Nick Tsapatsaris & Associates
Nick Tsapatsaris & Associates was founded in Ridgewood, New Jersey in 1992 and offers a wide array of services to our clients. With a strong collaborative team of in-house architects and engineers, construction managers, brokers and property managers, the typical team is often compared to a decathlete performing at a high level on all phases of a building’s lifecycle. Nick Tsapatsaris is also the owner of Lakos Construction, Inc., a separate construction firm that builds projects designed by Nick Tsapatsaris & Associates. Recent projects such as the 220,000 SF Guenther Mill which is an adaptive re-use of a 120-year-old Mill, into high tech and residential mixed-use has earned the prestigious 2017 New Jersey Smart Growth Award. The firm has also been recognized with a number of other awards including the 2010 New Jersey Business & Industry Association Good Neighbor Award for co-developing Center City, the largest single infill redevelopment effort in the past 100 years within the third largest urban city in New Jersey, downtown Paterson. The project consisted of a mixed-use urban redevelopment comprising of over 1,500,000 SF of Retail, Commercial and Residential structures which transformed and revitalized the city. These projects along with many others have been merited by our firm’s visionary planning for communities.
nick tsapatsaris, p.e., aia
Mr. Tsapatsaris is President of Nick Tsapatsaris & Associates. Under Nick’s leadership and through its affiliated companies, the firm has achieved all phases of a building’s lifecycle: Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Planning, Real Estate Development, Brokerage, Marketing, Leasing and Asset Management.
His current and past professional affiliations, have included Village of Ridgewood Historic Preservation Commission, Planning and Board of Adjustments, Engineer for the Borough of Rockleigh and its Land Use Boards, Greek American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, American Society of Civil Engineers, International Council for Shopping Centers, Board Member of the Paterson Chamber of Commerce, Engineering Advisory Board of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Engineering Advisory Board of The Cooper Union and Advisory Board and a Past Member of the MIT Center for Real Estate. He volunteers his expertise as the Architect for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey and the Building and Grounds Committee of Saint Nicholas Church in Wyckoff NJ.
Mr. Tsapatsaris holds a Masters of Science Degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a concentration in Real Estate. He also holds both a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (with distinction) and a Master of Science in Structural Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is licensed to practice Engineering in NJ,, FL, TX, WA, NY, MA, AZ and The Hellenic Republic as well as a Registered Architect in NJ.
Stacey vlavianos tsapatsaris
Ms. Tsapatsaris is a Registered Real Estate Broker responsible for implementing the company’s business plan, as well as overseeing all aspects of the company’s day to day operations, with an emphasis on the development and management of financial strategies, programs and procedures. Oversees all aspects of commercial office, retail and residential development and leasing for the affiliated companies.
Served as the Director of Leasing and Marketing responsible for promoting Center City Mall, a 320,000 square foot, retail and entertainment center serving to revitalize a densely populated and historically rich urban center (March 2005 – December 2010).
Prior to this role, Ms. Tsapatsaris served an uninterrupted 18 years of executive roles within the Investment Banking firms of Deutsche Bank, Bear Stearns and Citigroup. At Deutsche Bank Ms. Tsapatsaris served as Chief Operating Officer to a CIO of an 850-person division. Her responsibilities included Asset Management, Financial Control, Expense & Cost Control, Project & Resource Control, New Technologies, Marketing, Communications, Training and User Documentation, HR, Floor Operations, and Special Events Planning.
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robert verrengia, r.a., ncarb
Bob Verrengia is a Registered Architect and NCARB certificate holder with over twenty years of experience producing project drawing, contract administration, and project oversight during the construction phase. His current and past professional affiliations include service on the Borough of Hawthorne Planning Board and Economic Development Committee.
As a Project Manager, Bob has administered the construction of various use types including Multi-family Residential, Class-A Office, Retail, and Industrial space. During pre-construction, Bob’s knowledge of the zoning and permitting process with local jurisdiction enables him to expedite the process to ensure deadlines are met. During the construction phase he makes routine site visits to confirm that the work conforms with the drawings and specifications and is familiar with all of the AIA contract documents, including the General Conditions and Certifications for Payments. Upon project completion, Bob works closely with clients and tenants as they take occupancy of their new space to ensure a smooth transition.
A graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Mr. Verrengia holds a Bachelors of Architecture, as well as a Masters in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Construction Management. The combination of these two degrees has enabled him to have a broad ranging understanding of both Architectural and Engineering design and the construction process.
michael sas, r.a., ncarb
Mr. Sas is a licensed and NCARB certified architect operating the Seattle Office with over twenty years of experience working at Nick Tsapatsaris and Associates as a detail oriented project leader with the proven ability to manage both the creative and business aspects of a variety of projects including retail complexes, commercial buildings, single family residence and adaptive re-use of industrial warehouses.
As an architect Mr. Sas is proficient in executing contract documents and communicated directly with field teams. His communication skills have forged a strong working relationship with his clients to carry out and develop the technical needs of a project. This has allowed him to work directly with the city planners, engineers, code officials and contractors to complete the approvals for projects with multiple planning boards and historical preservation commissions.
A Graduate of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, Mr. Sas holds a Bachelors of Architecture. Mr. Sas has traveled extensively throughout Europe. His artistic capability lends him exceptional talent in design.
Douglas Ladzinski, Architectural Designer, Project Manager
Douglas Ladzinski is an Architectural Designer and Project Manager at Nick Tsapatsaris & Associates, supporting the delivery of commercial renovations, adaptive reuse projects, and tenant improvements throughout New Jersey and New York. He assists with project coordination across all phases of work, including construction documentation, consultant coordination, submittal review, and on-site support.
Doug joined the firm in 2023 and works closely with senior project managers, architects, and engineers to help execute design-build projects on schedule and within budget. His experience includes supporting high-end office renovations, industrial warehouse rehabilitations, and commercial tenant improvements.
Doug holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is OSHA 30–certified, currently completing AXP hours, and pursuing architectural licensure. He is an Associate Member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a member of the AIA Northern New Jersey Chapter. Prior to joining the firm, Doug gained architectural and field experience at several architecture and engineering firms, where he supported design development, construction documentation, and site coordination.
James Brett, Architectural Designer, Project Manager
James Brett is a dedicated Architectural Designer and Property Manager with a strong foundation in both design and project leadership. A graduate of Michael Graves College, School of Public Architecture at Kean University, James earned a Bachelor’s in Architectural Studies and a Masters in Architecture, combining academic rigor with real-world design expertise.
Prior to transitioning into architecture, James developed valuable team management and customer service skills through leadership roles in retail settings—experience that now informs a client-centric approach to every project.
In his current role, James supports a broad range of architectural and property management services, including design work for client-based projects; contract administration; construction management; and tenant relations. His unique blend of technical capability and interpersonal skill ensures responsive project delivery and thoughtful stewardship of the built environment.
Mateus Peters
Mateus Peters has served in the accounting department for Nick Tsapatsaris and Associates and the affiliated companies since 2024, managing the daily accounting activities.
Mateus holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Montclair State University. While attending Montclair State, Mateus was invited to join the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), in which he now holds a lifetime membership. Before joining our team, Mateus was involved in extracurricular clubs in college which showed his interests ranging from accounting to foreign languages.
Jake Difilippo
Jake DiFilippo serves as the Leasing & Marketing Administrator for the affiliated companies, where he supports the Director of Leasing and Asset Management across leasing, property management, and transaction coordination for a diverse portfolio of industrial, mixed-use, retail, and multifamily assets.
Jake is a licensed New Jersey real estate agent and a 2022 graduate of Monmouth University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in Real Estate. He joined Nick Tsapatsaris & Associates in August 2025 and brings prior experience in financial sales, residential real estate sales, and industrial brokerage.
Phil christodoulou
Phil Christodoulou joined our team in 2025 and serves as a financial analyst, lease administrator, and assists the accounting department for Nick Tsapatsaris & Associates and the affiliated entities.
Phil earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from Hofstra University in 2023 and brings prior experience as a banking analyst. Phil also serves on the board of the Cypriot U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he holds the position of Treasurer.