Commercial Investment Real Estate May/June 2017 | Page 24

THE THIRD OF SIX STORIES
ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
OF CCIM INSTITUTE
Strength at the
Grassroots
by Sara S. Patterson
Since 1971,
CCIM has grown
from its first
national chapter in
Northern California to
54
Chapters
Globally
An organization’s success
relies on its grassroots. CCIM Institute’s chapters
form its local touchstones in the U.S., Canada, and
globally.
Throughout its first 50 years, CCIM chapters
have served as boosters for CCIM training, sites
for multiple CCIM courses, providers for scholar-
ships for CCIM classes, and incubators for its future
leaders. As the Institute constantly evolves and sets
a higher standard for the commercial real estate
industry, so have the 54 chapters.
“Being involved with the Central Texas Chapter
has opened many doors to other CCIMs and busi-
ness opportunities,” says Travis Waldrop, CCIM,
2016 Central Texas Chapter president and vice pres-
ident at Carr Development in Austin, Texas. “For
designees in this area of Texas, our designation sets
us apart as respected professionals in our commu-
nity. CCIM chapters deliver up-to-date, germane
content, and education that is critical to staying in
front of trends in the industry.”
Lasting Impact
Starting with the Institute’s formation by West
Coast instructors, the first CCIM chapter chartered
in 1971 appropriately was in Northern California. A
long-time leader in the Northern California CCIM
Chapter, John Shaw, CCIM, served as its Chapter
President in 1994 and 2008.
“CCIM training taught me what to do, and our
Chapter members oriented me toward what not to
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do in investing,” says Shaw, a designee since the
late 1970s and now serving as the co-chair of the
Northern California Chapter’s Book Club. “Being
involved with our Chapter and CCIM Institute has
provided me with a lifetime connection of business
and personal relationships.”
CCIM Institute Regional Vice President Mark
Hinkins, CCIM, got his start at the Northern Cali-
fornia Chapter. “CCIM chapters provide an oppor-
tunity for motivated commercial real estate profes-
sionals to take on responsibility and to develop their
personal leadership skills,” says Hinkins, owner of
Trimark Commercial Real Estate in Walnut Creek,
Calif. “These leadership skills are directly relevant
to your business and your community.
“CCIM has transformed my career. Earning the
pin gave me the confidence to establish my own bou-
tique firm. CCIM Institute and the Northern Cali-
fornia Chapter give me and other independent, small
business owners the tools and knowledge to compete
with larger, established firms.”
On the western reaches of the U.S., the Hawaii
CCIM Chapter was chartered in 1975. A past
Hawaii Chapter President, Albert “Al” S. Wong,
CCIM, became the 13th CCIM designee in the
state and No. 592 nationally.
“The greatest thing I learned from CCIM
training in the 1970s was about 1031 like-kind
exchanges,” says Wong, owner of Palace Realty in
Honolulu. “The concept of deferring taxes gave us
a real head start with our clients.
COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE
CCIM chapters train leaders, promote knowledge,
and enhance members’ referrals.