ZION Named Multifamily Investment Firm of the Year at the Forbes Romania RED Global Awards
We are proud to announce that ZION has been named Multifamily Investment Firm of the Year in the USA category of the Forbes Romania RED Global Awards 2026. Our own Lav Bauta and Izzy Bauta accepted the award on behalf of the firm, and were profiled in the July–August 2026 issue of Forbes Romania.
The full list of winners is published on Forbes Romania.
The ceremony took place in Bucharest on June 17, 2026, the first RED Awards event to be held in Europe. For our team, it was a moment to step back and recognize the work behind every acquisition, every building we manage and every investor relationship we have built.
One Platform, From Acquisition to Exit
In its profile, Forbes Romania describes ZION, formerly Zion Equities, as a fully integrated multifamily platform covering acquisitions, operations and financing.
That integration is at the heart of how we work. Our investment offerings, asset management, property management, lending and finance, and insurance and risk teams operate as one platform across the full life of every asset, from acquisition through exit. Beyond our own portfolio, we provide property management, financing and insurance services to third-party owners through the same in-house teams.
One platform, from acquisition and financing through management and exit.
Our Leadership
Lav Bauta, Chief Executive Officer, sets ZION's strategy and leads acquisitions, financing, investment modeling and value-add repositioning. Under his direction, we have built the ability to arrange Agency, CMBS and HUD financing and put in place the operating standards that guide our portfolio. Lav earned his BA at Duke University and his MBA at Villanova University.
Izzy Bauta, Chief Operating Officer, leads ZION's operations and oversees our investment portfolio. His experience includes managing a private real estate fund of more than $200 million, and his focus is on turning multifamily assets into stable, long-term performers. Izzy is a graduate of Villanova University, where he earned both his BA and MBA.
Growth and Track Record
As highlighted in the feature, under Lav and Izzy's leadership ZION has grown its assets under management by more than 500 percent and its annual revenue by more than 600 percent, with new acquisitions exceeding $100 million. Together, they bring a combined track record of more than $500 million in transactions across institutional platforms and private equity.
Thank You
This recognition belongs to our entire team, and to the investors, owners and partners who trust us with their capital and their buildings. We are grateful to Forbes Romania and the RED Global Awards for the honor, and we look forward to building on it.
About ZION
ZION is a New York–based real estate investment and management firm focused on multifamily assets. Through our integrated platform, we source and acquire multifamily properties, execute value-add business plans, and manage buildings across all five boroughs of New York City, with more than 2,000 doors under management. Our investment offerings, asset management, property management, lending and finance, and insurance and risk teams work as one, giving investors and owners a single partner that approaches every asset with the discipline of an owner and the standards of an institution.
Source: Forbes Romania, July–August 2026, “RED Global Awards 2026: Multifamily Investment Firm of the Year Award, Lav Bauta & Izzy Bauta.” Photos: Forbes Romania / RED Global Awards.
