Investors

Officers

Officers

Kenneth F. Bernstein
President and Chief Executive Officer

Kenneth F. Bernstein is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Acadia Realty Trust, which he co-founded in 1998. Acadia Realty Trust is a real estate investment trust specializing in the acquisition, redevelopment, and management of open-air retail properties. The company currently owns and operates a portfolio of properties valued at approximately $5 billion throughout the United States.

Acadia manages a core real estate portfolio of approximately $3 billion of open-air retail properties dominated by street retail properties in key markets throughout the United States. Acadia also operates an investment management platform that manages a series of institutional joint ventures and discretionary investment funds. Acadia has recently completed its investments on behalf of Fund V, acquiring approximately $1.5 billion in retail properties. The company has also completed two separate account joint ventures with institutional partners.

In addition to his responsibilities at Acadia, Mr. Bernstein is a former Trustee of the Board of Trustees for the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), where he also served as the Chairman for 2017/2018. He is a member of the World President’s Organization (YPO-WPO), where he was the founding chairman of the Real Estate Network. Mr. Bernstein currently serves as a Global Governing Trustee for the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and is a member of the Board of Trustees for Golub Capital (NASDAQ: GBDC).

Previously, Mr. Bernstein served as Chief Operating Officer of RD Capital until its merger with Mark Centers Trust in 1998, creating Acadia Realty Trust. Prior to that, Mr. Bernstein was an associate with the New York law firm of Battle Fowler, LLP.

Mr. Bernstein received his BA from the University of Vermont and his JD from Boston University School of Law.

 

John Gottfried
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

John Gottfried joined Acadia Realty Trust in June 2016 as Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for all accounting, financial reporting, budgeting/forecasting, real estate finance, capital market activities, tax and treasury functions. He joined Acadia after 18 years at PwC, where he was a Partner and most recently served as the assurance leader of PwC’s New York City Real Estate practice. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Dayton and is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Jason Blacksberg, Esq.
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary

Jason Blacksberg joined Acadia in 2014 and is accountable for leading and executing Acadia’s legal strategy and affairs. He also maintains oversight of the Company’s ESG program. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Blacksberg was Senior Vice President of Investments & Assistant General Counsel at the Trump Organization. Before joining Trump, he was an Associate at the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell. Mr. Blacksberg began his legal career as a law clerk to Chief Judge Marilyn Huff in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of CA. He received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and has a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Richard M. Hartmann
Sr. Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
Mr. Hartmann is responsible for managing the operations of the accounting, lease administration and treasury functions. Prior to joining Acadia in 1997, he held positions at Kimco Realty Corporation and Coopers and Lybrand. Mr. Hartmann is a Certified Public Accountant and received a Master of Science in Real Estate Finance from New York University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Hofstra University.
Alexander Levine
Sr. Vice President, Leasing and Development
Alexander Levine joined Acadia in 2019 and oversees all leasing activities for Acadia’s core and fund platforms. Prior to Acadia, Mr. Levine served as Chief Operating Officer for Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., primarily overseeing all leasing and development activities across the company’s international portfolio of retail and hospitality assets. Mr. Levine attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor where he received a BA in Political Science.
Reginald Livingston
Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer
Mr. Livingston is responsible for the sourcing, underwriting and execution of core and value-add investments. Additionally, he directs the Asset Management of select properties in Acadia’s opportunity fund vehicles. Prior to joining Acadia, Mr. Livingston was a Principal at TerraMark, LLC, a development joint venture with Fisher Brothers in New York. Prior to TerraMark, he was a member of the Acquisition and Asset Management teams of UrbanAmerica, LP, a private equity real estate fund focused on retail and office assets. Mr. Livingston received his Bachelor of Science in Finance from Georgetown University and a Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University School of Law.
Heather Moore, Esq.
Sr. Vice President, Leasing Operations & Chief Compliance Officer
Ms. Moore has been a member of the legal department at Acadia since 2003. She is responsible for overseeing the leasing and landlord/tenant related matters and redevelopment projects, as well as the employment/human resource issues for the company. Prior to joining Acadia, Ms. Moore worked at the law firms of Shutts and Bowen, LLP and Tripp Scott, P.A., which are located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Ms. Moore received both her Bachelors of Business and law degree from the University of Miami. She is a member of the Florida Bar.
Joseph M. Napolitano
Sr. Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer

Joseph M. Napolitano has been Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Acadia Realty Trust since April 2007 and is accountable for managing the Company’s property management, human resources, marketing and information technology disciplines. He has been with the Company since 1995, and has 35 years of real estate experience. Mr. Napolitano has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Adelphi University, is a Master Human Capital Strategist (MHCS) as certified by the Human Capital Institute, is a Certified Property Manager (CPM) by the Institute of Real Estate Management, and is a Real Property Administrator (RPA) certified by the Building Owners and Managers Institute International. Mr. Napolitano is also a board member for DDI (Developmental Disabilities Institute), a non-profit, multi-site agency serving the special needs of children with Autism and other developmental disabilities.

Mark O'Connor
Sr. Vice President, Property Management
Mr. O’Connor oversees Acadia’s property management, construction, and risk management divisions. These divisions are accountable for the overseeing of all day to day operations such as repairs and maintenance, site improvement and development, construction, contract administration, site safety and loss prevention, tenant relations, city/municipality relations, capital improvements, expense budgeting, tenant construction oversight, environmental and social oversight including but not limited to Acadia’s ESG initiatives, emergency preparation and response, and more. Mr. O’Connor is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, is a Certified Shopping Center Manager (CSM, ICSC), a licensed New York State Real Estate Salesperson and a Board of Education Trustee for the Mahopac Central School District (2017-2020). Prior to joining Acadia in 2007, Mr. O’Connor was employed in the property management discipline with Simon Property Group (1997-2007) and Central Parking Corporation (1992-1997).
Douglas Austin
Vice President, Tenant Coordination and DE&I Coordinator
Douglas Austin joined Acadia in 2004 from Cushman & Wakefield and throughout his tenure at Acadia has cross-trained in several departments. This unique perspective makes him quite adept at supervising projects across all disciplines. Douglas has played a key role in developing Acadia’s Tenant Coordination division. Tenant Coordination is a conduit between the Tenants and Landlord’s Acquisitions, Legal, Leasing, Construction, Lease Administration, Asset Management, Accounting and Property Management teams. Acadia has approximately 2,000 tenants. This connection helps to facilitate a smooth transition for the tenant on-boarding & off-boarding processes. Douglas also plays a key role in Acadia’s Social Awareness programs, leading several annual charitable events. Douglas is a graduate of The University of California at Davis with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology.
David Craine
Vice President, Accounting
Mr. Craine is responsible for overseeing various components of Acadia’s accounting division. Mr. Craine has been with the Company since 2005. Mr. Craine is a Certified Public Accountant and received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Cornell University in 2001.
Kevin Fitzgerald
Vice President, Controller
Mr. Fitzgerald is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the accounting department and production of financial reports. Prior to joining Acadia in 2012, Mr. Fitzgerald was an Accountant at Grassi & Co. (formerly Kahn Hoffman & Hochman) and an Account Executive at JPMorgan Chase. He received a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Pace University.
Jeremy Hill
Vice President, Property Management
Mr. Hill joined Acadia in 2007 as a project manager within the company’s construction department and played key roles in redeveloping several of the company’s NYC urban projects. In 2012, Mr. Hill transitioned to Acadia’s property management team where he is responsible for managing ~ 2M sf of AKR’s portfolio, along with being accountable for overseeing multiple regional managers. Mr. Hill also plays a key role in overseeing the due diligence process for property operations, as well as supervising property management’s construction projects. Mr. Hill is a graduate of Manhattanville College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts and is a Certified Shopping Center Manager (CSM of ICSC).
Elizabeth (Liz) King
Vice President, Treasury
Liz joins us from the Blackstone Group where she worked both in the New York and London. Her 17 years of experience makes her a versatile financial leader with a wealth of experience in Treasury and Accounting. Across her tenure at The Blackstone Group she successfully implemented various systems including a Global Treasury Management Workstation, a T&E system, and a Procurement system. She has built deep relationships with multiple banking partners both here in the US and abroad.
Christina Lamendola
Vice President, Strategic Lease Management
Ms. Lamendola is a seasoned professional overseeing the billing, collections, and receivables team while spearheading the implementation of the Company's tenant payment portal. With a track record of success, she negotiates deals with in-place tenants and drives enhancements to the Company's billing and collection strategies. Since joining in 2015, she has steadily advanced within the Lease Administration team, culminating in her most recent role as Senior Director, Lease Administration. Her strategic vision and leadership ensure efficient operations and optimal financial outcomes for the organization.
Douglas R. Miller
Vice President, Lease Administration
Mr. Miller is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Lease Administration Department, which includes all of the billing, collection and audit compliance for the entire portfolio as well as the Tenant Coordination function. Prior to joining Acadia in September 2005, Mr. Miller was Director of Lease Administration for New Plan Excel (currently Brixmor) and Senior Commission Accountant for Cushman & Wakefield, compiling over twenty years of real estate experience. Mr. Miller holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from Boston University.
Tracey Mitnick
Vice President, Leasing
Tracey Mitnick’s primary focus is the leasing of Acadia’s urban portfolio. Ms. Mitnick has been with Acadia since 2014 and will utilize her extensive brand knowledge and strong industry relationships in the luxury, advanced contemporary and digitally native categories to drive value across Acadia’s urban portfolio, as well as play an integral role in Acadia’s diligence process for prospective investments.
Robert Pappa
Vice President, Financial Forecasting and Analysis

Mr. Pappa is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the accounting department. Prior to joining Acadia in 2007, Mr. Pappa was employed at Urstadt Biddle Properties as a property accountant and received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut.

Antonella Pomara, Esq.
Vice President, Assistant General Counsel
Antonella Pomara advises the Company on a variety of legal matters, with a focus on matters related to the Company’s corporate, fund and transactional activity, and is involved in overseeing the Company’s environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) program. Prior to joining the Company in 2020, Ms. Pomara was a Vice President at BlackRock, providing legal support on real estate and private fund investments. Before joining BlackRock, Ms. Pomara was an Associate at the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton. She received her law degree from the University of Chicago Law School and has a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College of Columbia University.
David Rodriguez
Vice President, Information Technology
David Rodriguez is the VP of Information Technology and has been with Acadia since 2013. With over 25 years of experience, David has been instrumental in our efforts to expand and protect the business by leveraging cloud computing technologies. David has held numerous senior management positions for various companies in the Hospitality, Manufacturing and Retail industry. His last position was Director of Operations and Solutions Architect for Align, a prestigious IT consulting firm supporting financial institutions in the Wall Street area. David’s specialties include Cloud Technology, Network Design, Cyber Security and Compliance Auditing.
Ryan Segal
Vice President, Property Management
Mr. Segal joined Acadia Realty Trust in August of 2011, opening the Chicago Regional Office. Mr. Segal’s responsibilities include property management oversight of 3+ million SF, located in the Midwest and West Coast. Mr. Segal graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, is an Illinois Licensed Real Estate Broker and member of the Chicago Association of Realtors, is a Certified Shopping Center Manager and Certified Retail Real Estate Professional by the International Council of Shopping Centers (CSM, CRRP) as well as serves as Commissioner and Vice Chair of the State Street Commission (City of Chicago - SSA #1, 2017-Present.)
Tulani Thaw, Esq.
Vice President, Assistant General Counsel
Tulani Thaw advises the Company on a variety of legal matters, with a focus on matters related to the Company’s core and fund transactional activity. Prior to joining Acadia in 2015, Ms. Thaw was an Associate at the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. Ms. Thaw received her A.B. from Brown University and her J.D. from New York University School of Law, where she was a Notes Editor for the New York University Law Review.
Lesley Valente
Vice President, Human Resources
Ms. Valente joined Acadia in February 2020 and oversees the Company’s human resources operations and drives its Human Capital Plan. Ms. Valente also sits on the Company’s internal ESG and diversity, equity and inclusion committees. Ms. Valente has over 15 years of human resources experience in diverse industries and obtained her PHR certification in 2012. Ms. Valente is a graduate of the University of Scranton with a Bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in business and has a master’s degree from Pace University.
Karen Yamrus
Asst. Vice President, Senior Paralegal
Ms. Yamrus has been a member of the Acadia legal team since its inception in 1998 and has over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry. She concentrates her efforts in the commercial real estate area in negotiating, drafting and documenting retail lease agreements and related legal contracts. Prior to joining Acadia, Ms. Yamrus worked for Mark Centers Trust as Senior Paralegal from 1987 to 1998. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Legal Assistant Certification from King's College, Wilkes-Barre, PA. Ms. Yamrus maintains membership in the International Council of Shopping Centers and is also licensed as a Real Estate Sales person by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.