It was a pleasure to see so many of you this month in my hometown of Dallas for the 2015 Appraisal Institute Annual Meeting. I am extremely proud that our organization continues to host the valuation profession’s premier event!

AI Annual Meeting Highlighted by Speakers, Awards

The 2015 Appraisal Institute Annual Meeting drew nearly 450 attendees to Dallas, Texas, July 27-29. The event featured three outstanding general session speakers, more than 50 different education sessions with up to 90 hours of AI continuing education credit points and up to 14 hours of state continuing education credit, along with cutting-edge exhibits, numerous networking opportunities and an exciting awards dinner.

The lineup of speakers featured award-winning National Geographic magazine photographer and Academy Award-nominated motion picture director Dewitt Jones; Edward J. Pinto, American Enterprise Institute resident fellow and co-director of AEI’s International Center on Housing Risk; and Susan G. Talley, an attorney at Stone Pigman Walther Wittman L.L.C. in New Orleans and co-chair of the firm’s Real Estate, Finance and Construction Practice Group.

Eight appraisers were honored during an awards dinner July 29. John P. Fredrickson, MAI, SRA; Jerome Haims, MAI, SRA; and Richard A. Stephens, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, were honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Michael V. Tankersley, MAI, SRA, AI-RRS, received the Outstanding Service Award. President’s Award recipients were Kerry M. Jorgensen, MAI; Ruth A. Kelton; R. Wayne Pugh, MAI; and Ken P. Wilson, MAI, SRA. Read more about the award winners.

Jim Murrett Elected 2016 AI Vice President

The Appraisal Institute Board of Directors elected James L. Murrett, MAI, SRA, as 2016 vice president at its July 30-31 meeting in Dallas. Murrett’s’s one-year term at the Appraisal Institute will begin January 1, followed by one year each as president-elect, president and immediate past president.

Murrett has served on the Appraisal Institute’s national Board of Directors (2011-14), Finance Committee (2012-present) and Strategic Planning Committee (2012-14), in addition to many chapter roles, including as president of the Upstate New York Chapter (2000). Since 2014 he also has been treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of the International Center for Valuation Certification, an affiliate of the Appraisal Institute.

AI Brings Together Valuation Leaders to Address Key Issues

Representatives of some of the world’s largest commercial real estate valuation and advisory firms discussed possible solutions to issues facing the valuation profession June 26 at an Appraisal Institute President’s Council meeting in Chicago.

Topics included changing demographics of the U.S. real estate valuation profession; international growth opportunities; commercial real estate market conditions; the Appraisal Institute’s strategic initiatives; the Property Use Classification System and legislative and regulatory developments.

Learn more about the President’s Council meeting.

AI Enhances Thought Leadership, Attends Key Industry Events

In keeping with the Appraisal Institute’s commitment to convey its thought leadership to valuation professionals and others, I attended Valuation Expo on June 29-July 1 in Baltimore and spoke about the vision for valuation. Immediate Past President Ken Wilson, MAI, SRA, attended the Institute for Professionals in Taxation Annual Conference on June 28-July 1 in San Diego and Vice President Jim Amorin, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, spoke at The European Group of Valuers’ Association Symposium on July 9 in Bucharest, Romania, about appraisal review.

Appraisal Institute Publishes New Book

The Appraisal Institute announced June 30 that it published “A Guide to Appraising Automobile Dealerships.” The book provides the necessary background on the complexities of valuing these properties, covering topics such as economic trends, locational issues that affect dealerships and re-imaging projects.

The 180-page, softcover book is available for $50 ($40 for AI professionals) plus shipping. Order your copy today.

Other News Around AI

And here’s some other important news from the Appraisal Institute:

• From January to June, the Appraisal Institute and its professionals appeared in 890 stories that ran in 778 media outlets and were potentially read, seen or heard more than 1 billion times … with a value of nearly $1 million (according to vendor’s proprietary formula).
  • View a 3-minute video of AI’s January-June 2015 media coverage highlights on the Appraisal Institute’s YouTube channel.
• If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to check out the latest quarterly editions of Valuation magazine and The Appraisal Journal , both of which contain timely and informative articles about relevant topics.
• AI posted a new video to its YouTube channel which features Bob Dietrich, MAI; Terry Dunkin, MAI, SRPA, SRA; Eric Garfield, MAI; Brenda Dohring Hicks, MAI; and Mark Linne, MAI, SRA, discussing why to pursue a career in real estate appraisal.
• The Appraisal Institute continues to grow its social media presence. Be sure to follow AI on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and the AI blog, Opinions of Value.

Best wishes for a prosperous month!