Join the Jewish Federation Real Estate Group (JFRE) for our 14th Annual Legends & Leaders signature event, an inspiring morning of networking with Philadelphia’s brightest in real estate and beyond.
The program will feature breakout discussions, offering a unique opportunity to engage with expert-led topics.
RSVP by Thursday, Nov. 5
EVENT DETAILS
Date & Time:
Thursday, Nov. 12
7:30–10:30 a.m.
Location:
Crystal Tea Room
9th Floor, The Wanamaker Building
100 E. Penn Square #9B
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Couvert:
- Complimentary for JFRE members
- Early-Bird Registration: $200 for non-members (through Wednesday, Sept. 30)
- Registration: $250 for non-members (Oct. 1–Nov. 5)
- If you want to become a JFRE member, please click here. For more information, email jfre@jewishphilly.org or call 215.832.0532.
Additional Information
- This event is intended for real estate professionals, JFRE members, and community leaders interested in networking, learning, and supporting the Jewish community through impactful philanthropic investments.
- A dairy / pescetarian breakfast is provided by Finley Catering.
- A self-paid parking garage is located under the Wanamaker Building. The entrance to the garage is off Juniper Street, between Penn Square and Chestnut Street. Bear right onto Juniper Street from Penn Square and the garage will be on your left.
- For security purposes, advance registration is required.
- Government IDs are subject to verification and bags are subject to search.
- For more information about this event, please email events@jewishphilly.org or call 215.832.0533.
- By attending this event, you agree to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Terms and Conditions.
HONORING THE 2026 hall of fame inductee
The JFRE Hall of Fame recognizes and honors outstanding leaders in the real estate industry who have made significant contributions to their profession and the community. Inductees are celebrated for their commitment to philanthropy, leadership, and impact, serving as role models within the JFRE and beyond.
Ron Caplan
President and Founder, PMC Property Group
A native of New England, Ron Caplan studied business management at Northeastern University before relocating to the Philadelphia area and launching his career in real estate development. In 1978, what started with the purchase of several single-family homes soon expanded into a collection of multi-unit housing ventures located throughout Philadelphia. Ron founded PMC Property Group, formerly the Philadelphia Management Company, in 1981 when the number and size of his properties had grown robust enough to require the services of a management company.
Since that time, Ron has assembled a general contracting division within PMC Property Group, making the company a full-service developer focused on adaptive reuse and ground-up new construction projects. Under his strategic direction, the company has become the largest owner and operator of rental units in Philadelphia and holds a strong presence in urban centers spanning 13 cities across eight states along the East Coast.
Breakout sessions & speakers
The program will feature rotating breakout discussions, offering a unique opportunity to engage with multiple expert-led topics. Attendees can explore diverse perspectives and gain insights on key industry trends in an interactive, dynamic format.
Peter Abrams
Founder
Abrams Realty & Development
Panelist: “Mall Redevelopment”
Dean Adler
CEO and Co-Founder
Lubert-Adler Partners, L.P.
Panelist: “Mall Redevelopment”
Judah Angster
Chief Executive Officer
Dwight City Group
Panelist: “Conversions”
Tom Bonner
Director of Policy, Advocacy and External Affairs
PECO
Panelist: “Data Centers”
Ron Caplan
President & Founder
PMC Property Group
Panelist: “Conversions”
Carl Dranoff
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dranoff Properties
Panelist: “Infrastructure”
Debbie Ferraro
Associate Vice President and Principal Engineer
Pennoni Associates
Panelist: “Infrastructure”
Geoffrey Glazer
Senior Vice President
National Development and Construction, Kimco Realty
Panelist: “Mall Redevelopment”
Benjamin Kirshner
Chief Transformation and Opportunity Officer
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Panelist: “Data Centers”
Lindsey Scannapieco
Managing Partner
Scout
Panelist: “Conversions”
Panelists: Judah Angster, Ron Caplan and Lindsey Scannepico
About the Breakout: Explore the conversion of old or underutilized buildings into new, functional spaces. The discussion will cover the challenges, innovative strategies and economic benefits of transforming historic or obsolete properties into their highest and best use.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS
Judah Angster
Judah Angster is the chief executive officer of Dwight City Group, directing corporate strategy, acquisitions and overall expansion. He previously managed the real estate investment arm at PCS Wireless and launched Castlerock Equity Group, directly acquiring more than $300 million in properties and overseeing $1 billion in assets. Angster began his career at Empire American Holdings on the debt and asset restructuring team. He currently serves on the board of Lightstone Group and is a guest lecturer at NYU’s Schack Institute of Real Estate. He is a graduate of Pace University School of Law and is Bar certified in New York and New Jersey.
Ron Caplan
A native of New England, Ron Caplan studied business management at Northeastern University before relocating to the Philadelphia area and launching his career in real estate development. In 1978, what started with the purchase of several single-family homes soon expanded into a collection of multi-unit housing ventures located throughout Philadelphia. Caplan founded PMC Property Group, formerly the Philadelphia Management Company, in 1981 when the number and size of his properties had grown robust enough to require the services of a management company.
Since that time, Caplan has assembled a general contracting division within PMC Property Group, making the company a full-service developer focused on adaptive reuse and ground-up new construction projects. Under his strategic direction and detailed, personal approach, the company has become the largest owner and operator of rental units in Philadelphia and holds a strong presence in urban centers spanning 13 cities across eight states along the East Coast.
Lindsey Scannepico
Lindsey Scannapieco leads Scout, an urban design and development practice focused on activating underutilized spaces. Her flagship projects include the transformation of the historic Bok building into an innovative space for makers, artisans and entrepreneurs. Her newest project, Village of Industry & Art, is the reimagining of an iconic cultural building at Pine and Broad, previously known as Hamilton and Furness Halls. Recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal’s “40 Under 40,” Scannapieco also serves as co-president of the Friends of FDR Park. Scannapieco holds a B.S. from the University of Southern California and a M.Sc. from the London School of Economics.
Panelists: Carl Dranoff and Debbie Ferraro
About the Breakout: Philadelphia’s infrastructure is at a pivotal moment, with major investments in transportation, utilities, public spaces and resilient systems shaping the city’s future. This panel will explore the opportunities, challenges and innovations driving infrastructure development, and how strategic partnerships can strengthen economic growth and quality of life across the region.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS
Carl Dranoff
Carl E. Dranoff is the president and Chief executive officer of Dranoff Properties, a Philadelphia-based development firm responsible for more than 1.4 million square feet of urban real estate valued at $1 billion. Over a 50-year career, his high-profile mixed-use and condominium projects have spearheaded the revitalization of neighborhoods including the Avenue of the Arts, Old City, and University City. Dranoff previously served as CEO of Historic Landmarks for Living and currently chairs the board of Avenue of the Arts, Inc. Dranoff has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune and The Philadelphia Inquirer. His accolades include “Developer of the Year” (Pennsylvania Builder’s Association) and recognition on Philadelphia Magazine’s “Most Influential People,” among others. Dranoff holds a B.S. and an Honorary Doctorate from Drexel University and a M.B.A from Harvard University.
Debbie Ferraro
Debbie Ferraro serves as associate vice president and principal engineer with Pennoni Associates, based in the firm’s Philadelphia office. She provides consulting services across project planning, design, permitting and construction. With more than 34 years of transportation engineering experience, she has managed complex infrastructure, traffic, and multimodal projects for public and private clients, including PennDOT, SEPTA, PhilaPort, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Ferraro’s work has earned industry awards and she has been featured in Forbes and published in Civil Engineering Magazine and Bridge Design & Engineering Magazine.
Panelists: Tom Bonner and Benjamin Kirshner
About the Breakout: Data centers are emerging as a critical driver of economic growth and technological innovation across the Greater Philadelphia region, supporting the expanding demands of AI, cloud computing and digital connectivity. This panel will explore the opportunities, infrastructure needs and policy considerations shaping the region’s data center ecosystem, and what it will take to position Philadelphia as a leading hub for the digital economy.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS
Tom Bonner
Tom Bonner serves as director of policy, advocacy and external affairs for PECO, analyzing federal, state, and local policy impact on resource adequacy, economic development, and clean energy. During his tenure, he led PECO’s successful $200 million Smart Grid Investment Grant application with the U.S. Department of Energy. Prior to joining PECO, Bonner was manager of congressional relations for MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company and worked as the associate director of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Washington, D.C. office. He serves on the boards of the Eastern PA Alliance for Clean Transportation (EP-ACT) and the Transportation Management Agency of Chester County (TMACC). He holds a Master of Planning from the University of Virginia and a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Benjamin Kirshner
Benjamin Kirshner serves as the inaugural chief transformation and opportunity officer for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In 2004, he founded digital performance marketing agency Elite SEM (later Tinuiti), guiding the firm through major private equity acquisitions and growth to more than 1,200 U.S. employees. His focus on corporate culture earned recognition as a top U.S. workplace for millennials on the “Today” show, along with rankings from Entrepreneur, Inc., and Crain’s. Before his appointment in the Shapiro administration, Kirshner taught digital marketing to second-year M.B.A. students at Harvard Business School for two years.
Panelists: Peter Abrams, Dean Adler and Geoffrey Glazer
About the Breakout: Mall redevelopment is reshaping communities across the Greater Philadelphia region, transforming underutilized retail centers into vibrant, mixed-use destinations that blend housing, entertainment, office space, healthcare and new retail concepts. This panel will examine the trends, challenges and opportunities driving these projects, and how innovative redevelopment is creating economic growth and redefining the future of suburban centers.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS
Peter Abrams
Peter Abrams is the founder of Abrams Realty & Development. He is an award-winning developer with decades of experience and projects throughout the region. He specializes in large-scale commercial retail redevelopments, including mixed-use projects throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Prior to launching his development career, Abrams spent seven years as a certified public accountant in the tax department at Grant Thornton, representing developers and syndicators. He is a lifelong Philadelphia resident and a graduate of Temple University.
Dean Adler
Dean Adler is the chief executive officer and co-founder of Lubert-Adler Partners, L.P., where he leads strategic direction and heads the investment committee for a firm managing $17 billion in assets. With more than 35 years of real estate experience, he has represented the Lubert-Adler Funds on the boards of Albertsons, LLC and Safehold, Inc. and formerly served on the board of Bed Bath & Beyond. Adler previously taught at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and is associated with Ernst & Whinney, Baker & Hostetler and CMS. He continues to be a keynote speaker for national real estate organizations, such as the Urban Land Institute and the International Council of Shopping Centers. He earned his C.P.A. in 1980, his B.S from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and his J.D. with honors from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
Geoffrey Glazer
Geoffrey Glazer serves as senior vice president of national development and construction at Kimco Realty, where he oversees master planning, mixed-use redevelopments and portfolio-wide construction. Since 2015, he has directed more than $2.5 billion in investments to reposition retail assets into Class A mixed-use projects. By the end of 2025, Kimco had more than 14,000 multi-family units entitled, operational or under construction, reflecting the depth of this platform. Before joining Kimco, Glazer was a partner at a Baltimore architectural firm. He has also taught graduate real estate courses at Columbia University and the University of Maryland. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Cincinnati.
ABOUT THE JEWISH FEDERATION REAL ESTATE GROUP
The Jewish Federation Real Estate (JFRE) group brings professionals together to learn, network and lead the way in creating a more secure Jewish world through philanthropic investments. Founded in 2008, JFRE is a membership-based affinity group of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
JEWISH FEDERATION REAL ESTATE LEADERSHIP
Jessica Morgan, Chair
Managing Principal, Annalett Capital
Jeremy B. Fogel, Vice Chair
Principal, Ironwood Property Group
Dan Berger, Immediate Past Chair
President, Berger Communities
Philip Balderston
Founder and CEO, Odin Properties LLC
Meredith Ferleger
Partner, Chair Zoning & Land Use Group at Dilworth Paxson LLP
Max Frankel
Principal, Frankel Enterprises
Adam Goodman
President, Goodman Properties
Jonathan Morgan
President and Founder, Morgan Properties JV
Jason Morganroth
Partner, Capital Solutions, Inc.
Malina Robbins
Senior Vice President, Commercial Real Estate WSFS Bank
Victor Rodin
Co-Founder and Principal, RREI LLC
David Waxman
Founder and Managing Partner, MMPartners
David Wolfson
Founder & Managing Partner at Modillion Partners
Spencer Yablon
Executive Vice President, CBRE | Capital Markets
Andrew Yaffe
Founder and CEO, Unified Companies
Presenting Sponsor
Thank you to Blank Rome, LLP, presenting sponsor for this year’s Legends and Leaders in honor of Ron Caplan’s induction into the JFRE Hall of Fame.
THANK YOU TO OUR ANNUAL SPONSORS
Are you interested in learning more about an annual JFRE sponsorship or becoming a JFRE member? Contact JFRE Director Alan Lepore at alepore@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0532.
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