As the summer ends, I hope you’ve had time to do the things you enjoy with friends and family. One of my favorite things I look forward to this time of year is the start of college football. As a life-long suffering South Carolina Gamecock fan, it is difficult experiencing annual renewed optimism and then watching reality set in with yet another disappointment. However, I would not trade the fellowship and love of the school and game for simply winning. As the adage goes, “There is always next year.”

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One thing you might notice about me is my affinity for bow ties. I was required to wear a tie and blazer every day during middle and high school, so I became accustomed to a more formal look day-to-day. About 10 years or so ago, I noticed more folks wearing a bow tie and got interested in them. It took a few years to get bow ties worked into my wardrobe and they are now the standard. Tying a bow tie is an art and when properly tied (it should not look perfect), a bow tie adds more personality to my look and sets me apart from the traditional tie wearers.

FWIW, earlier this year, I was required to wear a traditional necktie for an event and chose one from about 20 years ago. It took me four or five tries to properly tie it. Funny how quickly I forgot something I have done hundreds of times. There is no substitute for repetitive learning.

Whether it’s in your attire, your work life, your home life, or your hobbies, I’d encourage each of you to find a way to stand out and make a difference. They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so make sure to make yourself – and your priorities – known by standing out and setting yourself apart in a meaningful way.

This month, I’m pleased to share with you some updates about the Appraisal Institute’s priorities and the work we’re doing to ensure that our organization continues to stand out in the valuation profession.

AI Taking Big Steps Toward Achieving Strategic Plan Goals
I am proud to share that the Appraisal Institute has worked hard toward achieving the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan adopted by the AI Board of Directors in August 2021. We have taken some key steps over the past few months, and I’m pleased to share these updates with you.

• Modernize AI’s education delivery system and products. Outside consultants with significant expertise in this area have completed studies, and their recommendations for processes and delivery are being evaluated. Implementation is expected to begin soon and will initially focus on the AI website, the event registration process and the overall user experience.
• Modernize technology, such as social media and communication methods, and a review of the website. These efforts will focus on a campaign to refresh the AI brand, social media, communications and the website. We have identified an outside firm to handle the rebranding campaign and website redesign. Changes to the website will include an updated look and feel and, equally important, an enhanced user experience. AI’s Communications Department has already implemented changes to its social media and communications efforts, and will continue to focus on generating more visual content and enhanced interaction to appeal to a wider audience.
• Develop a plan to recruit and retain AI professionals. A recruitment and retention plan will follow AI’s new branding and messaging, and will involve input from the Residential Appraiser Project Team, among others.
• Implement PAREA. Development and testing are underway and will continue for the next several months.
• Develop a DE&I action plan. A DE&I statement was adopted last year, and I have more exciting news to share below on the DE&I front.

I’m very proud of the excellent work that’s been done so far and excited about what it all means for the future of the Appraisal Institute and the valuation profession as a whole. Read more in the latest issue of Valuation magazine.

DE&I Action Plan Recommendations
As you’ve likely heard, the Appraisal Institute Board of Directors at its Nov. 11-12 meeting approved the Strategic Plan strategies that will guide the organization’s efforts in 2022, and beyond. The organization will pursue those goals with a focus on five Board-approved strategies, including development of a DE&I Action Plan.

A Project Team comprised of AI Designated Members, in collaboration with an outside consultant, spent several months developing a DE&I Action Plan, including recommendations, that the Board reviewed and discussed during its third quarter meeting. The Action Plan and recommendations include input from AI membership, which was provided via survey responses and stakeholder interviews.

The Appraisal Institute’s Strategic Plan includes goals to provide leadership toward a unified and inclusive profession with diverse perspectives and to improve the diversity of its affiliated professionals. The approved recommendations represent a significant step forward as the Appraisal Institute continues to pursue these important goals.

As these recommendations are investigated and components of the plan implemented, we’ll continue to keep membership informed accordingly.

Check out other updates from the Board meeting.

Paula Konikoff Elected 2023 AI Vice President
Congratulations to Paula K. Konikoff, JD, MAI, AI-GRS, who was elected 2023 Appraisal Institute vice president by its Board of Directors during the Board’s Aug. 4-5 meeting in Las Vegas.

Konikoff’s one-year term as vice president will begin Jan. 1, when she’ll also serve for one year as chair of the Finance Committee. She’ll serve as president-elect in 2024, president in 2025 and immediate past president in 2026.

Learn more about Paula Konikoff.

Appraisal Institute Honors 15 of the Best and Brightest in the Profession
It was my privilege to celebrate and honor the contributions of 15 individuals who make a big difference in our profession during the Appraisal Institute Annual Conference earlier this month. Attendees celebrated the award winners at an Aug. 3 luncheon sponsored by Appraisal Institute Education and Relief Foundation. Congratulations to the following individuals:

Appraisal Institute awards:

• J. Scott Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award – Steven L. Marshall, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS
• Outstanding Service Award – Arthur “Rocky” McElhannon, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS
• Outstanding Service Award – Jacinto “Jay” Munoz, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, AI-RRS
• Women’s Initiative SPOTLIGHT Award – Claire M. Aufrance, MAI, SRA
• President’s Award – Elaine Liz-Ramirez, MAI, AI-GRS
• President’s Award – Mark E. Verrett, SRA
• President’s Award – Claire M. Aufrance, MAI, SRA
• President’s Award – Rodman Schley, MAI, SRA
• President’s Award – Suzanne Brockway

AI Education and Relief Foundation awards:

• George L. Schmutz Award – Brad Carter, MAI, and Tyler Leard
• Dr. William N. Kinnard Jr. Award – Larry Wright, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS
• James H. Pritchett Award – Henry J. Wise, MAI

The Appraisal Journal awards:

• Armstrong/Kahn Award – Richard J. Roddewig, JD, MAI
• Swango Award – Sandra K. Adomatis, SRA
• Richard U. Ratcliff Award – Stanley D. Longhofer, Ph.D

Latest Face Value Podcast Highlights DE&I Efforts
In episode four of the Face Value podcast, host Warren Boizot, SRA, AI-RRS, is joined by Ayako Marsh Miranda, SRA, Claire Aufrance, MAI, SRA, and Elaine Liz-Ramirez, MAI, AI-GRS. The group covers leadership, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Appraisal Institute’s current and ongoing efforts in this space. You aren’t going to want to miss this episode.

Click here to listen and subscribe.

• If you haven’t already heard, The Appraisal Foundation’s Appraisal Standards Board announced that the current edition of USPAP will be extended by another year and will now be effective until Dec. 31, 2023. This change will not impact the current qualifying and continuing education courses on appraisal standards required for all appraisers. Learn more about the Appraisal Institute’s “15-Hour National USPAP” classroom course here.

• Do you have expertise you’d like to share with your peers? I’d welcome you to submit your ideas for consideration in Valuation, AI’s quarterly magazine, or The Appraisal Journal, our peer-reviewed journal. 
• Don’t forget to subscribe to Face Value, the Appraisal Institute’s monthly podcast. 
• The Appraisal Institute continues to expand its social media activities. Be sure to follow AI on Facebook, Twitter,LinkedIn, YouTube, and its blog, Opinions of Value.

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

Summer is usually an opportunity to spend a little extra time with our families and that’s no different for me. Like most of us, I also enjoy sharing some of my family’s successes. My wife holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and works with the Roper Hospital system. My daughter, Nora, is entering her second year of practice as a physician’s assistant with a local urology group and my daughter Grace is entering her third year as a registered nurse at Roper Hospital working the Cardio Step Down floor. Grace is also finishing her first year at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she is in the Nurse Practitioner program. My son, Mason, will soon begin his senior year of college at Clemson University and his interests are in distillery.

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Some of my proudest moments as an Appraisal Institute Designated Member have been working with Candidates and Practicing Affiliates to help them achieve their Demonstration of Knowledge portion of the designation process. Over the years it has brought me great pride when former Candidates or Practicing Affiliates find me at an event to show me the designation behind their name.    

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In my 37 years in the valuation profession, I’ve learned just how important it is to make valuable, meaningful connections with others in the profession. I started that journey many years ago with the South Carolina Chapter of AIREA (now AI) and The Society of Real Estate Appraisers. I continued it at LDAC and after that, chapter, region and national leadership events, including the Appraisal Institute Annual Conference. The connections made over the years have resulted in close friendships, collegial relationships and professional connections throughout AI and the appraisal profession.

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This month, I encourage you to think about your colleagues, peers and mentors who have guided you throughout your career. For me, my career as an appraiser began in my final semester of college, where I took a real estate appraisal course that was taught by an MAI, Ph.D., using “The Appraisal of Real Estate,” 7^th edition. On the first day of class, the students were tasked with completing a narrative residential real estate appraisal that was due on the last day of class. We were provided with a list of local SRA designated appraisers, so we’d have access to a mentor and the necessary data found in an appraisal office.

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Last month, as the 2021 presidency for Rodman Schley, MAI, SRA, was coming to an end, he sat down for a discussion with incoming 2022 President Jody Bishop, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, to discuss their service to the Appraisal Institute and their goals for the year ahead.

Among the topics discussed are:

• Rodman’s advice for Jody as he begins his role as AI president
• Jody’s priorities for 2022
• Rodman’s proudest achievement from 2021
• Jody’s reasons for pursuing leadership with AI
• Rodman’s plans now that he’ll have more time on his hands

Please enjoy this engaging discussion between AI’s outgoing and incoming presidents. To learn more about them, visit the Leadership page on the AI website.