Leadership

James Riso

Principal

ContactJames Riso is a principal of The Briarwood Organization and serves as president of project management for L. Riso & Sons, primarily responsible for directing operations for all general contracted, construction managed and Briarwood-developed projects. Additionally, Mr. Riso oversees the management business of both the firm owned and 3rd party properties. Beyond that, As a primary partner in the company, he is actively involved identifying, analyzing and pursuing all new ventures.

Mr. Riso is a past president and current board member of the Queens and Bronx Building Association, current board member of The Citizens Housing & Planning Council, past founding president of the Bayside Village Business Improvement District, New York State Association for Affordable Housing as well as the Workplace Development Advisory Board. He is a Certified Green Professional through the National Association of Home Builders. Mr. Riso holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the New York Institute of Technology as well as a master’s certificate from the Schack Institute of Real Estate at New York University. He is a Certified Green Professional through the National Association of Home Builders and a licensed Real Estate Broker.

Ira Brown

General Counsel

ContactMr. Brown has been admitted to practice as an Attorney at Law in the Courts of the State of New York for 39 years and has represented Briarwood for most of his career, both as retained counsel and as General Counsel. Mr. Brown holds a Bachelors Degree from the City University of New York Brooklyn College and a Juris Doctor Degree from Brooklyn Law School. Prior to joining the organization he gained over 20 years of experience as an attorney specializing in transactional real estate, real estate development, and real estate finance. Mr. Brown is a member of the New York State Bar Association as well as a past president and a current director on the board of The Queens & Bronx Building Association, a past co-chairman of the Associate Board of Parker Jewish Institute, a former director on the board of Building Skills NY, a former executive committee member of a local NYS Workers Comp. Safety Group and a current member on the board of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing.

Mary Ellen Inquanti

CFO

ContactMs. Inquanti is responsible for managing and monitoring the financing components of Briarwood ventures. Ms. Inquanti’s position involves overseeing construction loans, commercial property mortgages, and cash flow. She also oversees financial operations for Briarwood. Beyond that, Ms. Inquanti is intimately involved in the development planning process, advising on all project pro formas and government subsidy programs. With over 25 years’ experience with the organization, she has served in all capacities for Briarwood and holds a vital role in all department functions.

Stasha Blagojevic

Project Coordinator

ContactMs. Blagojevic is responsible for managing the construction process from the initial phases of feasibility and design studies to final certificates of occupancy. In this capacity, Ms. Blagojevic collaborates with owners’ design and consulting teams, as well as subcontractors and vendors during bidding, construction, and close-out process. Ms. Blagojevic evaluates zoning requirements, site surveys, pre-construction documents, coordinates design teams of architects, engineers, special inspectors, expeditors, consultants, and team of subcontractors and vendors, to ensure delivery of project within planned time and budget. She coordinates communication with local and state departments and private entities involved with the construction, infrastructure, and sign offs. She is involved with schedule production, construction budget, qualifications, revisions, submittal approvals, RFIs and SKs, change orders, sign offs, and certificates of occupancy. Ms. Blagojevic manages compliance with reporting federal, state and city requirements (Equal Opportunity, W/MBE, and Section 3). Holding a master’s in psychology, Ms. Blagojevic has approximately 30 years of multidisciplinary experience in marketing research and planning, advertising planning and account management, corporate services real estate and facilities management for investment banking corporation, as well as non-profit administration and development.

Rebecca Sarrocco

Controller

ContactMs. Sarrocco is responsible for daily budget management and human resources for Briarwood. In her primary role, Ms. Sarrocco ensures standardized accounting procedures, as well as monitoring and regulating bank balances and cash flow for individual projects. As head of Briarwood’s human resources department, Ms. Sarrocco administers company payroll and insurance policies. She also administers all company hiring and recruitment. Ms. Sarrocco graduated top ten from a prestigious Manhattan business school. She has over 28 years of experience covering all areas of the real estate industry. She is also a Certified Construction Project Manager and Certified Site Safety Supervisor (SST Supervisor). Ms. Sarrocco directly manages the reporting and requirements of Prevailing Wage/Davis Bacon using Elation Systems with NYC HPD and Department of Labor. Ms. Sarrocco also oversees compliance with the requirements of HIRE NYC and M/WBE Build-Up Programs. Ms. Sarrocco directly liaisons with NYC Workforce Development Services (Workforce 1), NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) and NYC Department of Small Business Services, NYS Department of Homes & Community Renewal (NYS HCR), etc.