Suggestions for non-corporate Multifamily CRE firms based in NYC that also do national?

ok so I'm new to CRE, I did a few week stint at a reputable boutique firm in Manhattan that operates like a boiler room, the firm was actually cool, and the people were cool, the principal is a big time guy that everybody respects, I didn't have much contact with him unfortunately, i was kinda stuck under a couple guys (my team leaders) who probably weren't at the point in their careers where they warranted having guys working under them.

However, i gained a lot of confidence. I'm great on the phones, I got some rent rolls, and I know what I'm looking for and not looking for in a brokerage / team going forward.

I love the idea of working off-market deals, I love the idea of working in NYC but also being able to work nationally in other markets. I think I want a smaller shop with only a few guys, that way we're working as a team and I'm not competing against other guys on my team, that just rubs me the wrong way, especially hearing each others conversations on the phones all day, what a fucked up dynamic that is.

so I've reached out and had conversations at B6, Ariel, IDRG, Lee & Associates, KSR, and a couple other smaller shops.

I'm leaning towards smaller shops to get my chops wet, to gain experience, and to just get the ball rolling. I feel like I could be exposed to more aspects of deal making by being at a smaller shop vs being in any sort of corporate hiearchy where I'd be used as a tool. I'm also 35, I know that makes a difference in how people view you.

Just curious if anybody has any suggestions for firms that I should potentially check out? I think I found the one I want to work with for the first couple years at least. But you guys are way more knowledgeable than I am about this shit, so I figured I'd crowd source some advice.

Thanks guys.