Annual Achievements Recognized following Record Year
WOODBRIDGE, N.J., February 24, 2022 — The Kislak Company, Inc. announced the recipients of its 2021 sales awards at the firm’s annual awards ceremony, which was held in New Jersey in January and was followed by a weekend celebration in Miami Beach, Florida in February for the firm’s top producers and management team.
Executive vice president Barry Waisbrod received the Producer of the Year award, senior vice president Jeff Squires received the Sima Kislak Jelin Salesperson of the Year award, executive vice president Joni Sweetwood received the Sales Transactions award, executive vice president Peter Wisniewski received the Lease Transactions award and sales associates Greg Koenig and Max Levinston each received the Rising Stars award.
“2021 was an exceptional year for Kislak by every measure” said Robert Holland, president. “Our awards recipients along with many other members of our sales team achieved record sales during a volatile yet strong year and I thank and commend each of them for their tremendous efforts and accomplishments.”
The Producer of the Year award is presented to the individual who generated the highest sales volume during the past year. Barry Waisbrod had a remarkable 2021 closing 20 multifamily sales with more than 1,400 units in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland for over $250 million.
Mr. Waisbrod joined Kislak in 2001 and is consistently among the firm’s leading salespeople. He specializes in the sale of multifamily and other investment properties throughout New Jersey and its neighboring states. Mr. Waisbrod also received the firm’s Sima Kislak Jelin Salesperson of the Year award in 2019, 2015 and 2013. His career investment sales total more than $1.5 billion.
The Sima Kislak Jelin Salesperson of the Year award is presented to the individual whose performance and professionalism during the past year demonstrated the highest standards of excellence for which Kislak is known. The recipient is chosen by a vote of the sales and management teams, and the award is named after the late Mrs. Jelin, who was an executive, key mentor, and motivator to countless salespeople; and the daughter of the firm’s founder, J.I. Kislak.
Mr. Squires also had a strong year and was the deserved recipient of the prestigious award. His 2021 transactions included the $20.5 million sale of a 120-unit multifamily property in Linden, New Jersey, and the $17.5 million sale of a 115-unit multifamily portfolio in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Mr. Squires joined Kislak in 2007 and specializes in the sale of multifamily and other investment properties throughout northern New Jersey. Consistently among Kislak’s leading salespeople, he previously received the firm’s 2008 Rookie of the Year award, 2012 Sima Kislak Jelin Salesperson of the Year award and 2014 and 2016 Producer of the Year award.
The Sales Transactions award is presented to the individual who closed the highest number of sales transactions during the past year. Joni Sweetwood also had a remarkable 2021 closing 22 multifamily sales for more than $100 million. Among them were the $17.5 million sale of a 70-unit multifamily property in Plainfield, New Jersey, and the $9.5 million sale of a 59-unit multifamily property in East Orange, New Jersey.
Ms. Sweetwood joined Kislak in 1996 and is also one of the firm’s all-time leading salespeople. She has won numerous awards, including the Sima Kislak Jelin Salesperson of the Year award in 2010 and the company’s production award in 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, and 2018. She has also been recognized repeatedly as one of New Jersey’s Commercial Broker All Stars and the Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal’s Executive Women in Business. Her career investment sales total more than $1.2 billion.
The Lease Transactions award is presented to the individual who completed the highest number of leases during the past year. Peter Wisniewski also had a remarkable 2021 completing 20 commercial sales and a number of commercial and investment sales for more than $25 million. His leases include the 36,000-square-foot long term warehouse lease for an office furniture company in Branchburg, New Jersey; and his sales included the $3.9 million sale of a 44,300-square-foot warehouse/ manufacturing facility in Readington, New Jersey.
Mr. Wisniewski joined Kislak in 2015 and leads the firm’s commercial sales and leasing division. Throughout his career, Wisniewski has leased or sold more than eight million square feet of commercial space and well over 1,500 acres of land and is actively growing Kislak’s presence in the New Jersey commercial real estate market. This award marked his fifth consecutive recognition.
The Rising Star award is presented to newer salespeople who recorded the greatest achievements during the past year.
Greg Koenig joined Kislak in 2020 and specializes in the sale of investment properties in New York’s lower Hudson Valley. His recent sales include the $8.4 million sale of a 66-unit multifamily property in Spring Valley.
Max Levinston joined Kislak in 2019 and specializes in the sale of investment and commercial properties in central New Jersey. His recent sales include the $1.1 million sale of a self-storage facility in Middlesex and the $1.2 million sale of a mixed-use multifamily and retail building in North Bergen
About The Kislak Company, Inc.
The Kislak Company, Inc., which is headquartered in Woodbridge, New Jersey, is a leading commercial real estate brokerage firm consistently recognized for its investment sales success. Established in 1906, Kislak’s market leadership position and longevity are due to its ability to offer clients a personalized, hands-on approach, coupled with the unrivaled expertise of its long-tenured team of professionals. Kislak’s prestigious client base includes individual investors and owners, partnerships, financial institutions, and REITs. The firm’s 35 professionals provide comprehensive market coverage throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
Now in its 116th year, Kislak was among a select group of firms recognized as a 2020 Power Broker by CoStar Group, Inc. and this was the firm’s 15th consecutive recognition.
