In this episode of The Big Apple's Core Podcast, host Jennifer Busch sits down with Paula Kirby, Managing Director of Plaxall Inc., for a heartfelt and insightful conversation about her family's deep roots in Long Island City.
Paula shares the fascinating story of how her family founded Plaxall, a pioneering plastics manufacturing company, and how it evolved over the decades into a major player in commercial real estate. From the early days of innovation in plastics to shaping the skyline of LIC, Paula reflects on the challenges, triumphs, and enduring legacy of a family business that has helped define a neighborhood.

This special edition episode dives into the 2025 ERS theme, "The Rules are Changing: Leading in a New CRE Landscape". Sarah Abrams, Iron Mountain and Peter Van Emburgh, Cushman & Wakefield, sit down with Convene's Head of Real Estate, Brian Holland, to highlight the transformational trends impacting corporate real estate leaders. Highlights include strategies for engaging talent through dynamic workplace environments, how companies can better understand employees needs today to grow and thrive, and how these changes are impacting the different geographic markets.

In this episode, we sit down with Liz Hart, President of Leasing for North America at Newmark, to discuss her journey in commercial real estate. Liz shares how she got her start in the industry, the pivotal moments that shaped her career, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. From market trends to career advice, she offers valuable insights for professionals at all stages. Whether you’re new to CRE or a seasoned expert, this conversation is packed with takeaways on leadership, strategy, and the evolving landscape of real estate. Tune in for an inspiring discussion with one of the industry’s top voices!