REBNY 2026 Honorees | James Wacht Among Award Winners

James Wacht’s Broker Recognition Award

The 2026 list of REBNY 2026 honorees featured several distinguished professionals whose work has had a lasting impact on the city’s real estate community. Among them was James Wacht, Managing Principal at Lee & Associates NYC, who received the Louis Smadbeck Memorial Broker Recognition Award for integrity, leadership and long-standing contributions to both the brokerage community and REBNY itself.

Wacht, a lifelong New Yorker and industry veteran, has led Lee & Associates NYC through significant growth and strategic expansion over decades, serving clients across commercial sectors and helping shape brokerage best practices in the region.

The 130th Real Estate Board of New York Annual program continues a long tradition of highlighting excellence across the industry. Held on January 22, 2026, at the iconic Waldorf Astoria New York — recently restored to its historic grandeur — the event featured awards presentations, networking opportunities and a formal dinner celebrating honorees’ achievements.

Industry veterans were acknowledged for everything from lifetime leadership to management excellence, reflecting the wide scope of talent and experience driving New York’s real estate markets forward. The annual event remains a cornerstone of the city’s commercial real estate calendar, convening leaders from public and private real estate circles.

The REBNY 2026 honorees reflect the depth of experience, leadership, and civic engagement driving the city’s real estate community forward.