Custom Brokers

Manager / Associate Broker

Jason is dedicated to personal attention and understanding the individual needs of each of his clients. Born and raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, he graduated from Tufts University with degrees in Archaeology and Economics. The eight summers spent working on an Etruscan excavation in Tuscany have given him an appreciation of travel, fine food and wine, and the Italian language. Jason has helped many foreign clients, who value his understanding of European living and his intimate knowledge of New York City. When he is not working, Jason can be found surrounded by food – either in one of Manhattan’s many restaurants, or cooking a new recipe for friends.

Associate Broker

Tom Bohan graduated from Fordham University with a major in economics. Born in New York, Tom has 14 years of experience in the NYC real estate market. He is well-known throughout the real estate community for his many years of experience in sales and rentals as a broker and manager. His professionalism, strong ethics and high standards continue to inspire his top sales people.

Peter-Charles is a Native New Yorker, first and foremost.

Born and Bred in Brooklyn, Peter-Charles attended PS 116 in Murray Hill, the Prep for Prep Program on the UWS, and The Buckley School on the UES, before leaving NYC for Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard University.

Working in the real estate industry for over 7 years, he specializes in loft and townhouse rentals but has found homes for clients throughout the city.

Peter-Charles believes communication is key to a successful apartment search and is both capable of actively listening to client needs while suggesting strategic courses of action.  He operates his business as an informed partner to his clients, helping them identify their key needs, and locate a property that they can truly call home.  

For NEW Yorkers, his expert understanding of the city as a living breathing organism-- a network of products, services, people, places and things-- remains unsurpassed, and can prove to be a real asset to someone looking to get plugged in to the best NYC has to offer.

Whether studio rental, Brownstone sale, or office lease, Peter-Charles is your guy.

Mary Combs is grateful to work with the amazing folks at Custom Brokers! Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Mary applies all her education (BA, UC Santa Cruz and MA, Boston University) and work experience in international education, corporate marketing, and systems management to assisting clients in finding the perfect environment in which to thrive and prosper. She brings a unique knowledge of the "little villages" that make up both Manhattan and Brooklyn and relies upon diligent research and communications - as well as a positive outlook - to provide superior customer service to her clients. An aspiring artist and writer, she, her husband and their 3 sons have been active participants in the downtown community for over 15 years.

Linda Cook Mann has been a New Yorker since 1974. She is well-known throughout the real estate community as an experienced professional, and a caring person. She specializes in working with celebrities and relocations, especially for the many diplomatic missions to the UN. She has made sales from Fifth Avenue's posh co-ops to condos in Hell's Kitchen and Brooklyn. She prides herself on the fact that most of her customers are returns or referrals and says," My greatest joy in real estate is to find the home that truly makes you feel at home".

Having grown up in the hotel/restaurant business, Brian Cooney learned the importance of personalized service at an early age. Brian earned a B.A. in Business Management from North Carolina State University in 1990. After working coast to coast, he's proud to call New York City his home and real estate his career. He continues to provide professional service to his clients all throughout New York City.

Karen moved to New York City to pursue an art career. She fell in love with the energy and has been here ever since. As an early loft owner she has always believed in real estate investment and understands first hand the complex world of coop boards, lofts and NYC property ownership, which makes her reliable, and knowledgble to advise her customers. She takes the time to get to know her customers and really listens to them. She is honest, capable and hard working. Real Estate is a fun business and one which keeps her always on the go! 

Work with Doug, and using his over 20 years experience in resale’s, onsite sales and rental projects, he will remove the stressful guesswork out of the buying, selling and renting process. Doug easily helps explain unit value based upon incorporating recent sales comps and current availabilities and how to explain the confusion in square footage which is used to determine property value for buyers, sellers and appraisers. His expertise also consists of assistance with understanding building financials, helping prepare condo and or coop Board packages and board meeting coaching.  Doug’s also is skilled at navigating the nuances of the New York City Buildings Department in transactions where buyers need assistance in understanding the intricacies of this division.

Doug was born and raised in the New York Metropolitan area. His current home has been Manhattan for the last 20 years. Prior to real estate, Doug achieved an electronic technician’s degree in electronics from RCA in Manhattan. Represented multiple RF and electronics companies for 10 years where he covered military contractors and subcontractors across Connecticut, Westchester and Long Island.

He began his real estate career in 1988 where he was working in resale’s and rentals in Lower Manhattan. Over the years he has sold apartments at 300 West 23 St and 2 Grace Court in Brooklyn Heights. He has worked on-site sales projects at 71 Murray St. (Hastings Building), 473-475 Broadway (Hohner Buildings) and 655 6th Ave (The O’Neill Building).  His on-site rental project work includes 115 East 34 St.(The Murray Hill), 95 Worth St. (Saranac), 363 West 30 St (Chelsea Place), 111 Worth St, 97 & 107-119 Sullivan St. (Sullivan Mews), 450 6 Ave (The Villager), 77 West 15 St (The Left Bank), 301 Elizabeth St (Soho Court) and 205-227 East 66 St. (Manhattan East).

Al has an M.B.A. in real estate finance from the University of Texas, McCombs School of Business and a B.S. in hotel, restaurant and institutional management from Penn State University. He has extensive experience in the hospitality industry where he held the titles of Director and Managing Partner. As a real estate professional Al was an advisor to corporate clientele in the CMBS market as well as a consultant to non-profit development projects. He is a former collegiate soccer player and his hobbies include travel, surfing and skiing. Al is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and speaks some French and Italian as well. 

Although born and raised in a small town in Connecticut and educated in the rolling hills of Vermont, Lauren Kiel has always been a Manhattan girl at heart. As a graduate of Middlebury College, Lauren approaches her work with a fresh energy and with a strong work ethic. Some may consider Lauren the ultimate testimonial for the integrity and efficiency of Custom Brokers as a company because it was her experience first as their client that inspired her to pursue a career in real estate with them. It is Lauren's mission to give all of her clients the same honest, caring, and seamless experience that she had with her broker. Now a fulltime real estate agent as well as an New York actress, Lauren has found Custom Brokers to be her ever growing New York family.

Elzbieta Kielar has been involved in New York Real Estate for over two decades, where she has  specializes in SoHo rentals and sales. She is especially familiar with the neighborhood, which she has called home since 1977, the year she arrived to New York from her native Poland. As the President of her Co-op, Elzbieta knows the ins and outs of boards, and has personal connections across the neighborhood, which has served clients well.     

As an ex-expatriate herself, Barbara Konings is an expert in understanding the wants and needs of professionals relocating to the city from abroad. Originally from the Netherlands, Barbara moved to New York seven years ago and quickly found herself immersed in the vibrant art world here, as well as in Los Angeles. Fluent in Dutch, German, and French, and conversant in Spanish and Italian, Barbara is able to move between tongues with ease.  Barbara first joined Custom Brokers as a client, renting a loft in SoHo, and later using Suzanne to find her dream loft in the Bowery. As the business is always moving, so is she,  and you can see her riding her Dutch bike through the streets of Lower Manhattan, as if she were in Amsterdam.  

Associate Broker

Dolores has been a broker for 28 years, although her NYU background was in music and business for the arts. But when she discovered real estate, its flexibility, and meeting lovely people from all around the world, the Arts took a back seat.  It all came together in Sales, Property Management, and helping her clients with that great apartment or townhouse, mostly with uptown brokerage, but actually with sales all over the Big Apple. Dee has also had the opportunity to serve clients in Manila and Paris. She feels this is now an interesting moment for real estate in New York City, and looks forward to working hard with her NY clients, New & Old, who continue to refer her or come back to sell, rent or buy again in this world famous market.  

Lic. RE Salesperson

Bill Massof, originally from Minneapolis, moved to New York City in 1983.  An actor and model with an M.A. in philosophy, Bill has the focused ability to listen and respond to the unique needs of his customers.  With a keen interest in the city and its various neighborhoods, he enjoys the challenge of matching people to their perfect home.

Sheilisa McNeal is a professional communicator with many irons in the fire including a successful career in public relations, marketing and communications for 10+ years prior to her foray into the real estate market. A native New Yorker with a natural love affair with the city, she added the title "real estate broker" to her resume in 2004. Finding the perfect place for her customers and the best price for her clients is her #1 priority and explains why 95% of her business comes from personal referrals. When she is not working her real estate magic, she can be found in the classroom at New York University's School of Continuing and Professional studies where she is an Adjunct Instructor teaching Writing for Marketing Communications. Sheilisa believes that the ability to communicate through varied mediums is the key to success in any field. So, if you're looking for a knowledgeable broker, with a realistic grasp of the market and a sense of caring and compassion, then Sheilisa is the broker for you!

Anita Michaels has successfully represented both buyers and sellers in Real Estate transactions in Manhattan since 1982. Her experience includes co-op conversions, on-site as Director for the Solow Building Company and Director of Sales for J. Clarence Davies. She has a worldwide customer base where her language facilities in French, Spanish & Italian have been a plus. Anita comes to Real Estate from the Theater and Broadcasting Industries. The stage she says is much like an empty apartment that allows her to visualize potential. This perspective along with her experience in advertising gives her a marketing edge. She has both sold and represented clients citywide as well as worldwide. She knows New York neighborhoods and their properties. If you’re looking for experience and “know how”, look no further.

 Sandra has been an active member of the real estate community for the past nine years, and is dedicated to providing the finest support and service available in the Industry. Fluent in Spanish and English, she is hailed as a professional who understands the complexities and sophistication of the ever changing market. Sandra goes the extra mile to help all of her customers achieve their goals.  

Miljan Plavsic was born and raised in Serbia, and graduated from the University of Belgrade, with an MA in languages in literature.  He came to New York for a short visit 7 years ago, was hooked on the city’s vibrant energy and never looked back.  Miljan (pronounced like “million”) has a strong background in the hospitality industry in the US and in Europe, and is committed to helping both longtime NYCers and new residents find the home that best suits their needs and wishes.

Michelle has worked in NYC for 37 years and has lived in many of the most popular neighborhoods such as Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the West Village, the Lower East Side, Brooklyn’s Park Slope, and Victorian Flatbush, where she now lives and co-owns a recording studio, Park West Studios, with her husband.   She has written music for film and CD’s of which many have been recorded by some of the worlds finest musicians.

Through these experiences in music, her familiarity with all the up and coming neighborhoods in Brooklyn, and alot of hard work, Michelle has established a loyal customer base and great rapport with buyers, sellers, and renters alike. 

In just six years, she has transacted enough sale and rental business to be completely at ease in any style of real estate transaction. 

Having lived in Los Angeles, Manhattan, and Mexico City for a number of years, Michael has a unique understanding of urban centers and their dynamics.  As an entrepreneur and veteran of the film business, He is comfortable with an array of personalities and perspectives.  As a broker, this experience allows him to process information quickly and effectively.  It has been the critical difference between a deal made or lost.  His familiarity with New York's fast paced market for the last dozen years puts him in a position to see subtlety and trend, which others may not, allowing him to create confidence and opportunity for his client's, as he helps  them navigate successfully to their new home.  On his own time, Michael enjoys taking architechtural photo's, writing, and spending time with his son, Luke.

Rachel Styne showed an early instinct for NYC's real estate market when she purchased her first loft downtown Manhattan at the young age of 21. Since then, she has used her gifted financial skills and knowledge to buy and sell various properties. Rachel works with many young professionals, couples and families, and uses her intuitive gifts to match them with a property that suits their short-term needs and long-term lifestyle goals.

Renée E. Warren's love of NY Real Estate comes from her love of the City and great architecture. As a young girl, she worked in her father's real estate development company in Norfolk, VA and says working beside her father early on created her foundation and appreciation of great buildings.
After moving to NYC and working for Dow Jones Inc., CNBC, co-founding Noelle-Elaine Media, Inc., and later creating Arielle-Wren, Inc., a boutique agency that incorporates all of her passions (i.e. teaching, media and real estate). Renée decided to join Custom Brokers to assist New Yorkers in finding the perfect home.
A true Manhattanite, Renée has lived in nearly every neighborhood in the City, from the Upper West Side, to Times Square, to Chelsea to Wall Street to Harlem. Her reputation for quality service and keen negotiation makes her the “go to” agent. She says her business is built on honesty, communication and finding the "perfect match" for both the buyer and seller.
She received her B.S from Old Dominion University in Virginia and her M.A. from Columbia University. She is the co-author of “You Buy the Peanut Butter, I’ll Get the Bread ...”

Robert Wilson has been involved in NYC Real Estate since 1974, as a sales broker, property manager, real estate consultant and building renovator. For years he ran an advertising, graphic and gift design firm, Blue Hen Graphics. He is a graduate of The University of Delaware's Media Arts Program and NYU's Real Estate Property Management School. In addition to sales brokerage experience, he brings extensive knowledge of building systems/mechanics and marketing to each client. Robert was awarded Property Manager of The Year by Cooperator Magazine in 2001. He has an investment portfolio of properties in the Pocono Mountains also. Robert is also a collector and an avid painter and member of the Salmagundi Art Club.