YREPNY Leadership Committee
Erik Dowling, Co-President
Erik's ability to connect and engage with professionals at every level and across all industry sectors brings value to every organization he serves.
Erik currently serves as Managing Director of Originations at Ninigret Realty Capital, a boutique firm specializing in opportunistic investments. Past positions include leadership roles at Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, Antares Investment Partners, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Wells Fargo Bank and National Australia Bank. Erik has over 15 years experience in the commercial real estate industry, working with financial institutions, development companies and entrepreneurial ventures.
Erik also serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Fireball Network, a training and consultancy firm based in New York City. The firm delivers comprehensive programs and services on networking, relationship building, business development, and related skill sets. Fireball Network's clients consist of professional services firms, entrepreneurs, artists, job seekers, and membership associations.
Erik is also the co-founder and co-president of YREPNY, The Young Real Estate Professionals of New York. YREPNY is a non-profit organization serving over 5,000 active members in the New York tri-state areas, The organization has affiliate chapters throughout the country, and is dedicated to providing career development, networking and job opportunities to young professionals across all sectors of the real estate industry.
Erik is an Alumni Association Board Member and adjunct professor, at the New York University Schack Real Estate Institute. Erik is a trustee and executive board member of the Neighborhood Charter School of Harlem. Erik earned his Masters Degree in Real Estate Finance from NYU Schack Real Estate Institute; and his BBA in Finance from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Isenberg School of Management. Erik and his wife and their two children live in Manhattan.
Mike Strug, Co-President; YREPNY Founder
Mike is the Founder of YREPNY. He has spent his career on the debt side. Mike was a bridge lender for Resource Real Estate Funding financing acquisition of valued added commercial properties nationwide. Previous lending positions for Mike include stints at IDBNY, Assurant and TIAA-CREF. Mike graduated from the Columbia Business School in 2001 with a concentration in Real Estate and Finance. Mike is a Texan as he was born and raised in Houston, TX. Before going to business school, Mike worked in commercial real estate for three years in Houston. Mike and his wife, Lisa, have two kids. Brett is 8 and Rebecca is 6.
Gerald Newman Gerald Newman graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with duel degrees in Political Science and Business Management. After graduation he became C.O.O of a small business in NJ. He eventually purchased this business and operated it for several years. Upon the sale of the company, he went to work for Wachovia Bank in their Business Banking area. He worked with Wachovia for 13 years doing new business development, commercial lending and consulting. He worked with several Branches setting up seminars teaching the personnel on how to effectively do commercial loans. He took his experience and relationships to establish a Commercial Mortgage business, American Capital Equity, and American Capital of New Jersey which he continues to do today. His companies can assist in obtaining loans for many different types of properties from multi-units, strip malls, condo conversions, construction and renovation, restaurants, bars, and service stations. He specializes in SBA loans for business expansion, the purchase of new equipment or working capital. He can offer business lines of credit, private placement, joint-ventures and hard money lending for any business need. Gerald and his family reside in Bergen County, NJ.
