Chapter CheckIn Spring 2024

“The success of any chapter is the ability to provide value to the members. Our membership strategy is to provide the services and education that will keep our membership engaged. We are fortunate as a bigger chapter to be able to offer over 26 scholarships, award-winning educational offerings, greater advocacy efforts, more opportunities for leadership development, and a myriad of networking events (statewide), that allow for more collaboration between members.” - Rick Gonzalez, CCIM, 2023 Florida CCIM Chapter President

The Florida CCIM Chapter is living large and proud in the Sunshine State and flourishing under the leadership of President Liz Menéndez, CCIM, and President-Elect Michael Hinton, CCIM. The chapter is committed to building upon the successes of past leadership to enhance the value of being a member in 2024.

The Florida CCIM Chapter is the largest chapter in the U.S. with more than 1,100 members and is only one of two CCIM chapters that is comprised of districts. The Florida CCIM Chapter’s eight geographic districts consist of North, Panhandle, Central, West Coast, East Coast, Southwest, Ft. Lauderdale-Boward, and Miami-Dade/ Monroe. These districts offer multiple monthly events that are tailored to their local market area, and each district conducts its local fundraising activities.

The Florida CCIM Chapter’s most recent accomplishments include winning The CCIM Institute Foundation Chapter Member Challenge, a fundraising event benefiting The CCIM Institute Foundation during The CCIM Institute’s 2023 Annual Governance Meetings in Seattle. Among this accomplishment, the Florida CCIM Chapter also welcomed 11 new CCIM Designees, scheduled 12 commercial real estate Designation Curriculum courses throughout the state, and awarded more than 26 annual scholarships to qualifying candidates from 2023-2024.

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“It is an honor to be recognized as a partner to advance commercial real estate careers through the scholarship program.” - Rick Gonzalez, CCIM, 2023 Florida CCIM Chapter President

To offer valuable services such as networking, education, and connections, the CCIM Florida Chapter believes that partnerships with allied organizations are an essential part of business. They work with the Florida Association of REALTORS®, SIOR, RLI, NAIOP, NAR, BOMA, ICSC, and local REALTOR® associations throughout the state to help bring beneficial services to their chapter members.

The Florida CCIM Chapter is proud of its philanthropic efforts and is continuously looking for ways to give back to the community. The Metropolitan Ministries collects turkeys purchased by the West Coast Florida District from donations received during their annual fundraiser. While turkeys are a great way to provide food to a family in need, many of the districts select other types of successful fundraisers to give back. Golf outings provide ample opportunity for networking, fun, and raising funds for deserving charities in Florida. The Central Florida District holds an annual golf tournament and donates the proceeds raised to the Central Florida Coalition for the Homeless. The East Coast CCIM Chapter also hosts a golf tournament that benefits both the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRS) and The CCIM Institute Foundation.

It is not uncommon for the Florida Chapter's Past Presidents to also serve as chapter ambassadors, with their involvement extending to the district, state, and national levels of The CCIM Institute leadership. The Florida CCIM Chapter encourages attendance and engagement at all The CCIM Institute meetings and events, including mid-year and annual governance meetings, The CCIM Institute’s Chapter Officer Training, and the C5 + CCIM Global Summit. The chapter also hosts The Florida CCIM Chapter Meetings in January and August, and their own Chapter Officer Training for incoming leadership, which allows their chapter to network with all of the districts and chapter leadership throughout the state. 

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A CONVERSATION WITH FLORIDA CCIM CHAPTER, EAST COAST DISTRICT PRESIDENT, Erik Johnson, CCIM

Erik Johnson, CCIM, is a seasoned real estate advisor with expertise in various sectors, including retail, office, industrial, land, medical, and more. Johnson brings a high level of professionalism and proficiency to the commercial real estate industry.

Johnson’s services cover a wide range of roles, including buyer representation, seller representation, and tenant representation. Whether working with owner-users or investors, Johnson is equipped to provide strategic guidance and personalized solutions tailored to his client's specific needs and objectives.

With dual licensure in both Florida and Michigan, Johnson offers comprehensive market knowledge and insights across multiple geographic regions. This allows him to effectively navigate local market dynamics, identify opportunities, and negotiate favorable outcomes on behalf of his clients.

Johnson’s dedication to delivering exceptional service, combined with his in-depth understanding of the real estate industry, makes him a trusted advisor for individuals and businesses seeking to achieve their real estate goals. Whether clients are looking to acquire, sell, lease, or invest in commercial properties, Johnson provides expert guidance every step of the way.

Johnson currently serves as a District Representative on the Florida CCIM Chapter’s Executive Committee. He served as East Coast District President in 2023 and is doing so again in 2024. He was the winning ticket holder in The CCIM Institute Foundation’s Chapter Member Challenge, winning The Florida CCIM Chapter the grand prize. We wanted to check in with Johnson to learn more about him, his involvement in the Florida CCIM Chapter, and how The CCIM Institute Foundation has impacted his career.

CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND ON YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS?

I have been in the industry for more than 17 years, transitioning from a career in commercial lending with regional/community banks to commercial real estate sales/leasing. I’m the broker/owner of Gator Commercial Real Estate based in Palm Beach Gardens and an associate at Milliken Realty in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I reside in Jupiter, Florida, with my wife Lisa, two sons, Landon (13) and Hunter (2), and dog Baxter. 

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THE CCIM INSTITUTE AND WHAT LED YOU TO BECOME A CCIM?

I’ve always been impressed by members of The CCIM Institute. From my experience, Designees always seem to stand out in a crowd and particularly in a transaction. I knew those were the people I wanted to do business with. After giving a presentation at an industry meeting in my banker days, I was offered a scholarship by Wayne Kleinstiver, CCIM. Although I didn’t fully comprehend the value proposition at the time, I did eventually pursue my Designation after the transition to the brokerage world to help validate and compete. I’ve also had several amazing mentors, including Bill Milliken, CCIM, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AS DISTRICT PRESIDENT?

Our biggest accomplishment was hosting our first-ever commercial real estate symposium in 2023. We saw an opportunity and organized a gathering of local members to participate in an Economic Forecast. Topics discussed included public policy, affordable housing, and a five county State of the Market featuring Palm Beach, Martin, St Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties. It was a sold-out event, and we’ll continue building upon its success.

WHAT IS A MAJOR GOAL FOR YOUR DISTRICT THIS YEAR?

Just like a parent wanting the best for their children, we want to leave it better than how we found it. We have exceptional talent within our board and committee teams. My goal is to create space for them to focus on education and networking for our members. We’ve recently hired administrative help to support this mission and are fully embracing technology to streamline traditionally clunky volunteer processes. I believe volunteering should be a two-way street and should be considered an investment of our time, not an expense. I respect our team’s time and encourage their growth.

WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES DOES THE FLORIDA-EAST COAST DISTRICT PROVIDE THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THE REGION?

We structure our education and networking events to best help meet our current and future members' needs. A significant portion of these activities are intended to provide meaningful market knowledge. While this is the mission of many of our chapters/districts, there are a variety of member types we support. For example, Palm Beach County alone generates more agricultural revenue than any other county east of the Mississippi River and is also the budding home to “Wall Street South.” The four other counties we encompass have unique stories to tell and respective market dynamics.

WHAT IS YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE CCIM FOUNDATION?

The East Coast District is a proud and consistent supporter of The CCIM Institute Foundation. We have 30 scholarships available at the chapter level.