The Lasting Impact of the John C. Daniel CCIM Scholarship  

 Thanks to the generosity of CCIM Institute Foundation donors, Alyson Douglas O’Laughlin is one step closer to earning the CCIM Designation.  Through the John C. Daniel CCIM Scholarship, Alyson gained support for her CCIM journey, formed a meaningful friendship, and experienced firsthand the power of mentorship that continues to inspire her career today.  

In her own words, Alyson reflects on the impact of the scholarship and the legacy of John Daniel, CCIM. 

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for being selected as the recipient of the John C. Daniel, CCIM Scholarship.  I was incredibly honored and humbled to learn that I was chosen to receive this generous award.  Not only was the scholarship incredibly helpful but a very meaningful relationship with the late John Daniel also came out of it.  Other mutual relationships were enhanced thanks to the connection, and words cannot even describe how full circle and special this all has been. 

I am a Broker at The Providence Group and just completed my 1st year of brokerage.  I had been in-house with a landlord since 2006, until I decided to join my favorite team in our Charlotte, NC office.  It takes time to fill a pipeline and get going in the world of commission-based brokerage, so this scholarship alleviated some financial burden, allowing me to focus on a week of very useful coursework.  I took my first CCIM course in 2014 and ... soon after, I started a family.  The constant career travel and focus on my young family took precedence and knocking out the last two CCIM courses took a back seat.  Thanks to John Daniel’s scholarship, I received yet another great educational experience with Laurens Nicholson, CCIM, as my instructor.  While giving praise to CCIM instructors, hats off to George Wilson, CCIM, for being another fantastic teacher in the CCIM repertoire.  Laurens and George are so passionate about the program and are truly assets to the organization; (it has) been a pleasure to get to know them better from the educational CCIM angle.  Before the class with George, my only experience was working deals with him but the teacher in him gave me a whole new side. 

Thanks to the scholarship, I am one step closer to achieving my goal of becoming a CCIM….just one course to go. John’s dedication to CCIM and his investment in my education has inspired me to work even harder.  The relationship we developed was an added bonus.  John and I spoke regularly until his passing.  I was planning to visit him in person, when he was feeling up to it after he shared details of his sickness.  I enjoyed John’s stories and later learning more about him from my aunt Diane Carter, CCIM, following his passing.  One day John sent me a book called Endurance Real Estate, Running from Peak to Peak by Peter A. Frandano, CCIM.  I opened the package with the book at just the right moment.  I was having a rough day with a challenging client and that book gave me perspective.  I have the book and the accompanying note from John right beside my desk.  There have been days since John’s passing that I glance over when having a difficult time on a deal.  On multiple occasions, the book reminds me that life is too short to harp on a deal gone sideways, a tough conversation, or difficult personality.  You win some and you lose some on deals in our industry, but you never lose the wonderful relationships that come out of it.  This industry is a second family to me, and John Daniel left a lasting impression. 

Thank you once again for the remarkable generosity of John Daniel and for the support the CCIM Scholarship Program provides.  Thank you even more for putting John Daniel into my life, bringing long-standing relationships full circle.   

John C. Daniel, CCIM was a graduate of the Jay W. Levine Leadership Development Academy and a dedicated leader within the CCIM community. He served on The CCIM Institute Board of Directors and was a past president of both The CCIM Institute Foundation and the North Carolina CCIM Chapter. His legacy of service and commitment to professional development continues through his named education scholarship.

Learn more about the John C. Daniel, CCIM Scholarship and other Named Education Scholarships. https://www.ccimef.org/scholarships/named-education-scholarships/north-carolina-named-education-scholarships/