Commercial Investment Real Estate Spring 2020 | Page 40

CCIM CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT
By Nicholas Leider
VLADIMIR DIAZ
J
Vladimir Diaz
ust like a diploma is much more than a
fancy certificate, the CCIM designation
is more than the pin you wear on your
lapel. Earning the distinction takes years of
work, hours of studying, and endless dedica-
tion. Vladimir Diaz, a commercial real estate
agent running his own firm in Sunrise, Fla.,
is in the final weeks of his preparation for the
comprehensive exam at April’s CCIM Mid-
year Governance Meetings in Charlotte, N.C.
The Florida native began his career in
real estate in 1990 as a mortgage broker for
residential and commercial loans. He tran-
sitioned into a role as an agent, eventually
opening his own brokerage firm in 1999. A
candidate for CCIM designation from 2000
to 2006, Diaz rejoined the program in 2018
and is now on the precipice of receiving his
CCIM pin. Commercial Investment Real
Estate caught up with Diaz to hear his
thoughts as he approaches the exam.
CIRE: WHAT EXPERIENCES, PROFESSIONAL
AND PERSONAL, LED YOU TO SEEK THE
CCIM DESIGNATION? WHAT WAS THE
“AHA MOMENT” WHEN YOU KNEW IT WAS
WORTH THE TIME AND EFFORT AFTER
20-PLUS YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY?
VLADIMIR DIAZ: My experience working as
both a mortgage broker and real estate agent
in the commercial arena in the late 1990s
was when I discovered CCIM Institute and
the designation. I found it worth the time
and effort to acquire the designation because
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COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE
the course materials and curriculum defi-
nitely enhanced my professional career and
my overall skills.
CIRE: HOW HAVE YOU PUT YOUR EDU-
CATION TO USE? HOW HAS THE DESIG-
NATION CURRICULUM IMPACTED YOUR
PROFESSIONAL ABILITIES?
DIAZ: I was able to put my education to use
right away — and continue to do so daily as
a commercial real estate and mortgage bro-
ker. The designation curriculum has made a
major impact in my professional career as it
has provided me with the foundational skills
to better serve my clients. It also taught me
many aspects of evaluating and adminis-
trating commercial real estate, which I did
not learn in the field. My ability to evaluate
any commercial investment property and
provide potential clients investment anal-
ysis so they can make a wise decision when
investing in commercial real estate is a huge
impact — it not only makes me better pro-
fessionally as a commercial broker, but it is
quite satisfying and rewarding on a personal
level as well.
CIRE: WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHAL-
LENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOURNEY
TOWARD THE CCIM DESIGNATION?
DIAZ: The most challenging aspect has
been making time to complete the curricu-
lum within a reasonably short period. In the
SPRING 2020