Alan Weissman

Principal & CEO

Alan Weissman is the owner of Alfred Weissman Real Estate, LLC and has been an active principal in the development, financing, and management of the firm's assets since 1992. A trained real estate attorney admitted to the New York and Connecticut bars, Alan brings a rare combination of legal precision and entrepreneurial vision to every project the firm undertakes.

Over more than three decades, Alan has led the development of a broad portfolio spanning office, retail, industrial, student housing, and hospitality — giving AWRE a depth of cross-sector experience that few regional firms can match. Among his most notable achievements is the development of a 430,000 square foot UPS last-mile logistics facility at 555 Tuckahoe Road in Yonkers, NY, one of the largest industrial development projects of its kind in the New York metro area, which he led alongside Joseph Genzano through a complex entitlement, planning, and financing process.

Alan also spearheaded the development of The St. Regis Residences in Rye, NY — a landmark transaction that holds a unique place in luxury real estate history as the first standalone St. Regis Residences project in the world not connected to a hotel. The project required navigating a sophisticated approval and zoning process while assembling a financing structure befitting the ultra-luxury brand. Its relevance extends well beyond residential real estate: like The Orchards, it was conceived as a hotel-like experience — defined by exceptional amenities, white-glove services, and an elevated residential lifestyle — making it a direct precursor to AWRE's current flagship development.

Alan has overseen the acquisition, financing, and asset management of AWRE's hospitality portfolio, which includes the DoubleTree by Hilton in Binghamton, NY, the DoubleTree by Hilton in Gaithersburg, MD, the Heritage Hotel, Golf, Spa & Conference Center in Southbury, CT, and the Hampton Inn & Suites in Yonkers, NY. Past development projects include student housing at 20 Hawley Street in Binghamton, mixed-use and commercial developments in Peekskill, Garden City, Freeport, and Yonkers, and a range of office and retail projects throughout the region.

Alan is currently leading The Orchards — AWRE's most ambitious project to date — a new luxury resort and spa being developed on a historic estate in Bennington, Vermont. The project involves a sophisticated capital stack including EB-5 financing, USDA lending, and historic tax credits. It is the culmination of everything the firm has built: hospitality expertise, luxury development credibility, complex entitlement experience, and the proven ability to create destination environments that transcend a single asset class.

Alan holds a BA in Economics from Colgate University, studied economics at Cambridge University, and earned his law degree from Hofstra University. He has served on the boards of the St. Joseph’s Medical Center, the Westchester Land Trust, the Community Planning Council, and the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester.

Joseph Genzano

President & General Counsel

Joseph Genzano serves as President and General Counsel of Alfred Weissman Real Estate, overseeing all day-to-day business operations while managing the full scope of the firm's legal affairs. Since joining AWRE more than fifteen years ago — initially as General Counsel — Joseph has become a central figure in the firm's growth, bringing legal rigor, operational discipline, and transactional depth to a portfolio that spans multiple asset classes and development types.

Joseph was co-lead alongside Alan Weissman on two of the firm's most complex and consequential transactions. The first was the 430,000 square foot UPS last-mile logistics facility at 555 Tuckahoe Road in Yonkers — a project that required navigating industrial zoning approvals, environmental review, and a multi-layered financing process to deliver one of the largest last-mile facilities in the New York metro area. The second was The St. Regis Residences in Rye, NY, where Joseph managed the legal and regulatory framework for what became the first standalone St. Regis Residences in the world — a project defined by ultra-luxury amenities and services that closely mirrors the vision behind The Orchards.

Across AWRE's hospitality portfolio — including the DoubleTree by Hilton properties in Binghamton and Gaithersburg, the Heritage Hotel in Southbury, and the Hampton Inn & Suites in Yonkers — Joseph has handled lease transactions, acquisitions, financings, and ongoing legal matters. He also supports the development of The Orchards luxury resort in Bennington, Vermont, assisting with regulatory navigation, transaction structuring, and the complex multi-source capital stack that includes EB-5 equity, USDA debt, and historic tax credits.

Prior to joining AWRE, Joseph was Senior Counsel at Elhilow & Maiocchi, LLC, a Westchester County real estate boutique, where he practiced in commercial real estate transactions and litigation, regularly appearing in New York Federal and State Courts including the Appellate Division. From 1999 to 2005, he served on the Village of Great Neck Planning Board, including as Chairman, presiding over subdivision and site plan hearings and participating in the Village Master Plan Committee.

Joseph holds a Juris Doctor from Pace University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University.

Michael Cohen

Principal, Hospitality & Acquisitions

Michael Cohen joined AWRE in 2020 to help expand the firm's hospitality platform, building on the team's experience developing the world's first standalone St. Regis branded residential property and more than a decade of owning, renovating, repositioning, and asset-managing hotel assets.  Michael was very involved in the St. Regis development, as well working on project closeout and interfacing with new owners.

Michael is involved across all aspects of the investment lifecycle, with a particular focus on sourcing differentiated opportunities that leverage AWRE's ability to reposition assets in ways others may overlook. He works closely with the team on underwriting, negotiating acquisitions, conducting due diligence, and structuring transactions. Michael also collaborates with the team and brand advisors to align projects with best-in-class luxury operators, oversees the coordination of multidisciplinary consultant teams, and is actively engaged in design development, construction oversight, and pre-opening strategy. Following opening, he remains involved in asset management through stabilization, with an emphasis on operational performance and long-term value creation.

Michael began his career in commercial real estate in 1992, leading the operations of New York's first industry-wide commercial real estate information system. He later played a key role in the company's sale to CoStar and remained with the firm for two years, working directly with founder Andrew Florance on regional and national expansion initiatives.

In 1996, Michael joined GVA Williams as Executive Managing Director of Brokerage Services, overseeing day-to-day operations of the brokerage services division and reporting directly to the firm's CEO. In 1997, he partnered with GVA Williams to launch a pioneering marketing company that utilized animation, photography, and video to create interactive leasing materials for large-scale development and redevelopment projects. Notable assignments included 4 Times Square, the 1.8-million-square-foot headquarters development by The Durst Organization, and 2 Broadway, a 1.6-million-square-foot redevelopment in New York City.

Zach Wilson

Chief Financial Officer

Zach Wilson joined Alfred Weissman Real Estate in August 2023 as Chief Financial Officer, overseeing all accounting and finance functions for the firm. Zach brings a multi-disciplinary financial background spanning public accounting, publicly traded REITs, and private equity real estate — giving him a comprehensive command of the financial structures that underpin complex development and investment activity.

At AWRE, Zach manages financial reporting, capital planning, and accounting operations across the firm's hospitality and development portfolio, including the DoubleTree by Hilton properties, the Heritage Hotel, and the Hampton Inn & Suites. He plays a central role in the financing strategy for The Orchards luxury resort in Bennington, Vermont, where the capital stack includes EB-5 equity, USDA debt, historic tax credits, and conventional construction financing — one of the more sophisticated development finance structures in the current market.

Before joining AWRE, Zach spent several years in private equity real estate in the New York area, serving as a key member of an asset management team overseeing a portfolio of industrial, office, and multifamily properties for international investors. Prior to that, he was part of the finance team at a publicly traded REIT focused on redeveloping mixed-use assets. He began his career in public accounting in the Washington, DC area, working with clients in the real estate, construction, union, and benefit plan industries.

Zach holds a BS in Accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park and is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Maryland.

Brian Mcclave

Director of Operations

Brian McClave brings more than 20 years of construction and project management experience to Alfred Weissman Real Estate, where he serves as Director of Operations. Brian oversees the physical execution of AWRE's development capital improvement and renovation projects, ensuring that complex construction programs are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest standard of quality.

Brian was the lead construction manager for the ground-up development of the Hampton Inn & Suites in Yonkers, NY — a 150-room, five-story hotel.  Managing every phase from site work through opening, Brian coordinated general contractors, consultants, and brand standards to deliver a full-service hotel in one of the New York metro area's most active markets. He also directed a $5 million renovation of the Heritage Hotel, Golf, Spa & Conference Center in Southbury, CT, and has overseen construction and renovation activity across AWRE's broader hospitality portfolio, including the DoubleTree by Hilton properties.

Brian also played a key role in the construction work related to The St. Regis Residences in Rye, NY — the first standalone St. Regis Residences project in the world — coordinating on-site execution for a development defined by ultra-luxury finishes, amenities, and services. That experience, combined with his ground-up hotel work, directly informs his current role supporting the development of The Orchards luxury resort in Bennington, Vermont.

Prior to joining AWRE, Brian ran McClave Construction Management, his own firm, where he managed a wide range of public and private projects for school districts, public housing authorities, and library districts — including Smithtown CSD, Valley Stream CSD, Rockville Centre Library District, and Sachem CSD — as well as private clients including the conversion of a nursing home into medical office space for Harbor Setauket Real Estate. Brian is a LEED Accredited Professional.