Mineola, N.Y. - Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi announced today the selection of Insignia/ESG, one of the leading commercial real estate services companies in the world and one of the premier real estate firms in the New York metropolitan area, from an exceptionally qualified group of respondents to the County's Request for Proposal ("RFP") issued last month for strategic real estate planning services.

County Executive Suozzi and Insignia ESG CEO Rick Siegel discuss ways to improve space in the county facilities

"I was incredibly pleased with the response to our RFP. We had a difficult decision to make, but I am very satisfied with the result of our process, and impressed by the experience, scope and creative approach to managing real estate that Insignia will bring to Nassau County," said County Executive Suozzi.

He added, "I want to personally thank the members of all the firms that submitted proposals. We appreciate all the time and effort they made to respond. As the County implements its plan to dispose of surplus property, we look forward to working with many of these same firms, as well as with the entire real estate community."

Fifteen local and national firms responded to the County's RFP. The strategic real estate planning work will lay the foundation for the County's building consolidation plan, which proposes the development of five county campuses to house the majority of the county's functions.

"The building consolidation plan will enable the County to manage, for the first time, one of its most valuable strategic resources - real estate. Under County Executive Suozzi's leadership, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape the landscape of Nassau County government, and to provide a more habitable work environment for County employees. Insignia/ESG has proven to us that they are uniquely suited to meet all of the County's demands, and guide us through these essential processes," said Sheldon L. Cohen, who heads the County's Real Estate Planning and Development team.

With over 950 employees in 10 local offices, including a full-service office in Syosset, Insignia/ESG has garnered national and local recognition for its mastery of large, complex transactions on behalf of major corporations, institutions and government agencies. In the past year alone, the company secured new headquarters for major New York area organizations such as JP Morgan Chase, The New York Times Company, Deutsche Bank, Lehman Brothers, Marsh & McLennan, Metropolitan Life, Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. On Long Island, Insignia/ESG earned Reckson Associates' Deal of the Year Award in both 2000 and 2001 and the Association for a Better Long Island's Deal of the Year Award in 1999.

Stephen Siegel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Insignia/ESG, said, "We are extremely eager to work with Nassau County during this challenging period of restructuring. The team we've assembled is collectively one of the most experienced and hard-charging groups that you will find in the real estate industry."

County Executive Suozzi concluded, "This planning is part of the overall vision to restore Nassau County - we've gotten started with the Old Courthouse dome, and this is another significant step along the way. We are moving in the right direction, and with the help of partners like Insignia, we will make Nassau County "the best County in the country."