Commercial Investment Real Estate January/February 2019 | Page 4

PRESIDENT’S D ESK A Look Ahead he much-anticipated midterms marked the end of an eventful 2018. Now both the country and the com- mercial real estate industry are looking ahead to the new year and what’s to come. That sentiment is at the heart of this issue of Commercial Investment Real Estate magazine. Look no further than the cover story by CCIM Institute Chief Economist K.C. Conway. His market forecast for 2019 provides the type of expert insights you’ve come to rely on from the association’s official publication. Also authored by Conway, CCIM Institute’s 4Q2018 Commercial Real Estate Insights report serves as the perfect companion piece to this feature. The report is produced in partner- ship with the Alabama Center for Real Estate at the University of Alabama. Read the full report at www.ccim.com/insights. The rest of the issue takes a comprehensive look at all areas of the industry — everything from a legislative outlook, to the latest trends in commercial real estate, to the best practices needed to bring it all together. Supplementing this exceptional editorial content, CCIM Institute offers top- notch continuing education through our Ward Center. Led by industry leaders, these classes take a deep dive into a variety of topical subjects like blockchain and 1031 tax-deferred exchanges, empowering you to make the most of the current landscape in commercial real estate. On a related note, as a senior instructor myself, I’d be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to invite members of the CCIM community to give back by becoming an instructor for the insti- tute. If you’re a CCIM currently practicing in the industry and have strong presentation skills and a proficiency in technological tools, I encourage you to contact us to learn more. I speak from experience when I say it’s one of the most rewarding choices I’ve made in my career. Another is becoming your 2019 president. As we all look to the future, I’m confident that CCIM Institute is well-positioned to shepherd us through whatever 2019 throws our way. The staff and volunteer leaders are deeply committed to the vision we have set for ourselves: to shape commercial real estate by being the most influential, innovative, and internation- ally recognized organization in the industry. 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 Benefi ts: 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 Affi nity 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/benefi ts Barbara Crane, CCIM 2019 CCIM Institute President [email protected] 2 January | February 2019 COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE