In 2020, Zubatkin created the Erica Lindenbaum Tishman Leadership Award to honor her life, commemorate her longstanding influence, and to foster a culture that aligns with Zubatkin’s values of character and integrity.
The annual recognition is presented to someone who personifies the values and embodies the spirit that Erica represented every single day, demonstrating exceptional leadership skills, an interest in mentorship and developing peers, a passion for resolving a particular challenge, empathy towards others, and a commitment to community service.
2023 Award Recipients: Andrew Bast and Lisa Brands
The ELT Leadership Award Selection Committee is excited to announce Andrew Bast and Lisa Brands as the recipients of this year’s Erica Lindenbaum Tishman Leadership Award. For the first time in the nomination process, we had two names rise to the top and the Committee felt strongly that both finalists were deserving of recognition.
Andrew Bast
Over his twenty-seven years with Zubatkin, Andy has established himself as a respected leader who is often sought out for his strategic approach and technical expertise. He is a consummate professional and is passionate about sharing his knowledge with others. His endless energy has been integral to fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration within our organization.
Andy is a strong supporter of our philanthropic efforts at the office and has served as a mentor to many of our project management staff. He has also volunteered his time as a Big Brother and as a member of the Board of Trustees with the Stephen Gaynor School, a pre-K through 8th grade independent school in Manhattan for children with language-based learning differences.
Andy selected the Wounded Warrior Project as the charity that will receive a donation in his honor as part of the Award.
Lisa Brands
A true “go-to” person within our organization, Lisa possesses a unique combination of family values and quiet confidence. With perpetual grace, she leads by example and has been an inspiration and mentor to many of our staff. Whether solving a work-related issue or providing a comforting word, she is always there for anyone who needs her. She is both the guiding light for our administrative and operational teams internally, and an ambassador for Zubatkin externally as she has forged relationships with many of our clients over her twelve years with the firm.
In her personal life, Lisa is a mother and wife who is deeply committed to her family and faith. She is a great supporter of our outreach efforts at Zubatkin and has taken part in many community outreach initiatives with her church.
In honor of her son who is a survivor of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, Lisa selected the Histiocytosis Association as the charity that will receive a donation. This organization is dedicated to supporting patients and their families dealing with the effects of this rare cancer while leading the search for a cure.
2022 Award Recipient: Connie Jacklitsch
The ELT Award Selection Committee is pleased to announce Connie Jacklitsch as the recipient of the 2022 Erica Lindenbaum Tishman Award.
Connie has had a tremendous impact on every aspect of our firm and has been nominated every year since the awards program was established. In her over 17 years at Zubatkin, she has led our Administrative Team and partnered with our Management Team to deliver the highest level of excellence for our clients. She mentors and develops the support functions of Zubatkin as a key backbone of our business – making sure that nothing skips a beat across all of the varying demands and details that come up in our day-to-day operations. Connie is also instrumental to promoting our family culture and values. Her compassionate leadership is recognized by all those who have worked with her. She wears many hats – “advisor, counselor, coach, listener, or implementer of change” – depending on the situation at hand. We are extremely lucky to have her on our team.
As this year’s recipient, Connie has selected the Educational Alliance and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to receive a donation in her honor as part of the Award.
2021 Award Recipient: Kasey Pace
The ELT Award Selection Committee is excited to announce Kasey Pace as the recipient of this year’s Erica Lindenbaum Tishman Leadership Award. After much consideration, through a process driven by the memory of Erica’s spirit and passion, the Committee agreed that Kasey personified the award in many ways.
A recognized leader in the A/E/C industry and member of Zubatkin’s Leadership Team, Kasey was nominated in recognition of her strong work ethic, commitment to developing younger staff in their careers, and collaborative approach to problem-solving. Her dedication to community service is apparent through her involvement in many not-for-profit and industry organizations, including Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) New York, Women Builders Council (WBC), Women In Need (WIN) and the New York Building Congress (NYBC).
Kasey has selected Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) as the charity that will be receiving a donation from Zubatkin in her honor. She chose this organization because of its important mission of helping to empower and improve representation for women in the construction industry, as well as her own personal involvement in supporting the organization through the years from the successful completion of a NEW Signature Project, collaborative mentorship with NEW/CREWNY to most recently transitioning onto the NEW Ambassadors Council.
2020 Award Recipient: Larissa Albert
The Award Selection Committee reviewed a number of nominations and announced Larissa Albert as the inaugural recipient of the Erica Lindenbaum Tishman Leadership Award.
Larissa has been a key part of the Zubatkin team for over twelve years and leads our Project Controls department. The nominations in support of Larissa highlighted her strengths as a leader in supporting and empowering her peers, as well as her continued commitment to organizing a variety of volunteer initiatives to give back to the community in her personal life and through the Zubatkin outreach team. Her dedication to professional development is evident in her mentorship of others and willingness to share expertise with staff and clients alike.
Larissa has selected St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Back on My Feet as the charities that received a donation in her honor as part of the award.
Erica Lindenbaum Tishman
Erica Lindenbaum Tishman (1959–2019) was a Vice President with Zubatkin and an active member of the New York City not-for-profit community, serving on the Board of Trustees for the Educational Alliance, Central Synagogue, and Riverdale Country School.
Erica is fondly remembered as being a force in every aspect of her life -– from her beloved family and lifelong friendships, to her career as an architect and many years of community service, she brought passion and boundless energy to everything she touched. Although she was taken from us far too soon, we continue to be inspired by her memory and lasting legacy.