Industry credential marks professionals as leading experts in commercial investment real estate
Doug Sullivan, CBI, CCIM, of Sarasota-based Ian Black Real Estate, recently earned the designation of Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) from the CCIM Institute. Sullivan joins six other brokers in the firm who have earned the CCIM. CCIM designees are recognized as leading experts in commercial investment real estate.
Professionals who hold the CCIM designation must complete advanced coursework in financial and market analysis, and demonstrate extensive experience in the commercial real estate industry. Candidates submit a portfolio of qualifying activities, transactions or projects that meet certain sale and/or lease thresholds – often in the multi-million-dollar range. They must also pass rigorous exams, including a six-hour final exam.
“I pursued the CCIM designation to further enhance my ability to serve my commercial real estate and business brokerage clients by bringing next-level, tested knowledge of real estate investment strategies and solutions to the table,” Sullivan said. “The CCIM is very well-respected, and I think it lends a great deal of credibility to those who have made the commitment to earning the designation.”
According to the CCIM Institute, with their real-world experience and formalized education and testing, CCIM designees are able to help their clients minimize risk, enhance credibility, make informed decisions and close more deals.
“There have already been instances where I’ve been able to apply what I learned while studying for the CCIM to real-world challenges and put that knowledge toward creative, sound solutions for clients,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan also recently earned the Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) designation, identifying him as an experienced business broker according to the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA)®. This credential allows Ian Black Real Estate to offer business broker services in-house when clients seek to sell both their commercial real estate and business.
Sullivan joined Ian Black Real Estate in 2019, bringing more than 30 years of retail experience and project development leadership to his role. Of note, he founded Stonewood Holdings, the parent company for Stonewood Grill & Tavern and Peach Valley Café, and served as the President and CEO from its inception through the development of 18 Stonewood Grill and four Peach Valley Café locations, with consolidated revenue of $57 million.
Ian Black Real Estate is currently home to seven CCIM designated brokers, including Sullivan. The others are partners Ian Black, Jag Grewal and Steve Horn, as well as Amy MacDougall, Melissa Harris and George Brusco.
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 CCIM Institute
CCIM Institute created the language of global real estate investment. Our courses and worldwide community deploy commercial real estate investment methodologies and tools that speed the pathway between opportunity, a go/no-go decision, and success for an asset, taught by instructors who are themselves industry leaders. Today, the organization, through its 50-plus chapters, continues to innovate best practices and elevate the commercial real estate professional through its core designation program to earn the CCIM pin — real estate’s most coveted credential — and its topical education courses offered through the Ward Center for Real Estate Studies. In addition, membership in CCIM includes the industry’s best technology and operational platform, allowing entrepreneurial and mid-sized businesses to compete with the largest multinational providers. Today, almost 70 percent of designees hold the title of owner, partner, principal, or president, representing an exclusive worldwide referral network of approximately 13,000 members in 30 countries. CCIM represents a larger vision of the commercial real estate provider, leveraging investment analysis, opinions of value, and underwriting to become a leader in sourcing capital, building a cash-flow vehicle, and ultimately creating value. Information at www.ccim.com.