CCIM Institute and RICS Sign Memorandum of Understanding
Online, December 14, 2009 (Newswire.com) - CHICAGO and NEW YORK - The CCIM Institute and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will lead to greater cooperation and improved benefits and opportunities for members of both organizations.
The agreement between CCIM and RICS provides a basic framework for the two organizations to build greater dialogue and collaboration. It will allow for joint action in priority areas of common interest, including enhancement of business, professional development, education and training, member services, and professional services.
"The skilled and certified real estate professional is vital to restoring investor, builder, and tenant confidence in commercial real estate," said Tony Grant FRICS, chairman of the RICS Americas Markets Council and RICS liaison to CCIM. "This MOU means two of the most respected member organizations representing our industry are now working together to improve and maintain standards of appraisal, brokerage, finance, development, and investment."
"CCIM and RICS each recognize the local, national and international context in which both organizations operate," said Charles "Mac" McClure CCIM FRICS, the 2009 president of the CCIM Institute. "We share a common goal of promoting the highest standards of professionalism, and we recognize that collaboration and reciprocity will add value to both organizations."
Pilot initiatives under consideration include membership reciprocity agreements, education and training programs, joint events, and research/publication programs.
About RICS & RICS Americas
RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), with headquarters in London, is the leading organization of its kind in the world for more than 100,000 professionals in property, land, construction and related environmental issues. RICS Americas, based in New York and covering North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, has more than 3,000 members in commercial and residential development, construction management, brokerage, planning and finance and valuation of all asset categories. For further information, visit www.ricsamericas.org or email ricsamericas@rics.org.
About CCIM Institute
Since 1969, the Chicago-based CCIM Institute has conferred the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation to commercial real estate and allied professionals through an extensive curriculum of 200 classroom hours and professional experiential requirements. Currently, there are more than 9,000 CCIMs in 1,000 markets in the U.S. and 31 additional countries. Another 7,000 practitioners are pursuing the designation, making the institute the governing body of one of the largest commercial real estate networks in the world. An affiliate of the National Association of Realtors®, the CCIM Institute's recognized curriculum, powerful technology tools, and networking programs impact and influence the way CCIM members do business. Visit www.ccim.com for more information.