ISSUE NO. 16 | May 23, 2022 | | |
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Dear 555 Community,
The weather is (finally!) getting warmer, the trees are becoming greener, and the new sunny days have gotten us all out happily strolling the city streets again. It is fitting, then, that in this issue of 555 Madison Connects we are stepping it up with an introduction for you all to one of your newest neighbors: Tod’s Group.
Roberto Lorenzini, CEO of the Americas for Tod’s Group, is featured in our tenant spotlight and he shares the scoop on their new headquarters here at 555 Madison Avenue. Neco Raghunandan, our porter, is in our employee spotlight and he talks about what has kept him at 555 Madison all these years.
We also share a few building updates, a new neighborhood app, and more, so happy reading!
The Rodney Corporation
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Please note: while we send this update to our designated tenant contact, we encourage you to share this newsletter and all issues with your entire staff so we can keep our community connected and informed. |
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TENANT SPOTLIGHT
A New Home for the Tod’s Group
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Roberto Lorenzini, CEO of the Americas, Tod’s Group | Tod’s Gommino Driving Shoes | |
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When the Tod’s Group was looking for a new corporate office in New York, it was up to Roberto Lorenzini, CEO of the Americas, to find the perfect location. His search brought him to 555 Madison Avenue and we were thrilled to welcome the Tod’s Group to the building back in September.
Roberto has led the American operations for the group since 2011, overseeing four brands (Tod’s, Roger Vivier, Hogan, and Fay) and functions ranging from brand development and communications to oversight of distribution and retail operations. In addition to the 23 retail stores in the U.S. (including their Madison and 60th Street location), Roberto oversees the entire corporate team of 40 that works from 555 Madison. Right now, the team is working from a temporary space on the 11th floor while they build out their permanent home on the 20th floor.
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“So far, we have been very pleased with the building and we are looking forward to moving into our space on the 20th floor,” said Roberto. “To have a new space is like a new beginning, especially after the pandemic. It’s like a new chapter for us and we are very excited for this moment. Originally, we were in midtown and then we moved to the Meatpacking District. So now we are back where it all began and there is a lot of optimism.”
Roberto had very specific requirements when looking for new offices. He needed the right neighborhood, the right neighbors, and the right partners to create just the perfect space.
“We wanted to be near our retail stores, our department store partners, among peers in the luxury and fashion industry, and to have a full floor to create our own space. 555 Madison was a perfect match,” noted Roberto.
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“The owners and management team of the building made this a very easy decision for us. They share our values and really care about the property and the tenants. They were authentic and have been great partners.” | |
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Tod’s Group will take over residence of the entire 20th floor in the coming months. The space will evoke the brand sensibilities of the group and feature two distinct and expansive showrooms: one for Tod’s and one for Roger Vivier. Private and shared offices for executives will line the perimeter and there will be plenty of space for collaborative working. “We are relatively a small team and we often meet and work together among departments,” said Roberto.
The notion of family runs deep and the new work home is not the only change afoot for Roberto. He welcomed his second child into the world about nine months ago, so growing homes and expanding families is both a personal and professional endeavor for him right now. “I try to balance the work and personal life. My wife and I have a passion for travel, but we need to be a bit more strategic now with two kids. I do travel quite a bit for work, but I am looking forward to going home to Italy this summer with my children. It will be the first time back in my hometown since the pandemic. It will be nice.”
Welcome home, Roberto. Welcome home.
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Neco Raghunandan
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Neco Raghunandan has spent half his life working at 555 Madison Avenue. That’s right, Neco has twenty-five years of service as the building’s day porter under his belt. He attributes his long tenure with the building to the people he works with and the fact that every day is a little bit different. “The owners are really good people. I have worked with three generations of the family and the staff is made up of really kind, caring people,” explains Neco.
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Neco begins each day making sure the lobby is clean and presentable for the tenants’ arrival. He wipes down the windows and cleans the water feature and floors, but that is where the routine part ends. With each day comes new house calls to attend to. “If a tenant has a problem, I respond in the moment. I could be moving furniture one minute or fixing a leaky sink the next.” The tenant services aspect of his job means he has met a lot of different and interesting people over the years and that interaction is also what he likes about 555 Madison.
“I am really happy I stumbled upon this job and that I was able to build a career here with people I care about. Originally, I was studying to be a mechanic but my girlfriend Nanda couldn’t stand the smell of gasoline on me at the end of a day’s work.”
Seems like the career shift worked out for her too - Nanda and Neco have been married for twenty-three years. They currently live in the Bronx with their daughter, son and dog. Both children are in college – one is studying Human Services and the other is studying Business. When not at work, Neco makes sure there is plenty of family time whether it’s a picnic and fishing outing to New Rochelle Bay, or just a relaxing evening at home watching “Friends.” The show is his daughter’s choice, but he admits he does have a favorite Friend: Ross.
Neco says his career at 555 has brought him great happiness – we know he has made our days much brighter.
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NEIGHBORHOOD HAPPENING
Madison Ave Now
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Did you know the Madison Avenue BID has launched an official loyalty program app for the Avenue? You can download Madison Avenue Now at the app store today.
- Explore fine dining and world-class luxury, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands.
- Earn points for purchases in participating boutiques, salons and restaurants.
- Use points to unlock a range of exclusive experiences and unique rewards.
- Keep coming back to discover new offerings, VIP opportunities, and insider announcements.
A list of participating businesses can be found here.
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High Rise Work: We are thrilled to announce that the ongoing work on the 19th and 20th floors will be completed in mid-June. We thank you for your continued understanding as we worked to transform the space for our newest tenant: Tod’s. | |
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Summer Ice Cream Social: You heard that right. It’s never too early to start talking about ice cream. Our summer ice cream social was a hit, so we are bringing it back.
If you have any tips on great new ice cream joints, email Aleisa at
aleisa.sulaman@rodneycorporation.com with the scoop.
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NEWS TIPS: We are eager to hear and share your news. Please send story tips and news items about your company and employees for consideration for this newsletter to: newsletter@rodneycorporation.com.
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Thank you for reading our newsletter!
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