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/897832
Jeff Lyon, CCIM, remembers dinner table conversations when he was growing up. "My father was always talking about real estate," he says. "He was so involved in the Institute over the years, so I always knew that that was my interest as well." Since Lyon's father was Victor Lyon, CCIM Insti- tute president in 1972 and an early instructor in CCIM education programs, Jeff 's interest was understandable. In fact, the influence of a CCIM family can propel offspring to successful commercial real estate careers — and a CCIM designation — of their own. Victor had started his company, Tacoma Realty, in Tacoma, Wash., in 1948, so "I grew up in the real estate industry," Jeff says. Jeff took his first CCIM class in 1976 — with his father as the instructor. "It was just something that was obviously important in our family, but also impor- tant to me," Jeff says. "I wanted to get the designation because of the tools and resources it gave me to go out and do my real estate career." Having his father as his teacher was not new. "It was no different from the dinner table, for the most part," Jeff says. "He and I had already started working together, so it was just kind of an extension of home life. He was practical and very good, and was a mentor of mine. And that was the only class I took from him." Lyon earned his designation in 1978 and received his pin from his father. The two were in business together until Victor retired in 1982, and they even had a chance to teach CI 103 in tandem. Tacoma Realty — by then Lyon Commercial Real Estate — merged with Kidder Mathews in 1991. Jeff became CEO of the company in 2000. "I will say that the skills I earned in designation courses definitely helped me do some of the things that we were able to accomplish," he says. His own office encourages new brokers by paying for their CI 101 class. Jeff adds, his father's career influenced his three siblings as well. His brother and sister went into residential real estate, and his older brother became a landscape architect — "so we're all tied into real estate somewhere," Jeff says. Education Focus On the other hand, when Duncan Patterson, CCIM, was growing up, "I didn't know what a CCIM was, and I didn't know until I got into real estate." Duncan's father, William Patterson, CCIM, founded his own real estate firm in Wilmington, Del., in 1961 and went on to become CCIM Institute president in 1975. In the meantime, Duncan went to college, joined the military, and even trained racehorses before starting in residential real estate at his father's firm. Even then, he recalls, "CCIM didn't really come to the forefront until I went into the commercial arena." But William Patterson, says his son, "was very big on education and always instilled that into me. So when I switched to commercial, he immediately suggested that I get the CCIM." Duncan earned his designation in 1981 and became more active with the Institute in the late 1980s. The family company was focusing more on residential busi- ness, so he sold his stock to his brother and went on to start Patterson-Woods in Wilmington. When Duncan became CCIM Institute president in 2000, the Pat- tersons became the only multigenerational presidents of the Institute. When Duncan took office, his father installed him and administered the oath. "He was obviously very pleased and proud," Duncan says. William Patterson died six years ago, but his empha- sis on education continues through his son. "He insti- tuted the continuing education requirements in the state of Delaware," Duncan says. "I still teach continu- ing ed, and I tell my classes, 'You have my father to thank for this.' "I remember my father saying you really need this education to be successful in the commercial field. As far as I'm concerned, he was absolutely correct. I encourage the associates in my office. In the last three years, two have gotten the designation." And Duncan adds, his daughter works in Patterson- Woods' property management company, which makes her the third generation in the family business. Maternal Instincts Parental emphasis on education also spurred Charles "Mac" McClure to earn his CCIM pin. "My mother was in the real estate industry; she was my original part- ner," says Mac, chairman of McClure Partners in Dal- las. Frances L. McClure was the first woman inducted into Omega Tau Rho in Texas and was a founder of the state chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors. "My mother always believed I should have all the education in the world," Mac says. "I got my bachelor's degree and master's degree in business administration. When I went into the real estate industry in 1975, she suggested that I needed to be the best of the best. I aspired to be a commercial developer, so I joined the CCIM Institute in 1976." He got his designation in 1983, began teaching in 1985, and became CCIM Institute president in 2009. His wife, Susan McClure, CCIM, started her commercial real estate career in 1979, doing leasing for Cushman & Wakefield in Dallas. She was taking CCIM classes when she met Mac. "MY FATHER WAS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT REAL ESTATE." — Jeff Lyon, CCIM COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE / NOV.17 5 CCIM.COM Movie Poster Image Art