IREM to fund professional dev. grants for 17 returning U.S. vetrans

The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and the IREM Foundation, aided by financial support from Yardi Systems and the Realtors Commercial Alliance (RCA) of the National Association of Realtors, are funding professional development grants for 17 returning U.S. veterans interested in pursuing careers in real estate management. The grants will cover tuition for a one-week IREM course on "Successful Site Management (RES201)," to be presented from Feb. 2-6, as well as transportation to and from the city, lodging for up to six nights sponsored by Swissotel Chicago, and one year of IREM membership dues. The course addresses all aspects of managing residential properties, including affordable and student housing - and provides participants with the skills they need to get jobs as residential site managers, leasing agents, and assistant property managers. "Win-Win" Scenario for Recipients and the Industry In a joint statement announcing the grant program, IREM president Pamela Monroe, CPM, and IREM foundation president Robert Click, CPM, said, "The U.S. media is spotlighting the increasingly devastating picture of surging unemployment and low wages for returning veterans. In contrast, recipients of our grants will be on track to become real estate management professionals with ample and rewarding career opportunities, attractive wages and bright futures. Moreover, given the already critical shortfall of quality real estate managers ready to replace retiring practitioners, reaching out to veterans as they seek to re-enter the workplace is one of many "win-win" initiatives needed to address our industry's workforce development challenges." Partnership with Professional Housing Management Association IREM and the Professional Housing Management Association (PHMA) established an informal partnership in which PHMA helped to publicize and identify candidates for the grants. The IREM Foundation, through its Grants and Scholarship Committee, then selected grantees. Upon completion of the one week course, grant recipients will be referred to the IREM chapter in their area to assist them with job searches. Course Can Lead to ARM Certification and Housing Benefits Grant recipients who complete the RES201 course and pass a half-day exam at the conclusion of it will have fulfilled the education and examination requirements for IREM's Accredited Residential Manager (ARM) certification, the industry's most respected credential for specialists in residential property management. And if the jobs for which they will become eligible call for managers to live on site, housing can be made available to them at a reduced rate, and/or tax free. Course Content Specifics The topics the grant recipients will learn about during their week-long education and training experience cover: * Human resource and relationship management * Legal issues and risk management strategies * Professional ethics * On-site maintenance management * Property financial management * Marketing and leasing. The mission of the PHMA is to contribute towards better quality housing for our military members and their families by continuously raising the level of proficiency and professionalism within the military services' housing profession through improved communications and networking; education and training; certification; and professional recognition.