CCIM Feature

Return on Investment

When it comes to realizing return on investment, Coldwell Banker Commercial has found that an investment in the CCIM Institute education program yields immeasurable returns for its new brokers and agents.

“Investing in your mind is one of the most important activities you can engage in as a business professional,” says Fred Schmidt, president and chief operating officer of Coldwell Banker Commercial Affiliates. It’s this top-down philosophy that drove CBC to customize CCIM’s educational offerings to meet its internal goals and to integrate the CCIM education into the company’s professional development strategy. CCIM courses are delivered at CBC’s conferences, awarded through scholarships to brokers, and provided through CCIM membership and education discounts to CBC affiliates.

CBC has woven CCIM education into its proprietary Emerging Broker Training program and encourages new brokers to participate. “As part of our EBT program, we give an annual Top Student scholarship that consists of paid tuition to attend CCIM’s CI 101 course to help get the professional started on the path to the CCIM designation. We encourage all of our graduates to take the entire CCIM designation curriculum,” Schmidt says. The brokerage has found that the combination of internal and external training provides a solid foundation for success in the industry.

However, the value of CCIM education is not limited to the data-driven skills acquired through the courses. The benefits of pursuing the designation, including the wide-reaching global network of CCIM professionals, extend beyond the education. Having the CCIM designation provides a higher level of business acumen and professionalism with instant credibility in the market, Schmidt concludes.