UA MBA Grad Uses ‘Fast Track’ to Commercial Investment Designation

 TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Ryan Robinette, who received his Master of Business Administration from The University of Alabama Manderson Graduate School of Business, has become the first MBA graduate to use the UA-Certified Commercial Investment Member-Alliance “fast track” candidacy to receive his CCIM pin.

Robinette, who received his MBA with a concentration in finance and real estate in May 2008, earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Akron.

He is now the senior analyst for BB&T Real Estate Funding, a $400 million first mortgage construction/bridge lending platform based in Chicago, where he has been responsible for analyzing, underwriting and closing more than $250 million in commercial transactions, including a variety of multifamily, office, seniors housing and retail properties.

The Alabama Center for Real Estate at The University of Alabama, under the leadership of Grayson M. Glaze, executive director of the center, established the relationship between UA and the CCIM Institute in October 2008.

“This partnership permits graduates of the master’s program to fast-track the CCIM designation program as well as offers other benefits for university students,” Glaze said.

The prestigious Certified Commercial Investment Member University Fast Track Program, offered to select colleges and universities with master’s programs in real estate, allows MBA’s with concentrations in real estate a chance to complete CCIM membership requirements in an accelerated and cost-effective way.

“The list has really grown but when we were approved, we were in the first 20 or so to be accepted,” Glaze said. “There are several current MBA students with a passion for real estate, and Ryan’s pioneering accomplishment will certainly inspire and encourage them and those in the future to take a hard look at the tremendous value and opportunity associated with the UA-CCIM partnership.”

“This relationship underscores the strength of our real estate program,” said Dr. Rob Morgan, associate dean for graduate programs at UA’s Culverhouse of Commerce.  Other universities in the partnership include The City College of New York, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, MIT and 24 other leading institutions.

“The alliance with CCIM gives our students a great advantage in today’s competitive job market through a faster route to a CCIM designation and access to a wide range of industry professionals and tools,” Glaze said.

As part of the CCIM relationship, graduate students have free access to new commercial real estate tools, presentations by members of the CCIM community who will share lessons from their real-world real estate analysis experience, access to real estate positions exclusively held for CCIM members and admittance to CCIM conferences and networking events.