When I earned my CCIM designation in 2018, it wasn’t just another credential to add to my business card. That day marked a significant milestone not only in my career but in commercial real estate history—the completion of the first three-generation CCIM family! Standing alongside my father, Blaine Strickland, and my grandfather, Bob Strickland, I became part of something larger than myself: a living legacy of commercial real estate expertise spanning decades.
This unique perspective shapes everything about how I approach my work with clients today. The lessons, principles, and insights passed down through three generations of CCIM professionals provide a foundation that goes far beyond what any individual could develop in a single career.
What Does Being a Three-Generation CCIM Family Mean for My Clients?
The CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation is widely recognized as the Ph.D. of commercial real estate. It requires extensive coursework in financial analysis, market analysis, user decision analysis, and investment analysis. Only about 6% of commercial real estate practitioners worldwide hold this elite designation.
Having three generations of this expertise creates several distinct advantages for my clients:
Historical Context That Matters
My grandfather, Bob Strickland, received his CCIM designation in 1984 after a distinguished 22-year career as a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. He flew 160 combat missions over Vietnam and Thailand before retiring as a full Colonel in 1977 and entering commercial real estate.
The market cycles, economic shifts, and industry transformations he witnessed during his career provide context that’s impossible to get from textbooks. Through his experiences, I’ve gained insight into how commercial real estate performs through different economic environments—from the high interest rates of the 1980s through multiple recessions and booms.
When I’m advising clients on timing the market or evaluating long-term investment potential, I’m drawing on a multigenerational understanding of market cycles that few other brokers can access.
Depth of Technical Expertise
My father, Blaine Strickland, earned his CCIM in 1987 and has since become a senior instructor for the CCIM Institute, teaching core courses across the country. He literally wrote the book on commercial real estate performance. His published work “Thrive: Ten Prescriptions for Exceptional Performance as a Commercial Real Estate Agent” codifies decades of experience.
This educational foundation means the analysis methodologies I employ represent the gold standard of commercial investment analysis as taught by CCIM instructors nationwide, including my own father.
For industrial and multifamily investors working with me, this translates to more sophisticated financial modeling, more accurate valuations, and a deeper understanding of what drives property performance over time.
A Relationship-First Approach
Perhaps the most important lesson passed down through three generations of CCIMs in my family is that this business is fundamentally about relationships, not transactions.
My grandfather and father built careers on the principle that your reputation is your most valuable asset. In an industry where trust is essential, their consistent demonstration of integrity over decades created a foundation I continue to build upon today.
This approach influences every aspect of my practice—from how I communicate with clients to how I negotiate deals. I’m not just looking to close a single transaction; I’m working to build relationships that span decades and multiple properties, just as my father and grandfather did.
How This Legacy Shapes My Approach to Your Properties
The three-generation CCIM perspective directly impacts how I work with both buyers and sellers in today’s market:
For Sellers: True Market Expertise
When I meet with property owners considering a sale, I bring more than my own market knowledge. I bring an accumulated wisdom about property valuation refined across three generations.
This means I don’t have to guess at what might happen in certain market conditions because I’ve had front-row seats to discussions about similar situations for my entire life. From my grandfather’s experiences selling properties during the savings and loan crisis to my father’s navigation of the 2008 financial collapse, I’ve absorbed lessons about how to protect seller interests even in challenging markets.
This translates to more accurate pricing strategies, more effective marketing approaches, and ultimately, better outcomes for my clients who are selling properties.
For Buyers: Refined Investment Analysis
The CCIM designation places particular emphasis on sophisticated investment analysis which is exactly what buyers need when evaluating potential acquisitions.
My approach to helping investors identify and analyze opportunities draws directly from three generations of investment expertise. I evaluate properties not just on current returns but on their long-term potential through multiple market cycles—something I learned from watching my father and grandfather’s approach to investment properties.
For industrial and multifamily investors, this means more thorough due diligence, more accurate projections, and investment recommendations based on multigenerational insights into what makes properties perform over time.
For All Clients: A Focus on Education
One consistent thread across all three generations of CCIMs in my family has been a commitment to ongoing education. My grandfather taught real estate courses, my father is a CCIM senior instructor who has taught at multiple universities, and I carry on this tradition of education with my clients.
I believe well-informed clients make better decisions. Rather than simply telling clients what to do, I take the time to explain the reasoning behind my recommendations, walking through the analysis and helping them understand the factors that influence property performance.
This educational approach creates more confident decision-makers and stronger long-term partnerships.
Beyond the Designation: The Values That Matter
While the technical knowledge associated with the CCIM designation is valuable, the most important elements of my three-generation legacy aren’t found in designation courses. They’re the values and principles that have guided our approach to this business for decades:
Integrity Above All
My grandfather often said that in commercial real estate, “your word is your bond.” In an industry not always known for transparency, three generations of my family have built their reputations on straight talk and delivered promises.
When I tell a client something about a property or a market, it’s not speculation or sales talk—it’s information I would stake my family’s reputation on. That level of accountability creates a different kind of broker-client relationship.
Patience and Perspective
Commercial real estate is inherently cyclical. Having observed these cycles across three generations provides a longer-term perspective that benefits my clients tremendously.
While many brokers focus exclusively on getting deals done quickly, I’ve learned from my family’s experience that the right timing can be as important as the right property. Sometimes the best advice I can give a client is to wait—something you won’t hear from many brokers.
The Consultant Mindset
Across three generations, the Strickland approach to commercial real estate has never been transaction-focused. It’s always been consultative. I don’t see myself primarily as a broker, but as an advisor helping clients navigate complex real estate decisions.
This consultant mindset means I focus on understanding client objectives first, then developing strategies to achieve those objectives, rather than simply trying to match clients with available properties.
A Legacy in Action
This three-generation legacy isn’t just a marketing story—it’s the foundation of how I operate every day. When I’m analyzing an industrial property, negotiating a multifamily acquisition, or advising a seller on pricing strategy, I’m drawing on lessons learned not just through my own experience but through decades of family expertise.
For clients, this translates to a unique combination of historical perspective, technical expertise, and relationship-focused service that creates exceptional outcomes for long-term investment success.
Like my father and grandfather before me, I measure my success not by transaction volume but by the lasting relationships I build with clients who return year after year, property after property, because they value the distinct perspective three generations of CCIM expertise brings to their investment decisions.
If you’re considering buying or selling commercial property in Central Florida, I’d welcome the opportunity to show you how this multigenerational approach can benefit your specific situation. After all, in commercial real estate, experience is often the difference between good outcomes and great ones.
