New ACRE program targets minorities for commercial real estate industry

A new program has been launched to recruit, train and place minorities in professional careers in commercial real estate in the Milwaukee area. The Milwaukee Associates in Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) program is being developed by The Urban League of Milwaukee, the United Community Center, the Initiative for a Competitive Milwaukee and Marquette University.
The program will provide young professionals with access to leaders in the local commercial real estate industry, using a formal curriculum, networking events and one-year paid internships.
The program is designed to increase the number of African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and other minorities in the Milwaukee area’s commercial real estate industry.
The curriculum will take place at Marquette and will be taught by professionals from Mandel Group, KBS Construction, Irgens Development Partners, American Appraisal, Pabst Farms Development and Wispark.
The corporate partners will host one-year internships after applicants complete the academic portion of the program. The ACRE program is seeking applicants for the program.
"This is exactly the kind of proactive approach we need in Milwaukee to build minority leadership in key industries in our city," said Ralph Hollmon, president, Milwaukee Urban League. "ACRE can create a clear path to success for our young professionals to make sure we are part of the continued economic growth that will take place here."
"Nothing will be more important to the future of Milwaukee than economic development. Hispanic and other minority young professionals must be included in this process. ACRE is an example of Milwaukee coming together to create outlets for new leadership," said Ricardo Diaz, executive director, United Community Center on Milwaukee’s south side.
"Initiative for a Competitive Milwaukee supports new programs like ACRE that will not only provide important new opportunities for the students, but also will help us keep our most talented young people here in Milwaukee," said Art Smith, chief executive officer of the Initiative for a Competitive Milwaukee. "They will be the future of our city, and it’s great to see industry recognize that we all have a stake in seeing them prosper."
"ACRE relies on a successful collaboration of educational, community, industry, and foundation partners. Marquette is proud to be at the forefront of such an important effort to open the doors of opportunity where they may have otherwise been closed and to provide attractive career development programs here in Milwaukee," said David Shrock, dean of Marquette University’s College of Business Administration.
For more information or to
apply for the ACRE program, visit http://www.busadm.mu.edu/acre, call (414) 288-7337 or e-mail acre@marquette.edu. Applications will be considered on an ongoing basis until the program is filled.
August 20, 2004, Small Business Times, Milwaukee, WI