Each year the WSU Center for Real Estate and the Kansas Chapter of Certified Commercial Investment Members (CCIM) present their annual Lifetime Achievement Award. The award honors local professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the commercial real estate profession and is a great honor and a tribute to individuals who represent the finest examples of Wichita’s rich history of entrepreneurship in the real estate industry.
2023 Honoree – Max Cole
Max Cole is the 2023 recipient of the Kansas CCIM Chapter and WSU Center for Real Estate Lifetime Achievement Award. Max is a Wichita native celebrated for his unconventional approach to real estate. A trailblazer since the late 1960’s, Max’s strategic foresight led him to profit from land condemned for highway expansion, funding ventures like the Ridge Plaza Inn, and Wichita’s inaugural disco. Max recognized potential in South Wichita, and pioneered projects that revitalized the area. Notably, Max transformed the ailing Wichita Mall into offices, creating one of the original co-working spaces in Wichita. His diverse portfolio, from San Francisco timeshares to Las Vegas golf courses, showcases a remarkable national footprint.
