Space Coast Broker Cassandra Hartford Among 300 Invited to the Third Annual Real Estate Gala in New York City

Melbourne, FL commercial real estate principal attends the most sought-after invite-only CRE event in the country, hosted by StripMallGuy Don Tepman and legendary NYC broker Bob Knakal

MELBOURNE, FL — Cassandra Hartford, principal broker of Reach Commercial Real Estate, was among just 300 commercial real estate professionals worldwide selected to attend the Third Annual Real Estate Gala in New York City on May 1, 2025. The black-tie, invitation-only event drew over 5,000 requests from brokers, developers, and investors across the globe. Only 300 received an invitation.

The gala was held on the 101st floor of Hudson Yards, one of New York City's most iconic addresses, and co-hosted by Don Tepman, President and Founder of TownCentre Capital and the nationally recognized voice behind the StripMallGuy brand (@realEstateTrent on X), and Bob Knakal, founder of BKREA and widely regarded as the most prolific individual investment sales broker in New York City history. Marketers MediaAgora

The event was sponsored by four of the most influential technology and data platforms in commercial real estate: Crexi, the leading CRE marketplace and transaction platform; Agora, the investment management platform built for real estate; Placer.ai, the foot traffic analytics platform used by retailers, brokers, and developers nationwide; and Trepp, the premier provider of CMBS, CRE, and banking data.

The evening was co-chaired by Beth Azor, known industry-wide as the "Canvassing Queen," and Justin Pugh, a former NFL offensive lineman turned commercial real estate operator. Jeff Blau, CEO of Related Companies, one of the largest private real estate firms in the United States, addressed the room from his offices in the same complex. BkreaCommercial Observer

Hartford, who has brokered commercial real estate transactions exclusively in Brevard County, Florida for over 17 years, was among a small number of Florida-based professionals in attendance. She founded Reach Commercial Real Estate as the only boutique commercial brokerage dedicated exclusively to the Space Coast market, handling leasing, investment sales, and advisory services across Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, Viera, Palm Bay, and the broader Brevard County corridor.

Her invitation reflects a national profile built through consistent content, market commentary, and community engagement on X, where RCRE operates as @SpaceCoastCRE.

"Commercial real estate has always been a relationship business," said Knakal at the event. "What platforms like X and LinkedIn have changed is the speed at which those relationships can now be built. A broker in a boutique market can now be in a genuine conversation with a capital markets firm in New York because they both showed up in the same deal thread. That is not a small shift."

Knakal has noted that his own content has generated more than 10 million impressions on LinkedIn and over 23 million across all platforms, and that he secured three exclusive listings totaling more than $105 million in a six-week span, each originating from connections made online. Marketers Media

Don Tepman, whose StripMallGuy account commands approximately 325,000 followers across platforms and has become a primary deal flow source for his firm, founded the gala to convert online relationships into face-to-face ones. What started as a small gathering of people who first connected over social media has grown into one of the most talked-about evenings in commercial real estate, drawing top dealmakers, developers, and rising stars each year.

For Hartford, the evening landed close to home. "Building your brand is not about going viral," said Hartford. "It is about staying visible long enough for the right people to remember your name when the right opportunity comes. Being in that room was a reminder that consistent work in a small market still opens doors at the national level. There is a lot more to build, but moments like this confirm the work is worth it."

Reach Commercial Real Estate serves owners, tenants, and investors across all commercial property types in Brevard County, Florida, including retail, office, industrial, flex, and investment properties. The firm is active across Melbourne, West Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Rockledge, Viera, Suntree, Palm Bay, and the full Space Coast corridor.

For leasing, sales, or investment inquiries, contact Reach Commercial Real Estate at 321-514-0876 or visit spacecoastcre.com