149 Commercial Real Estate Pros Earn the Prestigious CCIM Designation
Washington, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — The newest 149 CCIM designees were honored by the CCIM Institute and their local chapter members during a pinning ceremony and cocktail reception on April 5 during the CCIM Institute Midyear Governance Meetings at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago. The new CCIMs hail from 38 diverse states, District of Columbia, and several provinces in Canada, and have varying degrees of experience in commercial real estate. In the U.S., the CCIM comprehensive exams take place only twice per year.
“The commercial real estate marketplace has changed. Companies and clients are looking for the best and brightest, such as those earning the CCIM designation,” says Bruce Vaughan, CCIM, a 27-year veteran who serves as managing director at Colliers International in Tampa, Fla.
Some of the larger commercial real estate firms are strongly encouraging their employees to earn the CCIM designation, which requires 160 hours of commercial real estate market and financial analysis courses. “The CCIM designation gives me the credibility to work with larger corporations,” says Carlos Acosta, CCIM, senior director at LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers, Fla. “Earning the CCIM separates us from the rest of the commercial real estate world.”
Commercial real estate is Acosta’s second career after many years of working in the automotive manufacturing arena. He has been involved in his second career for eight years.
“I’ll be the only CCIM designee in my marketplace, which will really enhance my referral business from other CCIMs,” says Kristopher McLaughlin, CCIM, who is a second-generation commercial real estate professional, and serves as a broker at Re/Max Commercial in Vancouver, B.C. “The educational experience was second to none.”
“The major commercial real estate firms are looking for those with sterling credentials such as the CCIM designation,” says Sebastian Espinosa, CCIM, associate vice president at Lee & Associates, Vancouver, B.C. “CCIM enhances my credibility among my peers and among clients in the industry.”
The designation provides practical, hands-on education for many commercial real estate professionals, including transactional brokers, consultants, lenders, appraisers, leasing experts, and others. “Gaining the CCIM designation will have a huge impact on my career because now I am adapting the tools and business practices I’ve learned,” says Chris Jackson, CCIM, CPM, landlord representative at Berkshire Hathaway in Las Vegas.
Already certified as a CPM and LEED practitioner, Katherine Mullay, CCIM, added the CCIM to her professional certifications. “The CCIM designation in combination with my other certifications allows me to market and sell more sophisticated properties,” says Mullay, property manager at The Equity Group in Las Vegas.
Visit CCIM Institute’s Facebook page for more details and photos of the 2016 Midyear Business Meetings and new designee pinning ceremony. To learn more about earning the CCIM designation, visit http://www.ccim.com/info/ccim-designation-requirements.
Sara S. Patterson | Media Relations Manager
