Caton Commercial Real Estate Group announced that its senior vice president, Andy Velkme, CIPS, has received the NAR National Commercial Award for 2018. He is one of only 79 REALTORS nationwide to receive the award this year, and one of just 522 so honored in the award’s 13-year history. This puts him in a select group, as NAR is the world’s largest trade association, with more than 1.3 million members.
Velkme is a commercial real estate broker, adviser and industry speaker, focusing on innovative real estate concepts that are making an impact locally, nationally and globally. He has been on the forefront of identifying growth industries and working with firms to help them expand concepts in co-living, co-working, adaptive re-use, creative mixed use and incubation spaces.
Before joining Caton Commercial, he was the director of a global market research solutions company that facilitated qualitative and quantitative research throughout the United States, Europe and South America for many of the world’s most influential brands, including Apple, Microsoft, North Face, Vans and Puma.
Currently, Velkme is working with a diverse range of clients including Berlin-based property technology firm Medici Living Group in its expansion of its Quarters brand co-living concept. He is active throughout the Chicago market as well as globally.
Velkme is the chairperson of the NICAR Commercial Global Business Network and the 2019 treasurer of NICAR’s executive board; he was secretary of the executive board in 2018. He was the NICAR REALTOR of the Year in 2018 for demonstrating excellence in the industry.
“This is a significant honor for Andy, who has worked diligently on behalf of clients and has distinguished himself as a leader in the industry,” said Bill Caton, CIPS, owner and managing broker of Caton Commercial. Caton has been extensively involved with NICAR for many years and was NICAR’s president in 2014. “We are proud to have Andy as an integral part of the Caton Commercial team, as he exemplifies our high standards for client service.”
Velkme is also a founding member and vice president of the Latvian American Chamber of Commerce. He is a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS).
