CCIM Inst. offers outstanding education & member services

CCIM Institute has played a leadership role within the commercial real estate industry in the areas of education and member services since its inception in 1969. The Institute, an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors, confers the prestigious Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation, which represents excellence in all phases of commercial real estate. Today, there are more than 9,500 active CCIMs across North America, Europe and Asia, as well as 9,500-plus Candidate members. In the United States, CCIMs are represented in more than 1,000 markets, ranging from large urban centers to vibrant, emerging markets. Once broker-driven, CCIM membership now includes property managers, corporate real estate and REIT executives, developers, appraisers, in-house governmental real estate professionals and those from other related fields. There are three key elements to earning the designation: successfully passing four core courses; completing a detailed portfolio of qualifying real estate activities; and passing a day-long comprehensive examination. The CCIM Education Program is widely acknowledged as the finest and most comprehensive in the industry. The graduate-level curriculum addresses financial analysis, market analysis, user decision analysis and investment analysis - the cornerstones of commercial investment real estate. Courses are refined continually to keep pace with the dynamic industry, and all are taught by experienced CCIM designees - all successful practitioners who continue to excel in commercial real estate. CCIM Institute also sponsors a wide range of day-long continuing education courses that offer a concise overview of pertinent commercial real estate topics. Like the highly rated education program, CCIM Institute also offers an outstanding member benefits package. The dynamic CCIM Web site-www.ccim.com-is the portal leading to exclusive services available only to CCIM designees. Foremost among online benefits is the Site To Do Business (www.stdbonline.com), an exclusive benefit to CCIMs and candidate members. An integrated resource of industry and business information, the STDB offers users a wide range of options: custom mapping and demographic reports, financial analysis software, lease and property management programs, environmental surveys and other custom capabilities. The site is password-protected, and new features are incorporated as technology becomes available. CCIMNet (www.ccimnet.com), a national commercial property exchange, lets users post properties for sale or lease, as well as commercial real estate needs and wants. Launched in 2006, the RERC/CCIM Investment Trends Quarterly is an online national analysis of commercial real estate sales and economic activity. The report includes a national overview, regional reports and snapshot perspectives on the nation's Top 48 markets. In 2005, CCIM Institute debuted its newest member service - CCIM Partners (www.ccimpartners.com). CCIM Partners is a bold, new, formal business network for CCIM designees only. The initiative is designed to give members the structure and tools needed to market themselves and their services on local, regional and national levels. The development of CCIM Partners follows months of research and analysis, and the program has a very simple objective: provide the framework so that CCIM designees can do more business and serve clients more effectively. Internationally, CCIM Institute works to set the standards in commercial investment throughout the world. Currently courses are offered in 32 countries and there are more than 800 international members. Through this growing network, CCIM Institute gives designees the opportunity to network with professionals all over the world who have the same educational training. With its growth in the U.S. and overseas, CCIM Institute represents the largest commercial real estate brokerage network in the world. CCIM Institute is headquartered in Chicago, and it maintains 59 state or regional chapters in the U.S., Latin America and Asia. Joe Larkin, CCIM, CIPS, SIOR is the 2009 education presidential liaison for the CCIM Institute, serves as 2008 vice president of the NYS CCIM Chapter and is on the Board of Directors of the CCIM Institute, Albany, N.Y.