We have had a fantastic start to 2017!  The new board is working hard to plan amazing education, networking and designation promotion opportunities throughout the year.  We have already successfully hosted CI101 where half of our class was from outside the state.  We love when students come in from out of state as it makes the classes more interesting for everyone.  Classes are a great way to build relationships with other practitioners from across the country.  Our next class, CI102, will be this month and it is shaping up to be similar with over half of the class coming in from other states.  It is not too late to sign up and get in on the fantastic education and networking!

We do our best to show Alabama hospitality by hosting the students of each class at a happy hour.  The event last month was at Grille 29 and the turnout was great. The students were able to mix and mingle with some of Birmingham's best brokers, lenders and developers.  We always appreciate our chapter sponsors and affiliate members supporting the event as well.  Be sure to stop by the next happy hour at Soho Social in downtown Homewood.  Come see old friends, pester your competition and show the students a great time!

The Designation Promotion team of Bill Clements and Lochrane Smith has been working hard to bring more value and awareness to the CCIM pin in Alabama.  We will be a presenting sponsor at the annual MGMA Conference (Medical Group Managers Association) and we will be a sponsor at the summer conference for Alabama CPA's as well.  Considerable money and effort is being spent to make sure that stakeholders and gate keepers in the commercial real estate industry know what a CCIM is and are influenced to use one in their transactions.  We are excited to see the fruits of the hard work benefit all Alabama CCIMs as the designation grows in prominence.  

Finally, be sure to mark your calendars for the Spring Beach Meeting in Perdido Key.  Details are below in the newsletter.  This year we are cohosting with the Jonathan Shaver, CCIM, Louisiana Chapter President, and expect a great turnout from their state.  This will be a great opportunity to build relationships with fellow CCIMs from the deep south, earn CE credits and have a great time with your fellow chapter members.  Also, national CCIM President, Robin L. Webb, will be attending.  See you there!

Please be aware that AL CCIM Chapter's new commitment to promote the coveted CCIM designation to the largest audience possible. We are utilizing social media for much of this effort and significant chapter funds have been committed to pushing that message out to thousands of followers in the CRE industry.  We want to encourage you to submit recent success stories that involve CCIMs and we will review those submissions to be included in the "blasts" that the chapter sends out through our networks.  If you have any questions as to how this works, please contact our chair of Designation Promotion, Bill Clements, CCIM  or our administrator, Amy Adkins