348 Commercial Real Estate Professionals Earn CCIM Designation

Former Dallas Cowboys star Emmitt Smith among those celebrated in Phoenix.

The CCIM Institute is pleased to announce that 348 commercial real estate professionals earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation in Phoenix. The CCIM Institute reports that a total of 542 commercial real estate and allied professionals earned their CCIM designation in 2011.

The comprehensive exam, given at the CCIM Fall Business Meetings in Phoenix, was the culmination of over 200 hours of study focused on ethics, interest-based negotiation, financial analysis, market analysis, user decision analysis, and investment analysis for commercial investment real estate. CCIMs must also complete a portfolio demonstrating the depth of their commercial real estate experience. Only then is a designation candidate awarded the coveted CCIM pin, joining the ranks of more than 9,000 highly skilled commercial and investment real estate experts.

“We are thrilled that so many accomplished commercial real estate professionals have joined the Institute, and I congratulate each and every new designee. Even in an economic downturn, many realize that so much value lies in the skills, resources, and professional network the CCIM Institute provides,” said Frank Simpson, CCIM, 2011 president of the CCIM Institute and president of The Simpson Co. in Gainesville, Ga. “Though we’ll still be facing a tough economy in 2012, the number of people taking the time now to build their skills is heartening. Hailing from 36 states and Washington, D.C., Canada, Mexico, Barbados, Ecuador, and Lebanon, this group of new designees represents commercial real estate excellence around the world.”

This group of new CCIM designees is fortunate to include National Football League all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith, CCIM, among its ranks. Smith also presented the keynote address at CCIM LIVE!, the annual conference following the comprehensive exam. Now chief executive officer of commercial real estate development firm ESmith Legacy in Dallas, Smith’s keynote address recounted the journey from gridiron star with the Dallas Cowboys to ballroom star on the ABC hit show Dancing with the Stars. Always willing to put in the effort to be a success, Smith set out to earn the CCIM designation to truly be taken seriously as a real estate developer and investment expert. Says Simpson, “Knowing that the education and credibility of the designation would help him to be a standout in the industry, Smith chose to earn his CCIM pin. We’re proud to have him as part of the CCIM family.”

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