You have had a long and distinguished career as the CEO and Chairman of multiple companies in the real estate industry. While you continue to stay very active in the real estate world, you have unleashed a major passion in basketball. 

Tell us about that. 

I have played basketball since childhood and never stopped, including a stretch from ages 40 to 52 competing internationally. Two years ago, I returned to organized tournament play. The reasons fall into three broad—and deeply connected—categories.

1. Family, Health, and the Discipline of Staying Well
   It begins with family. We have three grandchildren who are enormously proud that their grandfather is the only grandfather among their friends who plays in basketball tournaments. They want my uniforms autographed, and “autographed patch cards”.  I know this phase won’t last forever—but how often in life do you get to be a hero?To compete at the level I expect of myself—well above weekly pickup games—I had to dramatically improve my conditioning. I play in the 65+ age bracket as a 72-year-old, which demanded a serious commitment to fitness. That commitment introduced me to Michael and others who taught me the importance of overall strength training, VO₂ max measurement, and grip strength.Recently, I began doing the “rice bucket workout,” which in just three weeks significantly increased my arm and grip strength. As one metric, I completed a two-minute farmer’s carry with two 40-pound weights—placing me in the “elite” category for grip strength. I also work with a basketball coach—not to modernize my game, but to develop offensive strategies effective at this stage of life. Fortunately, I have retained the ability to move relatively quickly laterally on defense.The ultimate result is simple but profound: increasing the likelihood that I remain healthy enough to watch our grandchildren graduate college, get married, and build meaningful lives.
2. Community/ Socialization
   Competitive basketball has also given me a strong sense of community. I’ve met people from across the country who take the sport as seriously as I do. Our backgrounds may differ, but our shared love of the game creates instant connection and mutual respect.
   
3. The Next Generation
   Even more important is basketball’s role in bridging opportunity gaps. A recent study—Creating High Opportunity Neighborhoods by Raj Chetty (January 2026)—concluded that “the single strongest predictor of economic mobility… is the fraction of higher-income friends that lower-income people have.” That mirrors our own experience with our children and their friends from lower-income backgrounds, and it is echoed by graduates of the exemplary Greenhouse Scholars program, which we support.Basketball is a natural vehicle for bringing kids from different backgrounds together—on equal footing, with shared goals, discipline, and accountability.

Philanthropy and giving back has been a top priority of yours throughout your adult life. What are you currently engaged in and how do you think about philanthropy as a lifelong pursuit?

I was fortunate to grow up in a family—and to build a career in New York City real estate—where community engagement was both expected and valued. My wife, Bonnie, and I have been actively involved in a wide range of nonprofit organizations for more than 40 years, and we have passed those values on to our children. In addition, I currently mentor five nonprofit leaders.

Philanthropy gives me purpose—and allows me to deploy skills developed over decades: leadership, real estate expertise, branding, succession planning, and fundraising. I currently serve on seven nonprofit boards. The ones commanding most of my time include:

• Dreyfoos School for the Arts, the #1 ranked public high school in Palm Beach County
• NYC Police Foundation
• Perseverance Foundation, a basketball-based youth program in Palm Beach
• American Jewish Committee (AJC), in the fight against antisemitism

What advice would you give someone who is ready to wind down a major career, but wants to stay engaged and active. How does someone set up the next 20 or 25 years post-career?

I never use the word retire. I say I am the poster child for having left corporate life. Take the things that interest you, where you can add value and remain intellectually stimulated—and go to work on them. Just as important: make yourself interesting. I never would have met Michael if I were simply a 70-year-old tennis player (which I also am), golfer, or fisherman (which I also do).

My days are full: family, exercise at least six days a week, two entrepreneurial real estate projects, mentoring, travel, conferences, and a substantial daily commitment to philanthropic work.

And finally, find the mantras that inspire you. Mine are three:

1. “To be missed when you die.” — Cardinal Timothy Dolan
2. “To be useful every day-by 11, I have done emails, had breakfast and worked out. If I have done nothing else, I have been useful” — Arnold Schwarzenegger
3. “To be the best father, grandfather, and husband I can be—not the best actor.” — Sidney Poitier