Edwin H. Cohen ’62, owner and principal of Prism Capital Partners LLC and a veteran leader in New Jersey’s commercial real estate industry, has been named the recipient of the Charles Klatskin Lifetime Achievement Award by the New Jersey chapter of NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association.
The honor will be presented on May 14 at the NAIOP New Jersey’s 39th Annual Commercial Real Estate Awards Gala at The Palace at Somerset Park in New Jersey.
“Edwin Cohen’s achievements speak to a visionary and committed career in the real estate industry,” says Michelle J. Anderson, president of Brooklyn College. “His devoted engagement with Brooklyn College derives from a similar commitment to excellence. We are proud to celebrate this well‑earned recognition of his remarkable contributions.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award, named for Charles Klatskin, a pioneering leader in the state’s commercial real estate industry, annually recognizes an individual who has shown a distinguished record of service to the commercial real estate industry and community.
“Edwin Cohen’s career exemplifies the leadership, integrity, and long-term commitment that this award represents,” says Dan Kennedy, CEO of NAIOP NJ.
Cohen has been one of the most prominent figures in the Tri-State Regional real estate brokerage and development community for more than six decades. In 2003, he joined longtime friend and associate Eugene Diaz to form Prism Capital Partners LLC, where he serves as a partner and principal. Under their leadership, Prism has grown into a major owner, developer, and investor in residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use properties throughout New Jersey.
Over the course of his career, Cohen has completed hundreds of real estate transactions across the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut metropolitan area, including overseeing the leasing of several million square feet of office space. He previously served as an executive director at Cushman & Wakefield Inc., following senior leadership roles at Grubb & Ellis Company, where he held executive positions in both the firm’s New Jersey office and New York operations from 1986 to 1994.
Cohen’s career in real estate began in 1966, when he established and led the Suburban Division of Wm. A. White & Sons, a role he held until the firm’s acquisition by Grubb & Ellis in 1986.
In addition to his real estate achievements, Cohen has maintained a deep and long-standing commitment to education, culture, and community service. A graduate of Brooklyn College, he has served on the school’s Foundation Board of Trustees for over 30 years, including four years as chair. Brooklyn College awarded him its Presidential Medal in 2011, followed by the Best of Brooklyn Award from the Brooklyn College Foundation in 2015 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
Cohen has also been actively involved in the performing arts, helping produce and support numerous concerts and live entertainment events. These include the “Broadway by the Year” series at Town Hall, the “Broadway by the Season” series at Merkin Hall, performances at Manhattan’s 54 Below, and live entertainment at the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where he also serves as a founding trustee.
His community leadership extends to faith-based and cultural organizations as well. Cohen was a founding member of the New Synagogue of Fort Lee, contributing to the early concept for its Holocaust Museum and playing a key role in the eventual merger of Congregation Beth Israel and the New Synagogue, now known as the Center Avenue Synagogue Since the merger, he has served as a vice president on the synagogue’s board of trustees and as a member of the executive committee.
With a career marked by professional excellence and civic leadership, Cohen’s selection for NAIOP NJ’s Lifetime Achievement Award shines a light on his lasting impact on both the commercial real estate industry and the communities he has served.
