Orsid was founded in 1955 by Albert Etingin, the father of our late Chairman Maks Etingin, on the principles of inclusion and community. Ever since its inception, Orsid has understood the value of treating people the way they wish to be treated – with respect and care. Maks solidified the Orsid ethic by carefully establishing one relationship at a time, allowing Orsid to grow into the trusted and valued company it is today.

 

The Orsid approach is to cultivate enduring relationships. We treat each of our clients as members of our family because it is our ethos and the foundation of our culture. Our current president, Neil Davidowitz, is committed to upholding that historic vision. As a real estate management industry pioneer in his own right, Neil has upheld Orsid as one of New York City’s largest and most well-regarded property management companies. We have a reputation for exceeding the expectations of the ever-changing New York City real estate market.

 

The highly trained Orsid team uses our collective expertise to provide the best real estate services we can. Known for our transparency, loyalty, and longevity, we stand ready to meet our current and future client’s needs today, tomorrow and well into the future.

Meet Our Executive Team

Meet the Orsid professionals dedicated to providing the best real estate management services available in New York City.

Neil Davidowitz, Esq.

Neil Davidowitz, Esq.

President

“In the end our role is to improve the quality of life for our residents and increase the value of their apartments.”

A management industry pioneer, Neil Davidowitz is regarded as an expert in the real estate field. As President of Orsid, Neil specializes in labor relations, litigation support, financial management and controls, long-term capital planning, governmental compliance, governing documents, and policies and procedures as it relates to sales, sublets, and refinancing. Neil graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1978 and his interest in and involvement with public service and government led him to Villanova University Law School during which he worked at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia. He followed as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office under the Honorable Robert M. Morgenthau and came to Orsid in 1986. Neil frequently speaks at industry events, writes articles for industry publications such as Real Estate Weekly and The Cooperator, and is quoted in mainstream media outlets such as The New York Times.

Andre Kaplan

Andre Kaplan

Chief Financial Officer

“As a fiduciary my goal is to understand my client’s needs, provide timely accurate financial information and build a system of checks and balances.”

Andre runs the operations of Orsid’s office and accounting team, and spends much time interacting with clients, answering questions and giving advice. Andre is instrumental in financial planning and analysis for all Orsid-managed buildings. Every Saturday in the Fall is spent reviewing and preparing the budget for each and every building. It was after meeting Orsid president Neil Davidowitz during a vacation in New York City that Andre Kaplan joined Orsid in 2001. Prior to coming on board as a controller, Andre spent his entire career involved in every aspect of the real-estate business—from data capture and accounting to property management—in South Africa, where he was born and raised. He has a degree in corporate law and finance, and for 12 years worked at the largest residential property management firm in South Africa, where he developed financial tools for capital improvement of cooperatives and ultimately became CFO.

Dennis DePaola, Esq.

Dennis DePaola, Esq.

Chief Legal Officer; Legal, Compliance, Energy

“The wisest and most experienced people in New York City residential real estate industry know that no one knows everything. The key to our success is always knowing how to find the answers and learning new things each and every day."

Dennis leads both Orsid’s Compliance and Energy departments. He is also the firm’s general counsel on many matters. The grandson of a prominent contractor in New York City’s construction industry in the ‘70s and ‘80s, this Long Island native spent his formative years working in construction. Through watching family members and on job sites himself, he learned many skills, including project management, reading plans, and estimating. He received a BS in Business Management with a minor in Philosophy from LeMoyne College in Syracuse and a Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University School of Law. After law school, he practiced at a real estate litigation firm where he led the Cooperative and Condominium Department. Dennis draws on this diverse background to advise Orsid’s clients on the myriad rules, regulations, and codes that affect their properties on a day-to-day basis, helping devise compliance strategies that make sense from a business and residential perspective.

Laura Krasner

Laura Krasner

Executive Vice President

“We at Orsid know that relationships are the most important thing in our business. We understand the needs and concerns of our clients and have the management and communication skills to get the job done."

Laura Krasner has been in the real estate business for more than 25 years.  Laura’s vast body of experience ranges from managing rental properties to managing the intricacies of Orsid’s largest and most prestigious condominiums and cooperatives.  She has a BBA in Finance and Investment from Baruch College which allows her to play an integral role in the annual budget process for each of the buildings under her supervision.  As part of the executive team Laura contributes valuable input at the corporate management level on all financial aspects of building management, including mortgage refinancing and commercial leasing. Since arriving at Orsid in 1998, Laura has remained personally involved with the accounts she supervises and believes that her involvement and history with these boards helps to solidify these relationships. Laura has been interviewed by The New York Times and industry publications such as Habitat.

Eric McPhee

Eric McPhee

Executive Vice President; Director of Risk Management

“As professionals, it is imperative that we maintain a thorough understanding of industry trends and fluctuations so that we are prepared to timely disseminate relevant information to our clients, enabling them to make sound decisions."

Eric contributes a critical perspective to the corporate management of Orsid. Eric McPhee joined Orsid in 2005 after spending years catering to the habitational real estate industry’s insurance needs. He has gained the real world experience that cannot be gleaned from books and studying for exams. Eric, who is licensed by the State of New York both as an insurance broker and a general adjuster, has combined his extensive insurance and risk-management experience with his expertise in real estate management to create an unprecedented understanding of the relationship between these two disciplines. Eric has applied his vast knowledge and keen insight into the New York City cooperative and condominium markets toward developing and now leading Orsid’s risk management program. Although operating many times behind the scenes, Eric is very much involved in various aspects of every building managed by Orsid. He studied at Manhattanville College and is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. Eric is considered an expert in his field and has been quoted in articles featured in several industry publications such as Habitat and the Cooperator.

Robbie Janowitz

Robbie Janowitz

Senior Vice President

“As we move forward, it is important that we maintain our historic values, while implementing numerous technology advances to better serve our clients."

Robbie plays an integral role in directing the Company’s operations, developing strategic plans that provide the foundation for Orsid’s future growth. He leads the continuing evolution of Orsid as it develops 21st Century technology and information management systems for the benefit of its clients, and also oversees Orsid’s Alterations Department.  Following his graduation from Muhlenberg College, Robbie worked for a major record label in the international marketing department, where he learned the importance of developing strong client relationships and delivering excellent customer service, understanding that these capabilities form the basis for a successful business. After obtaining his real estate salesperson license, Robbie first came to Orsid as an account executive in 2012, managing a portfolio of buildings.  His positions at Orsid have provided Robbie with the opportunity to blend his singular focus on client needs with his knowledge of all facets of the property management business.

Aaron Davidowitz, Esq.

Aaron Davidowitz, Esq.

Senior Vice President

“As a fourth-generation family-owned business, Orsid delivers first-class service to every client every day. Each building, board member, and shareholder that we have the privilege of serving become part of our Orsid family.”

As the great-grandson of Orsid’ s founder, Albert Etingin, Aaron grew up in the world of New York City property management. He joined Orsid’ s Executive Team in February 2021 and continues the family tradition of delivering unmatched, first-class service to each and every client. Prior to joining Orsid, Aaron worked as an Assistant District Attorney at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office prosecuting violent crimes and working with victims, social workers and other community stakeholders to enhance public safety. Aaron earned his JD and MBA from Washington University in Saint Louis, and his BA from Union College in Schenectady, New York.

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