President's Desk

Conference Countdown

By Tim Hatlestad, CCIM |

Maximizing return on investment is a fundamental principle in the commercial investment real estate business. But it’s also a fundamental principle necessary to improving your skills and increasing your business-building opportunities. By investing your time in CCIM & IREM Success Series 2008, Oct. 17–18 in Chicago, you undoubtedly will experience immeasurable returns in the form of high-level industry knowledge, insightful perspectives on current market trends, and a multitude of new business contacts to expand your professional network.

For the third straight year, the CCIM Institute and Institute of Real Estate Management will combine their mutual talents and resources to create a prominent conference experience for members of both organizations. Over the course of two days, more than 30 educational sessions will address today’s most relevant industry topics, including market cycle survival, effective negotiations, capital markets, new management techniques, green initiatives, and prevailing technology.

Of particular interest to me is the session “Thrive to Survive,” which addresses today’s commercial real estate climate and offers creative ways to expand your business and take on new ventures, tactics for re-engineering your business for growth, and solutions for identifying new opportunities in this slow market. Another session, “Interest-Based Negotiation,” provides proven tools and methodologies that commercial real estate managers and brokers can use to create an effective and streamlined process to manage negotiations, handle business challenges, and resolve high-stakes disputes.

In addition to educational sessions, the conference includes three notable keynote speakers. Pulitzer Prize winner Dave Barry shares his thoughts about politics, the media, and everyday life absurdities, offering a lighthearted perspective on the upcoming presidential elections. The opening speaker for Success Series 2008 is Alison Levine, president of Daredevil Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in organizational effectiveness. After a career on Wall Street with Goldman Sachs, Levine served as deputy finance director for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s successful bid to become California’s governor. She also survived harsh conditions to become the first female to lead a Mt. Everest climbing expedition. In addition, Jack Dangermond, founder and president of ESRI, a leading designer and developer of geographic information systems, examines the critical business aspects of GIS technology and how real estate professionals can leverage it to their advantage.

Success Series 2008 also includes a first-class lineup of sponsors and exhibitors, including top-level sponsors Realtors Commercial Alliance of the National Association of Realtors; DBSI, a national investment real estate services provider; and Yardi Systems, developer of high-performance investment, asset, and property management software. More than 30 additional sponsors will demonstrate and explain their products and services. What an excellent opportunity to add value to your conference experience.