(Greensboro, N.C.) January 31, 2013 – Algenon Cash, Managing Director of Wharton Gladden & Company, a private boutique investment banking firm, will teach a Commercial Real Estate Development Course at Winston-Salem State University during the spring semester.  Realtors can take the 4-hour Continuing Education Class to meet CE credits, and students and adults who take the class will be introduced to multi-family and commercial real estate development.  The goal of the class is to enable class participants to be better able to assist a potential investor, owner or developer in obtaining and analyzing necessary information that will be used to determine the financial feasibility of income-producing assets.

Class participants will be introduced to the real estate development process and will learn the role of a developer.  Other topics include how developers put their development team in place, understanding the market surrounding the proposed development, analyzing and selecting the right site for development, zoning, financial feasibility, site planning and design, various financing sources, equity and understanding spreadsheets.  Upon completion of the course, class participants will have a better understanding of the kinds of information they will need to gather for owners, developers and potential investors who are looking at acquiring, developing, investing in or selling income-producing properties.

Cash said he is looking forward to the opportunity to share his passion for commercial real estate, especially with Winston-Salem State University as the venue for the class.

“I fundamentally believe education and self-empowerment is the key to creating a level playing field,” Cash said.  “People make better decisions and pursue greater opportunities when they are informed.”

“Furthermore, minorities have not traditionally pursued a career in commercial real estate,” he continued.  “Less than 3 percent of area commercial real estate brokers are African-American.  Teaching this class at a historically black college will create the opportunity for more minority students to be exposed to the commercial real estate industry and perhaps choose to build a career in our profession.”

The class will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on four dates: Feb. 8, March 16, April 12 and May 18.   For more information: go to WSSU or call 336-750-3410.

About Wharton Gladden & Company:

Wharton Gladden & Company is a uniquely designed boutique investment banking firm that specializes in providing strategic advisory services, underwriting, capital placement and private equity for a diversified client base that includes corporations, real estate developers, financial institutions, investors, municipalities and high net worth individuals.