Commercial Investment Real Estate January/February 2018 | Page 4

PRESIDENT’S D ESK Communicating Value hroughout 2017, the Institute celebrated its golden anni- versary. Now it’s time to look ahead to 2018, and the Institute’s impact on the coming five years and even the next 50 years. The Institute’s focus centers on four goals: communications, collaboration, innovation, and membership. Communication is at the heart of what CCIM Institute does every day. Our aim is to communicate clearly and get through the clutter to all constituents, especially prospective members. Clearly conveyed communications create deeper understanding about what the Institute is doing, why our lead- ers are making specific decisions, and how we are moving forward. Collaboration is centered on aligning the Institute’s interest in raising the profile of the commercial real estate industry by working with the National Association of Realtors and NAR affiliates such as SIOR, IREM, and RLI. Together as the leaders in commercial real estate, we will make a concerted effort to promote careers in our profession to high school and college students. Innovation involves embracing new ways to enhance the CCIM brand locally, nationally, and globally; to improve CCIM Ward Center and designation courses; and to advance technology tools for members, such as the Site To Do Business. Throughout 2018, the Institute will advocate for the approval of continuing education credit for more CCIM courses. While the Institute’s stellar commercial real estate training attracts designees, Membership serves to embrace and retain them. More resources will be deployed to improve promising programs such as the CCIM Veterans in Real Estate in conjunc- tion with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Institute plans to expand GI bill funding for veterans to take CCIM desig- nation courses beyond the single location of Chicago to four more U.S. cities during 2018. Also, the Institute expects to increase participation in the CCIM Mentor and Mentee Program. It is a fresh start at CCIM Institute. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your president during this crucial time for CCIM designees, members, and the future generation of commercial real estate professionals. T Life with The Pin CCIM Institute provides its members with the most sophisticated knowledge, technology, and operational platform to power their business. CCIM Membership Benefits: Lifelong Learning Free and discounted courses covering crowdfunding, big data, and more. STDB The industry’s best digital toolkit for market analysis. FindaCCIM.com and CCIM Connect An exclusive global network for business and industry intelligence. Commercial Investment Real Estate Magazine The award-winning publication that covers market trends and innovations. Affinity Provider Program Exclusive discounts on travel, tech tools, printing, and more. DealShare A database of listings not found anywhere else. Experience life with the pin. Visit www.ccim.com/benefits David P. Wilson, CCIM 2018 CCIM Institute President [email protected] 2 January | February 2018 COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE