My 1st Leadership Development and Advisory Council Session

For more than 85 years, the Appraisal Institute (AI) has been a global professional association of real estate appraisers.  AI works to develop real estate industry leaders and establish an appraiser presence in the United Stated Congress through its Leadership Development and Advisory Council (LDAC).  The Council is a group of dedicated appraisers who together once a year in Washington DC to generate solutions to challenges facing the appraisal profession.

Last month, I had the pleasure of attending my first LDAC session in Washington DC.  I entered with no expectations other than using it as an opportunity to learn more about the Appraisal Institute and offer up a thought or two on promoting our industry.  By the end of the week, I walked away from LDAC exceeding those expectations.

The LDAC discussion sessions afforded the opportunity to engage and brainstorm with appraisal professionals from all around the country.  The sessions served as opportunity for us to come together to generate actionable ideas to solve some of the appraisal industry’s toughest problems.  Serving as a member of the Ohio Chapter’s education committee I was very passionate about the education discussions. Based on my experience, I know that AI’s educational offering is superior to other competitive offerings.  Our group discussed ideas on how to not only get non-AI members to take AI courses but to also use our education offering to entice non-members to become members.

The highlight of LDAC is the opportunity to visit Capitol Hill and lobby our congressmen/women on issues vital to our industry.  I along with two Ohio Chapter Board Members had the opportunity to meet with Senators Sherrod Brown’s and Rob Portman’s along with Congresswoman Marcia Fudge’s staff to discuss several topics that are important to the industry and the nation’s economy.  Specifically, with Senator Brown’s staff, in addition to discussing appraisal regulatory modernization and housing finance reform we discussed increasing appraisal requirement thresholds for lenders and how appraisers are here to help protect the public with impartial 3rd party evaluations. As well we discussed the predatory lending risk on rural and urban communities.

My favorite part of the LDAC experience was coming together with colleagues from all over the country.  I learned a great deal about the issues and opportunities in other regions. I left hoping that I made some small fraction of an impact but knowing that I enriched my knowledge of AI and our industry, as well increased my network of professionals who like me want to promote and grow the appraisal industry.