Leadership

Ira Brown

General Counsel

ContactMr. Brown is the Director of Development and General Counsel to The Briarwood Organization charged with identifying new development projects as well as managing all real estate and financial transactions. In his capacity as General Counsel Mr. Brown is the primary liaison with special counsel retained for specific projects and he coordinates and monitors each project from site identification, through acquisition, financing, construction and sale or lease up. Mr. Brown has been admitted to practice as an Attorney at Law in the Courts of the State of New York for 42 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

Chief Financial Officer

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.

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 27 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 certified payroll reporting and requirements of Elation Systems with NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development. 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 Housing Community Renewal (NYS HCR), etc.

Daniel Duka

Principal

ContactDaniel Duka is a principal of The Briarwood Organization and is primarily responsible for overseeing Briarwood Properties. Additionally, Mr. Duka is involved identifying, analyzing and pursuing all new ventures.

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.

Craig Elka

Construction Manager

ContactMr. Elka is responsible for on-site management of the Briarwood-developed and contracted construction. On a day-to-day basis, Mr. Elka ensures that construction meets superior quality standards and advances on schedule. In this capacity, Mr. Elka supervises Briarwood labor and subcontractors, monitoring performance. He reports regularly on-site progress to Briarwood’s head office. Additionally, Mr. Elka resolves any site logistical issues as they arise. Mr. Elka has worked in the construction industry for 40 years. He has hands on experience in all trades and phases of residential construction. Before joining Briarwood in 1996, Mr. Elka ran a residential remodeling/general contracting business for eight years. He is a past president and current board member of the Queens and Bronx Building Association. Mr. Elka attended the Institute of Design and Construction.

Ruddy Cabral

Construction Manager

ContactMr. Cabral is responsible for on-site management of Briarwood-developed and contracted construction. On a day-to-day basis, Mr. Cabral ensures that construction meets superior quality standards and advances on schedule. In this capacity, Mr. Cabral supervises Briarwood labor and subcontractors, monitoring performance. He reports regularly on-site progress to Briarwood’s head office. Additionally, Mr. Cabral resolves any site logistical issues as they arise. Mr. Cabral began working on Briarwood construction projects in 1992 as a laborer and was promoted to various other positions before he assumed his current role as construction manager.

Ruddy Cabral Jr.

Construction Manager / Estimator

ContactMr. Cabral is responsible for on-site management of Briarwood-developed and contracted construction. On a day-to-day basis, Mr. Cabral ensures that construction meets superior quality standards and advances on schedule. In this capacity, Mr. Cabral supervises Briarwood labor, subcontractors, monitors performance, and handles onsite logistics. Additionally, he reviews drawings, specifications, and bid documents to determine quantity takeoffs, cost estimates, and bid proposals for construction projects.