31. Jan Burman

One of the hottest developers in assisted living, commercial real estate and luxury condos, The Engel Burman Group began more than a decade ago when Jan Burman and Steven Krieger met as rivals competing for the same Long Island property. But in each other they saw a kindred spirit and formed a fruitful connection. The Garden City-based developer’s portfolio now includes prime properties from Montreal to Miami worth more than $1 billion. At the high end, they’re selling luxury condos like hot cakes at The Aqua, their new eight-story building with ocean views in Long Beach. For Long Island’s increasing elderly population, they just opened an assisted living development, The Bristal at East Northport. Credit Jan Burman for having the vision and the persistence, with his partners, to overcome the red tape and municipal inertia to get their projects approved and completed. Burman is also the founder, past president and chairman of the Association for a Better Long Island, the influential lobbying group for Long Island developers. Don’t let his long flowing locks fool you. Jan Burman is a real estate warrior.