joined Branded Concept Development (BCD) as a Project Manager, collaborating with BCD's brokerage division to help restaurants navigate the pitfalls of construction in New York City. Marisa joined BCD's real estate team in early 2020, focusing on tenant representation for restaurant clients. As a broker, Marisa represented Mexicue, Stand Up Burger, Chinah, and Bourke Street Bakery in successful lease negotiations for restaurants around New York City. A graduate of San Francisco State University, Marisa majored in Hospitality Management, and is always excited to use her experiences in hospitality and construction to evaluate the viability of spaces for her food & beverage clients. Marisa takes special pride in working with women-led enterprises as well as first time restaurateurs. A California transplant who is eternally obsessed with NYC, Marisa lives in Brooklyn, and spends her free time watching baseball, walking with her dog, and eating.

Lauren Farnoosh is a California native who recently joined the retail leasing team at MONA, bringing with her the tireless work ethic of a true New Yorker.  After spending several years working in the fashion industry on projects involving celebrities like Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, and Lizzo, Lauren decided to pivot her career towards commercial real estate.

Lauren’s specialization lies in retail landlord representation within dynamic New York City neighborhoods, including but not limited to the Meatpacking District, NoLita, the Lower East Side, the East Village, and the West Village. Noteworthy among Lauren's recent achievements are the successful leasing transactions for Veronica De Piante at 833 Madison Avenue and Sunday Riley at 557-559 Hudson Street. Presently, Lauren manages institutional landlord listings, notably Gottlieb's properties at 835 Washington Street and 405 West 14th Street in the Meatpacking District, as well as RFR Realty's holdings at 997 Lexington Avenue and 1728-1732 First Avenue on the Upper East Side.

Lauren's distinctive attributes, including her warm personality, creative problem-solving acumen, and adept negotiation skills, have endeared her to all her retail clients. Committed to fostering enduring relationships, Lauren is a valuable asset to the MONA team, embodying the principles of professionalism and excellence in the field of commercial real estate.

Madison Grossman, a transplant from Los Angeles, made the move to New York after completing her bachelor's degree in real estate from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. Her prior professional experience in retail strategy and leasing with Caruso in Los Angeles ignited her passion for pursuing a career in retail advisory. In July of 2021, shortly after relocating to the New York City, Madison joined Virginia Pittarelli's team.

Madison actively contributes to the development of retail strategies for tenants by immersing herself in their businesses and understanding their unique needs. She takes on the responsibility of conducting comprehensive market research, which encompasses the analysis of current and upcoming availabilities, leasing rates, market comparables, and demographic data.

Madison's impressive track record includes representing Buffalo Wild Wings To-Go in their inaugural location in the city, marking a significant milestone for the brand's presence in New York. Additionally, she has been a key player in representing Lip Lab by Kendo in their new Soho location and continues to support their expansion efforts. Beyond her successes in New York, Madison has also ventured into other national markets, demonstrating her ability to adapt and excel on a broader scale.

Sunny Woo joins MONA as a new trusted partner for tenants and landlords in New York City. Prior to joining MONA Sunny was a Senior Manager at Ernst & Young LLP, where she provided advisory services on technology solutions to various financial institutions. Sunny decided to pivot her career to commercial real estate brokerage because she saw a unique opportunity to apply her knowledge in finance, problem-solving skills, and creativity to serve entrepreneurs and community builders.

Sunny was born in Korea and has lived in and traveled to many different parts of the world. She loves exploring, learning, and sharing her experiences with everyone she meets. Sunny graduated from the University of Illinois with degrees in Finance and Information Technology/Information Systems. Sunny is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and is bilingual in English and Korean.

William Isore, a graduate of the George Washington University’s Elliot School of International Affairs, joins MONA as an associate. William’s prior experience in commercial real estate at CBRE in Paris, France, led him to pursue a retail advisory career. In May of 2023, William interned at Compass in Los Angeles, where he focused on the development of key strategies for client acquisition and lead generation. In April of 2024, William joined the team at MONA. A native of France, William’s background has given him a deep understanding and knowledge of the international retail market. William is proficient in French, English and Spanish. When he’s not working, William is an avid player of tennis, golf, soccer and chess.