Commercial Investment Real Estate is the magazine of the CCIM Institute, the leading provider of commercial real estate education. CIRE covers market trends, current developments, and business strategies within the commercial real estate field.
Issue link: http://cire.epubxp.com/i/475894
20 March | April | 2015 Commercial Investment Real Estate Shironosov/Thinkstock o One of the biggest challenges facing commercial real estate practitioners is remaining relevant in an industry that is changing almost on a daily basis. Recognizing that need, the CCIM Institute is helping CRE professionals stay current with classes from the Ward Center for Real Estate Studies. These non-designation courses, many of them offered online, provide designees, candidates, and other real estate professionals with the knowledge they need to create new business opportunities in today's market. Ward Center Evolves Ward courses address a number of topics to appeal to a broad base of real estate profes- sionals. "CCIM members comprise general- ists and retail, of ce, multifamily, hospitality, and industrial specialists," Clements says. "In addition we have real estate lenders, apprais- ers, property managers, acquisition analysts, and a variety of other commercial real estate specialties. Our intent is to of er relevancy to each of our specialty groups and the latest in a core body of knowledge applicable to all." "As a lender, I appreciate the full menu of Ward courses," Mize says. "I personally make it practice to take at least one Ward course per year." Looking further down the road, Clem- ents envisions courses in urban planning, legal contexts of real estate decisions, and capital markets. T e increasing globaliza- tion of commercial real estate is another topic of growing importance. Clements sees interna- tional courses focusing on "where to make the f rst business move in the global market and how to engage with international investors desiring U.S. real estate." "T e real estate market, like all markets, changes," says Maryann Mize, CCIM, 2015 chair of the Ward Center and a senior vice president/senior credit of cer at Charlotte State Bank in Port Charlotte, Fla. "Ward courses provide a timely, ef cient way to re-tool by covering relevant topics. CCIM members who keep their skills and knowl- edge current are able to quickly adjust their practices and seize opportunities." In the f rst half of this year, the Ward Center will roll out new courses covering real estate taxes, corporate real estate ser- vices representation, and business writing. T ese of erings join the 20 or so existing courses on such time-tested subjects as f nancial analysis, disposition analysis, and valuation. Providing up-to-date material was built into the Ward Center's mission, says Walt C CIM E D U C ATI O N Clements, CCIM, executive vice president/ CEO of the CCIM Institute. "Our member- ship expressed a need for more real estate education to stay current," he says. Ward classes are developed by real-world practitioners who call on their own indus- try experience to present practical, "learn it today, use it tomorrow" content. For example, Mark L. Levine, CCIM, who is developing the real estate tax update that debuts in March, has more than 40 years' experience as a broker, real estate tax attorney, and investor and is former director of the Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management at the Uni- versity of Denver. 2015 WARD COURSES Real Estate Tax Update Business Writing Corporate Services Representation STDB Business Analyst Online