Bob Knakal, Chairman and CEO of BKREA and one of the most accomplished investment sales brokers in U.S. history, proudly announces the launch of Sterling Property Group by Adam Hess—marking the 32nd firm founded by a Massey Knakal-trained alum.
-- Bob Knakal, Chairman and CEO of BKREA and one of the most prolific investment sales brokers in U.S. history, proudly announces that former colleague Adam Hess has launched a new investment sales brokerage, Sterling Property Group. Hess becomes the 32nd entrepreneur to start or lead a company after training under the Massey Knakal Realty Services system — a legacy that Knakal calls his most meaningful achievement.
Knakal and his business partner Paul Massey founded Massey Knakal Realty Services in 1988, starting with just two people and a secretary. Over the next 26 years, they grew the firm to 250 professionals across four New York City offices, selling the business in 2014 for $100 million. During its peak, Massey Knakal sold over 4,000 buildings, outperforming the second-leading firm in New York City by more than three times for 14 consecutive years, a record unmatched in any U.S. market or sector according to CoStar Group.
While these achievements are historic, Knakal considers the personal growth and success of his former team members his proudest legacy. “How could that not be the proudest legacy of my career?” said Knakal. “Seeing people like Adam take what they learned and go on to build successful companies is what keeps me excited about this business.”
Hess, a former top producer at Massey Knakal, recently stepped away from his previous role to form Sterling Property Group, joining a long list of industry leaders who trace their roots back to Knakal’s mentorship.
Today at BKREA, Knakal is replicating this tradition, mentoring a new generation of real estate professionals. “People often ask me what keeps me going — the competition, the daily grind, the goal of selling 3,000 buildings? Yes, all of that. But what really keeps me going is watching those I’ve helped along the way grow and succeed.”
Knakal continues to innovate in brokerage, combining old-school analog data with advanced Artificial Intelligence tools to create a hybrid model that operates more like a developer than a traditional brokerage firm. He has also introduced a Policy & Zoning SWAT Team at BKREA, designed to help clients navigate New York City's complex zoning laws for better outcomes.
With 2,351 closed sales and counting, Bob Knakal’s influence on the industry continues to expand — not just through the buildings sold, but through the leaders he's helped shape.
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