Melissa Harris, SIOR, of Sarasota-based Ian Black Real Estate recently achieved the SIOR designation awarded by the Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS® (SIOR). Harris is one of only two practicing commercial real estate brokers in the Sarasota/Manatee market to hold this designation. Nick DeVito, II, SIOR, a partner at Ian Black Real Estate, is the other.
Individuals who hold the SIOR designation are top producers in the commercial real estate field. To achieve the SIOR designation, candidates must have completed at least five years of creditable experience in the highly specialized field of industrial and office real estate; met stringent education requirements; and demonstrated professional ability and ethical conduct.
SIOR is a Washington, D.C.-based international professional organization. More than 3,400 commercial real estate professionals worldwide have earned the SIOR designation.
“Obtaining the SIOR was a professional goal that I had set for myself back when I first started in commercial real estate nine years ago,” said Harris, sales associate at Ian Black Real Estate. “I wanted to reach this benchmark in my career to distinguish myself as a professional in the industry.”
Harris has been with market leader Ian Black Real Estate for over nine years, eight of which she’s spent in sales and leasing. Her deep experience and expertise in the office and industrial market made her a strong candidate for the SIOR designation. Since 2018, Harris has achieved a transaction volume of over $115 million and totaling over 1 million square feet of property, with much of that activity involving office transactions.
In addition to her accomplishments in commercial real estate brokerage, Harris is an active member of Commercial Real Estate Alliance (CREA), currently serving as the organization’s secretary and chair of the education committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Florida.
“The SIOR classes were really helpful, and I got to hear from very accomplished professionals and to learn from them,” Harris said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to meet with – and learn from – other SIORs at events and conferences in the future.”
About Ian Black Real Estate
Ian Black Real Estate (IBRE) is a boutique commercial real estate brokerage firm located in Sarasota, Fla. The firm is one of the largest commercial brokerage firms in Southwest Florida and boasts a deep knowledge of the commercial real estate market in Sarasota and Manatee counties and the surrounding area. For more information, visit ian-black.com.
About Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS® (SIOR)
SIOR is the leading global professional office and industrial real estate organization that certifies commercial real estate service providers with the exclusive SIOR designation, based on achievement, knowledge, accountability and ethical standards. Only the industry’s top professionals qualify for SIOR. Today, there are more than 3,200 members in 685 cities and 36 countries. For more information, visit www.sior.com.