Incorporating diversity into a new international sales division has earned Coldwell Banker Commercial Benchmark the national Commercial Diversity Award.
The award honors one of the 250 affiliates that has demonstrated the corporate diversity initiative and has expanded opportunities in the commercial real estate industry for minorities.
The award was presented at the company’s annual recent Global Commercial Conference in Orlando.
“Coldwell Banker Commercial Benchmark was recognized for its diversity efforts in the launching of its International Sales Division,” Benchmark President Nick Nicholson said. The company, which has 33 employees, includes four minorities and two additional minority associates will be added this month.
Coldwell Banker Commercial Benchmark – which has offices in Jacksonville, Palm Coast and Ormond Beach – plans to open a fourth office this month in Ocala that will serve as the base of its international operations, he said. That office will be staffed by the two new additional associates, both of Latin-American descent.
The company has already initiated efforts to reach investors in Chile, and with the opening of the Ocala office, it will be targeting Spain, Venezuela, Honduras, Dominion Republic and Ecuador, Nicholson said.
Rick Davidson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Coldwell Banker Commercial Affiliates, Inc. said the award is a significant achievement.
“The Coldwell Banker Commercial Diversity Award represents a distinguished category of recognition for a Coldwell Banker Commercial office. We have always recognized our top performing offices and individuals, but we would also like to applaud the office that most fully embraces the importance of those initiatives and incorporates them into daily operations,” Davidson said.
In addition to the criteria specified by Davidson, the winning office must meet specific requirements pertaining to its linguistic capabilities, marketing campaigns, training, business relationships, community involvement and various other practices.
Coldwell Banker Commercial Benchmark was founded by Nicholson in 1999.