News

Alfred Sanzari Enterprises announces the retirement of Jerry L. Barta, Director and Vice President of Leasing and Marketing, after 30 years of dedicated service to the firm.

Over his distinguished career, Barta has left an indelible mark on the highly respected northern New Jersey commercial real estate company. Guided by an unmatched understanding of deal economics and market conditions, Barta has negotiated over $1B of commercial leases with hundreds of tenants across the firm’s six-million-square-foot portfolio to consistently achieve and maintain above-market occupancy and rental rates.

“In his time with Alfred Sanzari Enterprises, Jerry has exemplified the core values of hard work, integrity, loyalty, and passion that our firm was founded upon,” said David Sanzari, CEO of Alfred Sanzari Enterprises. “The Sanzari family extends our most heartfelt thanks to Jerry for everything he has done for us over the last three decades, and we wish him all the best in his much-deserved retirement.”

After getting his Juris Doctor degree with honors from the Benjamin N. Cordozo School of Law, Barta worked in Manhattan and Long Island, primarily in high-end residential development as well as multi-tenant commercial real estate. In 1992, working under Mitch Arkin at Rockrose Development Corporation, Barta gained an even deeper understanding of the commercial real estate leasing process.  Several years later, searching for a new challenge that would allow him to continue working with the “kaleidoscope” of commercial leasing, Barta replied to a New York Times classified ad looking for someone to work for a “prominent Bergen County developer.” The prominent Bergen County developer turned out to be Alfred Sanzari Enterprises.

Joining the company in 1994, Barta worked closely with the company’s Founder, Alfred N. Sanzari, CEO David Sanzari and Vice President of Leasing and Marketing, Roger van Voorhees, to oversee leasing across its portfolio. Guided by a strong work ethic and ability to build relationships throughout the industry, Barta quickly became a trusted member of the leasing team soon rising to the role of Director just one year into his time with the company. Working closely with all three generations of Sanzari family leadership, Barta’s ability to drive leasing results played a critical role in the success of the company‘s long-term ownership strategy through a variety of market conditions.

Ryan Sanzari, President of Alfred Sanzari Enterprises continued, “I have been fortunate to know Jerry for most of my life. Over the past 30 years, I’ve learned invaluable lessons from him about leadership, commercial real estate and, most importantly, life, that I will carry with me forever. I thank him for his dedication to our business and congratulate him on beginning this exciting phase of his life.”

Barta added, “It’s bittersweet to leave a place that has been a cornerstone of my life for the past thirty years. I will deeply miss the relationships I’ve built with tenants, brokers and colleagues across the industry and especially the daily camaraderie with the Alfred Sanzari Enterprises team. However, I know the firm will continue its legacy of success under the strong leadership of my colleagues. The team in place is truly second to none.”

Beyond his leasing success, Barta has also served as a trusted mentor to employees across the organization. Most recently, Barta has worked closely with Carolina Gutierrez, the company’s Manager of Leasing and Marketing since she joined the firm in 2019. Through her strong work ethic, strategic thinking and Barta’s mentorship, Gutierrez has become one of the industry’s fastest-rising stars.

Gutierrez detailed, “I could not ask for a better mentor and friend than Jerry. His guidance has been invaluable to my career advancement over the past five years. I cannot thank him enough for everything he has done for me and our firm. I wish him all the best in his retirement.”

As it looks ahead, Alfred Sanzari Enterprises has tapped Christopher DeLorenzo as the firm’s new Director and Vice President of Leasing and Marketing. DeLorenzo joins the firm from The Birch Group where he recently served as Executive Vice President overseeing its over 6.5M-square-foot commercial portfolio. Prior to The Birch Group, DeLorenzo also held leadership roles with JLL and the Mack-Cali Realty Corporation.