* * * * * * * * * *

 (Chicago, July 8, 2009) – CCIM & IREM Success Series 2009, to be held Oct. 16-17 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, HI, will provide attendees with compelling education sessions and peer-to-peer interaction to help them meet the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities presented by these turbulent times. It is the only industry event designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of commercial real estate practitioners and to give real estate managers and commercial brokers the opportunity to network, share best practices and learn from each other.

20-PLUS ED SESSIONS TO FEATURE 40 SPEAKERS
Success Series attendees will benefit from more than 20 education sessions – presented by 40 industry and professional speakers – on many of today’s most timely and important topics. In-depth sessions will provide brokerage-related content on subjects such as turning distressed properties into profitable investments, the impact of proposed tax laws, and proven marketing strategies. Among the many management-related issues to be examined are repositioning assets to maximize value (and profitability), preparing for future prosperity by seizing opportunities today, and using technology to gain a competitive edge.

TIME FOR RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING
Ample opportunities will be available at the event to nurture existing relationships, cultivate new ones and exchange information on business and other issues of shared interest and concern. Special tours featuring uniquely Hawaiian cultural, real estate and other attractions plus a “Star of Honolulu Sunset Cruise” wrap party also are included in the program mix.

KEITH HARRELL AND RETIRED WAL-MART CEO DON SODERQUIST TO KEYNOTE
Motivational speaker Keith Harrell will keynote the Opening Session and Don Soderquist, the retired COO and Senior Vice Chairman of Wal-Mart, will keynote a closing day session. Known across corporate America for his energetic and innovative presentations, Harrell is a dynamic life coach who specializes in changing behaviors through a positive attitude and understanding the power of human technology. A strong believer in people-to-people interaction as the key to success, he will share insights from his latest book “CONNECT: Building Success Through People, Purpose and Performance.”

Soderquist will present perspectives on leadership and organizational challenges and highlight what made Wal-Mart a retail powerhouse. Currently the founding executive of The Soderquist Center for Leadership and Ethics, he will explain how successful people lead and operate from a solid foundation of values to guarantee high performance and longevity. 

REGISTRATION AND OTHER DETAILS
Success Series 2009 is open to all commercial real estate and allied professionals, with close to 1,000 expected to attend.  The discounted member registration fee – which includes all education sessions and activities, an evening luau, two continental breakfasts and one lunch – is $575 for registrations received by Aug. 1, 2009, rising to $675 thereafter. These rates apply to IREM and CCIM Members and also have been extended to members of the REALTORS® Commercial Alliance (RCA) of the National Association of REALTORS®, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), International Facility Management Association (IFMA), National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM), and the Appraisal Institute. The discounted registration for others is $825 until Aug. 1, rising to $925 thereafter.  Day passes and special registration rates for students, members of the military, and Hawaii residents also are available. For registration details and additional information, call 800-837-0706, or visit www.CCIMIREMSuccessSeries.com.

ABOUT CCIM INSTITUTE
The CCIM Institute is the governing body of one of the largest commercial real estate networks in the world, with nearly 20,000 members in North America and more than 30 countries.  Since 1969—through its respected CCIM education program—the institute has conferred the Certified Commercial Investment Member designation to qualified commercial real estate and allied professionals.  Additionally, the institute offers the most current, comprehensive, and revolutionary technology in commercial real estate.  These core competencies of networking, education and technology impact and influence the way CCIM members do business.  NET more with CCIM.  For more information, visit www.ccim.com or call 312-321-4460.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT
The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM^®) is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2008.  Major sponsors of the year-long celebration areYardi Systems, a leading provider of high-performance software solutions for the real estate industry, and the REALTORS^® Commercial Alliance (RCA), the collective commercial constituency within the National Association of REALTORS^®.

For more than seven decades, IREM has been the source for education, resources, information, and membership for real estate management professionals. An affiliate of the National Association of Realtors^®, IREM is the only professional real estate management association serving both the multi-family and commercial real estate sectors. With 80 U.S. chapters, eight international chapters, and several other partnerships around the globe, IREM is an international organization that also serves as an advocate on issues affecting the real estate management industry.

Membership includes more than 18,000 individual members and 500 corporate members. IREM promotes ethical real estate management practices through its credentialed membership programs, including the Certified Property Manager® (CPM®) designation, the Accredited Residential Manager® (ARM®) certification, the ACoMcertification, and the Accredited Management Organization® (AMO®) accreditation. These esteemed credentials certify competence and professionalism for those engaged in real estate management. In addition, IREM offers Associate, Student and Academic memberships.

Collectively, IREM CPM® Members in the United States manage over $1.5 trillion in real estate assets, including 8.4 million residential units and 8.4 billion net square feet of commercial space. An additional 977,400 residential units are managed by IREM ARM® Members. IREM Members are employed by some of the most prestigious real estate firms in the world and nearly 70% hold upper-level management positions. Due to their professionalism and vast experience, property owners and investors worldwide continually seek out the management services of IREM Members.

To learn more about the Institute of Real Estate Management and its chapter network, call (800) 837-0706, Ext. 4650 (outside the U.S. call (312) 329-6000) or visit www.irem.org.