Boston, MA Christopher Mellen, CPM, ARM of Braintree, Mass., became the 2016 president of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) national chapter. Mellen, the 80^th president since IREM was founded in 1933, was installed during the IREM Fall Leadership Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Mellen is vice president of the Simon Companies, a national real estate owner, manager and developer headquartered in Braintree. He has more than 30 years of property management experience and is a CPM and ARM, in addition to holding a Massachusetts real estate broker’s license. He has been active in IREM at the national level and served on several committees as a regional vice president and as a member of the executive committee.

Long active in IREM’s Boston Metropolitan Chapter, he has held numerous chapter leadership positions, including that of chapter president. Mellen is an IREM instructor and a faculty member of Boston University. He has twice been named “Real Estate Executive of the Month” by the New England Real Estate Journal, and was honored with induction into IREM’s Academy of Authors.

During his inaugural speech, Mellen said, “I’ve been in the property management industry for nearly 30 years, and IREM has been there with me almost every step of the way. I truly believe in the mission of IREM. Our job is to help real estate management professionals around the globe achieve the highest possible success, and to ensure that professional ethics remain at the forefront of our industry. As property managers, we improve the quality of life where people live, work, and shop. What we do every day has a direct impact on millions of lives. And IREM helps us succeed.”

Michael Lanning, CPM is 2016 IREM president-elect Michael Lanning, CPM is the 2016 president-elect of IREM. He is the senior vice president and city leader in the Cushman & Wakefield (formerly DTZ) office in Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to new business development and professional development for the property management division, he oversees the ten million s/f office, medical office, retail, and industrial portfolio. Lanning received his CPM designation from IREM in 1995 and is a long-time member of IREM’s Kansas City chapter. Over the last ten years, he has held numerous local and national leadership positions, including that of chapter president, regional vice president, senior vice president, and executive committee member. In addition to his involvement with IREM, Lanning is a member of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), the Kansas City Area Development Council’s life science advisory board, and the board of directors of the American Diabetes Association.

J. Benjamin McGrew, CPM is 2016 IREM Secretary/Treasurer J. Benjamin McGrew, CPM, CCIM is the 2016 secretary/treasurer of IREM. He is also president and majority shareholder of MANAGEWEST, Inc., a professional, full-service management company based in Sacramento, California. McGrew earned his CPM from IREM in 1987, and has long been active in IREM’s Sacramento Valley chapter. He served as chapter president in 2001, and was award the CPM of the Year in 2000 and 2004 by the Sacramento Valley chapter. He also received the prestigious Chapter Leadership Award in 2007. He also served on the IREM executive committee.

IREM is an international community of real estate managers dedicated to ethical business practices, maximizing the value of investment real estate, and promoting superior management through education and information sharing. An affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS, IREM is the home for all industry professionals connected to real estate management – and the only organization serving both the multi-family and commercial sectors. IREM believes good management matters, and well-managed properties pay dividends in terms of value and in the quality of life for residents, tenants and customers.

IREM offers a variety of membership types for professionals of every experience level, from on-site managers to high-level executives. IREM credentials, earned by meeting high standards of education, experience, and ethical business practices, include: CPM, ARM, ACoM, and AMO.