The institute for real estate management (irem) was created as a subsidiary group of

The Institute of Real Estate Management’s (IREM) Certified Property Management (CPM) designation is being introduced to South Africa to raise the profile of local real-estate managers.

This initiative is being driven by the South African Institute of Black Property Practitioners (SAIBPP) and the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) in collaboration with the IREM.

As one of the founding members of the SAIBPP, Saul Gumede is very proud of this development.

Gumede, who became South Africa’s first IREM CPM as early as 1999, is also chief-executive officer of Dijalo Property Group, a black-owned full service property-development specialist in South Africa.

Established in 1998, the group’s extensive capabilities are now housed within subsidiary companies, Dijalo Property Asset Management, Dijalo Property Development, Dijalo Facilities Management and Dijalo Property Broking.

The IREM is an international community of real-estate managers dedicated to ethical business practices, maximising the value of investment into real estate and promoting excellence in the industry through education and knowledge transfer.

An IREM CPM designation demonstrates the highest levels of expertise and competency, as well as integrity in the profession.

Wits students who hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Building and who have three years of property-management experience will now be able to complete three IREM courses to become CPMs.

The courses include Management Plan Skills Assessment, CPM Certification Examination and Ethics for Real Estate Management, and will be conducted by IREM instructors each year during a two week-long “Winter School”.

Gumede says that the development started gaining momentum in 2016 when the Education Committee of the SAIBPP started discussions with representatives from Wits to use the institution of higher learning as a vehicle for introducing the IREM CPM in South Africa.

“I presented the SAIBPP proposal to the international management board of the IREM at a convention that was hosted at the Hilton Hotel in San Diego in October last year, and the suggestion was very favourably received. This paved the way forward for further discussion between the IREM, SAIBPP and Wits and culminated in the introduction of IREM CPM in the country,” Gumede says.

He obtained this designation in the United States, and it was conferred to him by then president of the IREM, Michael Simmons.

Including Gumede, Hosia Malekane, managing director of Dijalo Property Development, and Nandi Malindi, a Dijalo Property Group investment analyst, there are only 10 South Africans who hold this esteemed designation.

Malindi is the latest representative from Dijalo Property Group to become an IREM CPM.

She recently graduated as part of the initial phase of the larger roll-out of IREM CPM in South Africa, joining seven other South African built-environment professionals who passed the block CPM course in August 2017.

Wits and SAIBPP identified 20 candidates for participation in the pilot programme.

The SAIBPP has nurtured a long working relationship with the IREM to further the development of the larger South African property-management profession.

This partnership commenced in 1998 when then chairperson of the SAIBPP, Gumede, signed a protocol agreement between IREM and SAIBPP in the United States to jointly build a foundation of ongoing education and professional credibility to enhance the stature of property managers in South Africa.

Gumede considers this development to be one of many milestones in the long history of the SAIBPP, which was established in 1985 as a forum for black professional in the built-environment industry to network, share knowledge and best practices. Importantly, it also provided support to members and played a valuable role in assisting companies in identifying and sourcing talented black staff.

“The SAIBPP’s first formal strategic meeting was held at my residence in Kew, Johannesburg, and was attended by about five other black property practitioners who mainly represented pension and life-insurance companies that had large property holdings at the time,” he recalls.

Based on his robust financial background, Gumede was elected the institution’s first treasurer and Andy Tondi, a legal property expert, president of the fledgling institute.

Gumede would later serve as president in 1999 and has since participated in the SAIBPP’s many committees.

After the country’s first free and fair elections in 1994, the institute assumed a leading role in providing a professional black perspective on property bills, as well as any property and funding legislation to be passed by the new democratically-elected government.

The SAIBPP is the only mouthpiece for black property practitioners representing both individuals and companies with chapters in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

Raleigh-based property manager recognized as a top performer in the Southeast region

ATLANTA (May 11, 2022) – Bridge Commercial Real Estate, a commercial brokerage subsidiary of Bridge Investment Group, announced today that Property Manager Tara Crossan has been named a recipient of Connect CRE’s annual Next Generation Awards in the Southeast category. Crossan and a handful of other rising stars in the commercial real estate industry were selected from more than 500 nominees.

Connect CRE is a daily news source covering commercial real estate transactions and trends in 12 sectors and 10 markets across the country, including national and global stories.

“Each day I strive to be intentional and proactive with my tenants and their needs, and I am extremely humbled to be included among a group of so many talented real estate professionals whom I admire,” said Crossan. “Property management plays a critical role in creating welcoming, healthy and collaborative workplaces where businesses can thrive, especially as more workers return to their offices. Bridge has been a national leader in restoring a sense of community at our office properties, and its commitment to excellence and customer service has enabled me to reach new heights in my own career, for which I am very grateful.”

Crossan joined Bridge in October 2021. She and her team oversee nearly 333,000 square feet of office space in Raleigh, North Carolina at Capital Center and Somerset Center. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Liberty University and is an active member of Building Owners and Management Association (BOMA) of Raleigh and the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). Crossan is also nearing her Certified Property Manager certification through IREM.

“Tara exhibits outstanding leadership each day at Bridge. Her thoughtful and engaging approach incorporates a personal touch, polished communication and clear direction, all while encouraging collaboration. These qualities have helped her build strong relationships with tenants, staff and vendors,” said Brenden Welch, Managing Director of Property Management at Bridge. “Tara’s time management and prioritization have allowed her to complete projects and tasks at an advanced pace, and she has recently sought out opportunities for additional responsibilities in our portfolio. She has certainly impressed many and it is clear she has a bright future in our industry.”

Prior to joining Bridge, Crossan served at Longfellow Real Estate Partners in Morrisville, North Carolina, for three years as a property manager. Before that, she was an assistant property manager at Blue Ridge Realty and Aurora Property Services.

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About Bridge Investment Group (“Bridge”)

Bridge is a leading, vertically integrated real estate investment manager, diversified across specialized asset classes, with approximately $38.8 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2022. Bridge combines its nationwide operating platform with dedicated teams of investment professionals focused on select U.S. real estate verticals: residential rental, office, development, logistics properties, net lease and real estate-backed credit.

About Bridge Commercial Real Estate (“BCRE”)

BCRE is an established player in the U.S. commercial office market that specializes in creating desirable, next generation workspaces. BCRE provides world-class commercial office brokerage services, property management, accounting and commercial construction services for Bridge Office assets. With a proven blueprint that delivers long-term value for tenants and investors, our portfolio includes office properties uniquely positioned in dynamic, high-growth markets across the U.S. and continues to grow. We are laser focused on how companies work today – and will work tomorrow. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and Salt Lake City, Utah, BCRE is a subsidiary of Bridge Investment Group, LLC.