At our March chapter meeting Julie Terry, a property manager with Property Advisory Group in Providence has earned the Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation from the IREM. The CPM designation is awarded to real estate managers who have met IREMs requirements in the areas of professional education, examination and experience. CPM members must also abide by a rigorous Code of Professional Ethics that is strictly enforced by the Institute.
Also IREM Greater Rhode Island Chapter 88 welcomed Joyleen Guzman-Lowe from Hallkeen Management, Jill Johwa from Armory Revival and Alisha Petipas-Haggerty from Corcoran Management who have earned the Accredited Residential Manager (ARM) certification from IREM.
The ARM certification is awarded to managers of residential real estate properties who have met the Institute's rigorous requirements in the areas of professional education, examination and experience. ARM members must also abide by a rigorous Code of Professional Ethics that is strictly enforced by the Institute.
The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) is an international community of real estate managers across all property types dedicated to ethical business practices and maximizing the value of investment real estate. An affiliate of the National Association of Realtors, IREM has been a trusted source for knowledge, advocacy and networking for the real estate management community for more than 77 years.
IREM is the only professional real estate management association serving both the multi-family and commercial real estate sectors and has 80 U.S. chapters, 14 international chapters, and several other partnerships around the globe. Worldwide membership includes more than 19,000 individual members and over 550 corporate members.
IREM promotes ethical real estate management practices through its credentialed membership programs, including the CPM designation, the ARM certification, the Accredited Commercial Manager (ACoM) certification, and the Accredited Management Organization (AMO) accreditation. These esteemed credentials certify competence and professionalism for those engaged in real estate management. IREM also offers CPM Candidate, Associate, Student, and Academic memberships.
Collectively, CPM members in the U.S. manage nearly $2 trillion in real estate assets, including 11.4 million residential units and 10.4 billion net s/f of commercial space.

The 12th annual Leadership and Legislative Summit of IREM will be held from April 14 through 18 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, DC. The Summit brings together real estate management industry leaders in a dynamic, highly interactive forum that addresses major business challenges and opportunities presented by these ever-changing times, emerging legislative issues of industry interest, IREM governance-related matters, and much more.
Highlighting the event is Capitol Hill Visit Day, when IREM members meet with members of Congress and their key aides to promote awareness and understanding of key legislative issues of concern to the commercial real estate industry and to communicate the industry's position on these issues. Last year, a record number of 270 IREM members participated in more than 230 Hill visits, contributing to recent legislative and regulatory victories for commercial real estate in areas such as lease accounting, carried interest, covered bonds, and lead paint. This year the issues we will bring to our Congressional Members are Multifamily and Commercial Mortgage Market Liquidity: Covered Bonds and Credit Union Lending and Taxes and Real Estate: Carried Interest and Internet Sales Tax Fairness.
The Summit features a wide variety of program offerings. In addition to Capitol Hill Visit Day, the following provides a representative sampling:
Keynote address by Charlie Cook, editor and publisher of The Cook Political Report," a political analyst for the National Journal Group and the man the New York Times has called "one of the best political handicappers in the nation."
Federal issues briefing and Capitol Hill visit orientation program to prepare participants for this year's Hill visits.
A festive "Party With a Purpose," with proceeds benefiting the IREM Foundation.
In addition, real estate industry expert and prognosticator Christopher Lee, president and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles-based CEL & Associates, Inc., will deliver a special presentation drawn from his just-updated version of From Good to Great to Best-in-Class, the popular IREM publication he originally authored in 2008. His remarks will focus on proven strategies to help any organization achieve optimal performance and a competitive edge and will conclude with predictions on events that are likely to occur over the next decade that could significantly impact the real estate management industry.
To learn more about the IREM and its chapter network, call (800) 837-0706, ext. 4650 (outside the U.S. call (312) 329-6000) or visit www.irem.org.
Richard Hitt, CPM, is a senior property manager with Phoenix Property Management Inc., Warwick and is the president of IREM-Greater R.I. Chapter No. 88, Providence.