AIR CRE 2023 Initiatives
As 2023 comes to a close, I would like to reflect on the key achievements regarding AIR CRE’s 2023 initiatives and also thank all those involved. It has been a year of tremendous growth in our organization, which could not have been achieved without the engagement and support of our membership and the dedication of our leadership.
Development of the New AIR CRE Contracts Application
Behind the scenes, we have been making great strides toward the development of the new AIR CRE Contracts application and look forward to its release in 2025. Along with providing our current Contracts users with improved functionality, the new application will position AIR CRE to advance its reach into the national market.
New features will include:
- A completely web-based system
- Cross-device and cross-operating system compatibility
- Improved functionality, including the ability to review and sign on your phone
- Change-tracking and document comparison functionality
AIR CRE Contracts, National Expansion
At the start of 2023, we had customized the contracts for 30 states plus the District of Columbia. Significant progress has been made in the past 12 months as the AIR CRE Contracts are now available in 43 states. The ultimate goal is for AIR CRE Contracts to become the commercial real estate industry standard across the country.
The customization process is a rigorous undertaking involving engaging experienced CRE attorneys in every state. The attorneys then review the contracts and make recommendations based on their state’s real estate laws and local customs. Once this process is complete, the agreements are handed off to the AIR CRE tech team for programming, testing, and launch.
If you are interested in accessing any of the new state libraries, they are available for download through the current AIR CRE Contracts application. Go to Tools > Manage Contract Libraries, and then select the states you wish to add. Click here for the current list of states with AIR CRE Contracts.
AIR CRE Contracts Marketing and Distribution
This year, AIR CRE sponsored two SIOR national conferences, giving our team the opportunity to host a booth and make a presentation to SIOR’s Independent Broker Group. We’ve also seen the consistent adoption of the contracts software by key industry organizations. Along with SIOR, we currently have partner agreements with Arizona Association of Realtors (AAR), California Association of Realtors (CAR), Commercial Alliance of Las Vegas (CALV), eXp, and SVN. We plan to promote AIR CRE Contracts throughout 2024 and expand their usage across the country, mainly through additional strategic partnerships with leading industry organizations, several of which we are in discussions with currently.
AIR CRE>Next, Continued Program Development
We’re excited to report that AIR CRE>Next continues to grow. In 2022, the inaugural year of the program, 13 new-to-the-business brokers participated. In 2023 the number doubled to 26. Now, we look forward to enrolling more than 40 in the AIR CRE>Next Class of 2024.
AIR CRE organized numerous well-attended events including the AIR CRE Contracts Strategy Seminars, Town Halls, Owner Lunches, and more. I greatly enjoyed the Lawn Bowling gathering, which took place in April. We were pleased to see the membership networking and having such a fantastic time. Owners also had the opportunity to network with the next generation of brokers throughout the year during networking and Lunch & Learn events held around SoCal.
Feedback from 2023 participants has been very positive. Nelson Simons of NEWMARK recently commented, “Thank you for allowing me to participate! The AIR CRE>Next Program was such a great experience for me. I really enjoyed meeting other new-to-the-business brokers and getting connected to some of the biggest players in the SoCal Market. Lawn Bowling, Golf, and Happy Hour are definitely huge perks too! I’m glad I was a part of the Year 2 Crew of the AIR CRE>Next program. You did a great job all around with all the events and meetings. I will definitely continue to recommend people to AIR CRE! Thank you again for everything! Much appreciated.” This coming year, we will continue to focus on hosting impactful events for the 2024 class, which will include a strong presence by the AIR CRE Board of Directors.
2023 AIR CRE Events
AIR CRE enjoyed a full calendar of live events this year, including the popular Long Beach Port Boat Tour in July, the 39th Annual Golf Tournament in September, quarterly Research Insights events, and four half-day AIR CRE Contracts Strategy Seminars. In case you missed the seminars presented by AIR Contracts experts Bryan Mashian and John Pagliassotti, our team produced on-demand videos, so the information continues to be available to you. This highly informative content is now ready for everyone to view regardless of their location. To watch, click here for the Purchase and Sale Agreements video and click here for the Lease Agreements Video.
Leadership Perspective
A Thank You from our President
This year, we had the pleasure of welcoming board member, Justin Altemus, to serve as AIR CRE’s 2023 President/Executive Chair. Justin has been with the Altemus Company for nearly 25 years and is a third-generation AIR CRE Member. Justin brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to his position with AIR CRE, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Jules Altemus, who was one of AIR CRE’s founders and served as its first President in 1960, and his father, David, who sat on the Board of Directors as Treasurer.
To close out his year as President, Justin said: “I greatly enjoyed my time as President, and I am very proud of the organization for its achievements. While 2023 was a more challenging year for the industrial and commercial real estate market, AIR CRE was still able to provide the great quality services that our membership has become accustomed to, as well as play offense in building out some key initiatives that will provide great value to our Members in the near future. We would not have been able to do this without the continued support and loyalty of our Members.
Above and beyond the services we provide, the beauty of this organization is the foundation upon which it was founded. The soul of the organization has remained the same since the beginning, and still embodies the vision and the mission of the original founders. This has everything to do with the character, professionalism, and mutual respect among the Members. Lastly, we would not be where we are today as an organization without our incredible leadership. Namely, our Board of Directors and especially our Executive Director Tim Hayes and our COO/CFO Joy Pomeroy. Tim, Joy, and the entire AIR CRE Team are the backbone of the organization and should be commended for their great work and diligence in providing the best resources possible to our Members. My time went by too fast, but I am excited to continue to be a part of this wonderful organization and its growth in the years to come.”
As we reflect on 2023, we realize we are fortunate to have a great organization of supportive Members and Member organizations. This truly is a quality group of professionals. As we ring in 2024, I am very happy to see the new AIR CRE>Next class become part of the history of AIR CRE.
We are particularly appreciative of our very hard-working Board of Directors and, of course, you, our incredibly loyal Members. Thank you to all current and past Board Members for your service to AIR CRE Members and the CRE industry – your time and commitment are greatly appreciated! And thank you to our Members for your participation in the organization in 2023.
I wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a prosperous New Year as we look forward to continued success in 2024.
Very truly yours,
Tim Hayes
Executive Director