CCIM CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT
By Nicholas Leider
MELISSA RAY GENTRY
Melissa Ray Gentry
After a career as an archaeologist and starting a family with her husband , Melissa Ray Gentry returned to her hometown of Billings , Mont . While raising her new family , she earned her real estate license in January 2020 , following in the footsteps of her father Jerry Ray , CCIM , who had built a business as a real estate agent and developer .
But after less than a year as father-daughter colleagues , Jerry fell ill with COVID-19 in November 2020 and soon passed away . Leaving his commercial real estate practice to Melissa , she was thrown in the deep end of the pool , dealing with tenants , building maintenance , depreciation schedules , and plenty of other considerations for her to learn on the fly . Now , nearly two years after that tragic loss , Gentry views her business as a way to honor her father . And just like him , she has now started her journey to earning the CCIM designation .
After taking the CI 101 course , Gentry came across the portfolio her father used to earn the pin — complete with a personal narrative about each of his 20 transactions . While understanding the business more through education , she also values the process to see another side of her dad . Commercial Investment Real Estate magazine spoke to Gentry about starting her path to the pin , which she hopes to earn by 2025 .
CIRE : WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FATHER ’ S FOOTSTEPS TOWARD THE DESIGNATION ?
MELISSA RAY GENTRY : It means so much to me on many levels . I feel like I am getting to know him as a savvy investor . People said he had the Midas touch — he had such an ability to see the potential in locations and buildings . I see the thriving business he created through knowledge gained from CCIM Institute . He taught me to think things through , tell the truth , and always run the numbers . He had a favorite quote about investing , “ You need bucks , brains , and courage .” Isn ’ t that the truth about being a real estate agent and investor ?
My father always wanted me to be both a CCIM and a broker . I believe the best investment one can make is in themselves . Learning how to financially analyze real estate is how my father built our family ’ s CRE business . I aim to expand our business , and I know the CCIM coursework will be my guide .
CIRE : HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO PUT YOUR EDUCATION TO USE ? HOW HAS THE DES- IGNATION CURRICULUM IMPACTED YOUR PROFESSIONAL ABILITIES ?
GENTRY : Shortly after I completed CI 101 , I represented both sides in a seller finance deal . I was asked to run the numbers at different interest rates with varying balloon payments . Armed with my knowledge from the class , I put together the deal with ease and confidence . The class also helped me understand the inheritance basis of my father ’ s assets . I ’ m currently looking to sell one of his Class C buildings and 1031 exchange the sale proceeds into a Class A building . The information I received on how to determine cost recovery , adjusted basis , and capital gains has been tremendously useful to me — and I know it will be just as useful to future clients .
CIRE : WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOURNEY TOWARD CCIM DESIGNATION ?
GENTRY : Taking the time to take the classes . In managing the family business , I represent tenants , buyers , and sellers . I am also a wife and mother . I realized that to say yes to achieving my CCIM designation , I needed to start saying no to some real estate pulls on my attention .
40 COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE FALL 2022