Kiernan Conway Named CCIM Institute Chief Economist

CHICAGO, Oct. 09, 2017 -- CCIM Institute announced it has named Kiernan “KC” Conway, MAI, CRE, as its chief economist. Conway is the director of research and corporate engagement at the Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE) housed within the University of Alabama's Culverhouse College of Commerce.

“KC Conway is a widely respected economist with extensive experience in commercial real estate investment,” says 2017 CCIM Institute President Robin L. Webb, CCIM. “His decades of research and expertise in the global capital markets, underwriting, analysis, and the regulatory environment is a welcome addition to the knowledge base of CCIM Institute, its instructors, and its members.”

With more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate, Conway is a nationally recognized expert and speaker on a wide range of topics ranging from appraisal and bank regulation to ports and securitization. His areas of specialty include housing, industrial, litigation support, industrial and office real estate, North American ports, and land development.

“I’m honored to be tapped by such a venerated organization as CCIM Institute,” says Conway. “CCIM epitomizes the idea of thought leaders who are also actual practitioners and I am excited to contribute to the Institute.”

Conway is a frequent speaker for the Federal Reserve, FDIC, FHLB, state bank commissioners, academic groups, professional organizations, and industry associations. He previously served as chief economist for Colliers International – US.

In addition to being a frequent lecturer at international conferences, Conway has consulted with major governmental agencies, most notably briefing former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and the Board of Governors on the burgeoning subprime lending and housing crisis and its impact on the commercial real estate industry.

For his first task as CCIM Institute chief economist, Conway will interview Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, on stage at the CCIM Global Conference, Oct. 16 in Toronto.

Grayson Glaze, CCIM, CPM, executive director for the Alabama Center for Real Estate and 2018 President-Elect of the CCIM Alabama Chapter, was instrumental in the process naming Conway as CCIM Institute’s chief economist.

"Aligning the Center's talent and expertise with the gold standard in commercial real estate represented an opportunity worth pursuing," says Glaze. "The partnership with the Institute provides an unparalleled platform for KC to share his nationally recognized forecasting and thought leadership with the industry."

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, CCIM Institute is a global community of 13,000 members, more than 50 chapters, and 30 countries that educates and connects the world’s leading experts in investment strategy, financial analysis, and market analysis.

Learn more about CCIM Institute’s education and designation program at www.ccim.com. 

About the CCIM Institute
CCIM Institute created the language of global real estate investment. Our courses and worldwide community deploy commercial real estate investment methodologies and tools that speed the pathway between opportunity, a go/no-go decision and success for an asset, taught by instructors who are themselves industry leaders. Today, the organization, through its 50 chapters, continues to innovate best practices and elevate the commercial real estate professional through its core designation program to earn the CCIM pin — real estate’s most coveted credential — and its topical education courses offered through the Ward Center for Real Estate Studies. In addition, membership in CCIM includes the industry’s best technology and operational platform, allowing entrepreneurial and mid-sized businesses to compete with the largest multinational providers. Today, almost 70 percent of designees hold the title of owner, partner, principal, or president, representing an exclusive worldwide referral network of 13,000 members in 30 countries. Ultimately, CCIM represents a larger vision of the commercial real estate provider, leveraging investment analysis, opinions of value, and underwriting to become a leader in sourcing capital, building a cash-flow vehicle, and ultimately creating value. Information at www.ccim.com.

Contact: Samuel S. Moon at 312.321.8554 or [email protected]